Climate Champion Archive

Milwaukie has amazing Climate Champions.

From small daily decisions to big efforts in sustainability and climate action, Milwaukie's Climate Champions help us meet our climate goals and prepare for the future. Read more about our featured climate champions and what they do in the Milwaukie community:

June 2019 - Greg Baartz-Bowman​

What is your connection to Milwaukie? (i.e. Milwaukie resident, City employee, Tree Board member, etc.)

I’m a resident of Milwaukie. I live in the Historic Milwaukie neighborhood.

How are you tackling climate action and sustainability? (Examples: serving on Tree Board, volunteering in nature groups, leading community discussions, etc.)

On the first day of May this year, I opened an ice cream and granita food cart at the Milwaukie Station Food Pod called FREEZE. In addition to serving some of the finest ice cream and organic granita (flavored ice) in the Northwest, we do it all without single use plastic cups or spoons. With so much plastic in the ocean and on our beaches we decided to use real bowls and spoons and ‘do the dishes’. Instead of having people toss single-use plastic bowls and spoons in a trash bin, we only ask they return the bowl and spoon to a bus bin near the cart and then we wash and reuse. We’ve been open a few weeks and the response has been overwhelmingly positive from the community. 

Why is this important to you, your community, or the environment?

The amount of plastic trash across the globe is staggering. The harm plastic waste is doing to the environment and living organisms is sobering. It’s the efforts of our community working together to change ‘business as usual’ practices that will demonstrate to others a practical way to reduce plastic waste and help the planet heal. I want a part of that change and I want FREEZE to be part of the change.

How can other Milwaukians get involved in what you do? 

Stop using single-use plastic and support local businesses that don't use single-use plastic. My hope is that FREEZE will sell ice cream and granita in numbers that will make other ice cream shops take notice and realize plastic bowls and spoons are out of fashion, out of function, and out of time... A boy can dream…

May 2019 - Terri Geier-Brindell

What is your connection to Milwaukie? (i.e. Milwaukie resident, City employee, Tree Board member, etc.)

I have been a Milwaukie resident for four year this August.  I began attending my Neighborhood Meetings and volunteered at Grow an Extra Row Garden at Clackamas Community College.  I also joined a Garden Club whose members mostly reside in Milwaukie.  I have been amazed and inspired by the people I have met here.  There is so much drive and commitment to do the right thing for each other, the community and our planet.

How are you tackling climate action and sustainability? (Examples: serving on Tree Board, volunteering in nature groups, leading community discussions, etc.)

When I began volunteering at the garden, I noticed they were using single-use plastic bags to take the produce to the food banks.  I proposed that I make cotton drawstring bags to replace the plastic bags.  The garden's manager got some grant money from the Master Gardeners to buy the fabric to make our bags.  Myself and a couple other gardeners made the bags and they turned out to be a success.  After we made the bags, we had money left over to make more bags.  I was referred to a woman who had a garden next to ours who had connections with the Oregon City Farmers Market.  We made 600 bags to replace plastic bags at the Oregon City Farmers Market over 2 years.  Meanwhile, I approached Linwood Elementary to see if they would like to have their students draw on the cotton bags as an art project that they would take home and use instead of plastic bags.  They were excited about the idea and we made 200 bags for them. From there myself, other gardeners and Exceed Enterprises volunteers have made close to 600 reusable grocery bags.  They have been given to people at the Milwaukie Farmers Market, Rose Villa, The Quilt Show at the Milwaukie Center, and we will be giving them out to more people at the Wichita Park Opening, Carefree Event, First Friday Events, and Milwaukie Farmer's Market this coming year.  Each bag we hand out is an opportunity to connect with a person, talk to them about our hopes and concerns, inspire them and listen to their challenges as they try to meet their own goals associated with doing what's right for our planet.  We hope to have samples of sustainable products to share with residents and businesses in the future to help them take that next step.

During the time we were making bags, I expressed my frustration to my Neighborhood Association about the horrible plastic waste problem in this world.  I had noticed that Portland had banned single-use plastic and asked my group if they had any ideas about how we could get them banned in Milwaukie.  They suggested I write to City Council and the Mayor to see what they could do.  Mayor Gamba said he had been trying to ban single-use plastic for 10 years and hadn't gotten it done.  He said he thought the Council was interested in doing it, if we could go in front of the Council and ask. Greg Hemer, from my neighborhood group, said he would help me get organized and get this done. 

Together we met with others, started a group we call Milwaukie Environmental Stewards Group and got single-use plastic and polystyrene food containers banned in Milwaukie.  We continue to meet and have plans to organize a styrene/styrofoam collection and assist residents and businesses however we can in their transition from plastic to sustainable products.   Pam and Milo Denham, Christi Cawood, Greg and Michelle Hemer,  Eric Landen and myself are currently members of our group. 

