The key ingredient in successful projects is an effective and persistent local champion. The Climate Catalysts Leadership Program supports the power of individuals and their communities to achieve transformational climate economy progress.
Facing the climate challenge means mobilizing at all levels of human organization. Strong and inspirational leaders are key in unifying and sparking collective action. With hundreds of tight-knit communities, Vermont is a place that can model unique, powerful, and replicable local actions for growing the climate economy.
The Climate Catalysts Program brings together local leaders from Vermont communities for a year-long process focused on building peer connections, strengthening leadership skills and providing project development support. Participants work on implementation of a local project as a focus of their program participation. The goal is to move projects from concept to reality while investing in leaders who provide multi-faceted service to their communities.
Cohorts include a mix of new, emerging, and experienced leaders from a variety of large and small communities who have ideas for projects that are both ambitious and achievable. Participants receive training, peer connections, and consultative support as they develop and implements their projects.
In early 2020, an inaugural class of 12 local leaders was selected from a pool of 45 applicants. In the fall of 2020, a second class of 15 leaders was chosen, a third class of 16 leaders began in the fall of 2021, and a fourth class of 16 leaders began in January 2023. Monthly gatherings of the group are hosted on Zoom, and each participant has the opportunity for regular check-ins with VCRD staff.
Learn more about the curriculum and program schedule. Applications for 2024 cohort will be in the fall and posted on this website. To learn more about projects by the Climate Catalysts, click on the icons in the interactive map above.
Please join our mailing list for updates and notification of the open application period, or contact the Climate Economy Program Manager, Laura Cavin Bailey, at [email protected] with any questions.