We are working with the city, county, recycling advocates and master recyclers in our efforts.  And we have a Facebook page where we post the latest news  about plastic waste and what people are doing to make a difference.  There are also tips about sustainable products that are available to replace the single-use products we use. 

There are many steps that still need to be taken and we hope to be there to encourage and assist others along the way.

Why is this important to you, your community, or the environment?

It is imperative that people begin to take the news about climate change and how we are killing our planet with our waste seriously.  This is the only planet we have and what we do now will affect whether or not our children and our children's children can survive on this planet.  We must wake up and take action now.

People are so busy in their lives with working and taking care of themselves and their families that they barely have time to assimilate what is going on in their own families let alone take action involving the planet.  That is why the Milwaukie Stewards and I feel the need to step up, inspire and assist wherever they can to make changes.

How can other Milwaukians get involved in what you do? 

Anyone can come join our group when we meet.  They can email me at milwenvironmentalstewards@gmail.com and I will put them on our mailing list to receive information about our plans and when we will be meeting again.  They can also visit our Facebook page (Milwaukie Environmental Stewards Group) and read about things they can do to make a difference for our planet or post tips they have to share with others.  Anyone who likes to sew can help us make more produce and grocery bags to hand out to people and get them started on their own path to a more sustainable lifestyle.  Email me to let me know what you are interested in.

April 2019 - Eric Corey Freed

What is your connection to Milwaukie? (i.e. Milwaukie resident, City employee, Tree Board member, etc.)

I live in Milwaukie with my wife, daughter, 2 dogs and 2 bunnies.  A few years ago, we bought a 1974 house off of Rusk Road and have been slowly remodeling and updating it.  We were drawn to Milwaukie for the location and the gorgeous trees that surround us.  Starting in the Fall, our daughter is attending the Waldorf School in downtown Milwaukie.  We love it here.

Last year, I served on the Climate Action Planning Committee for the City of Milwaukie to share my experience as an architect and help put together the Climate Action Plan for the City.  I’ve served in similar roles in every city I’ve lived, including on the Mayor’s Green Building Task Force in San Francisco and the Sustainability Commission for the City of Palm Desert.

How are you tackling climate action and sustainability? (Examples: serving on Tree Board, volunteering in nature groups, leading community discussions, etc.)

I am a green architect and for nearly 30 years have been helping homeowners, developers, companies and cities use sustainability to improve the design and operational savings for thousands of buildings around the country.  Currently, I work with cities and organizations across North America to develop their own climate action plans, carbon reduction plans, or resiliency plans, as well as consult on buildings to boost their energy and water efficiency.

In addition, I’ve written 11 books on green building and I get to travel around the country and lecture to tens of thousands of people a year on the urgency of climate change and what we can do about it.  Meeting all of these people and getting to witness the efforts around the country gives me a surprising amount of optimism about our future.

After 20 years in San Francisco, I moved to Portland in 2014 to be Vice President at the International Living Future Institute, a nonprofit that developed the Living Building Challenge, a global, regenerative, deep green building standard.  After that I was Chief Community Officer at EcoDistricts, a nonprofit that helps cities and developers create regenerative, resilient and socially equitable neighborhoods for everyone.

Why is this important to you, your community, or the environment?

This should be important to everyone!  For the first time in 2 million years, global CO2 levels are above 410 parts per million, and we are already feeling the effects:  stronger storms, disjointed seasons, disrupted food supplies, catastrophic floods and fires…  and it’s about to get much worse.  This needs to be important to everyone.  We need to take quick and bold action now to deal with climate change, and most cities are unprepared and not ready for the level of changes needed.

My 10-year-old daughter faces a very different world when she is my age, and so I fight daily to curb and quell the impacts.

How can other Milwaukians get involved in what you do? 

Great question!  What Mayor Gamba and City of Milwaukie has done with their Climate Action Plan is great, but it’s just the beginning.  I would love everyone to participate in making that Climate Action Plan into a reality.  I’d love everyone to reach out to their County and Metro supervisors and demand a regional Climate Action Plan for the entire Portland metro region and have all 24 cities in the area join together.  We are stronger if we do this together.

March 2019 - Yelena Voznyuk

What is your connection to Milwaukie? 

A long time resident of Milwaukie (1997+), work in Milwaukie (2014+), and served on the Climate Action Plan Committee

How are you tackling climate action and sustainability? 

Served as a member on the climate action plan committee, educating co-workers, family, friends, anyone, and everyone willing to listen to many ways they can contribute to saving the planet. I have taken the steps in my personal life to make those small but mighty lifetime changes, such as; reusable shopping bags, reusable produce bags, recycling, compost, budgeting for an electric vehicle, bicycling to work, walking to nearby places, carpooling, etc. Generally being aware of every carbon footprint I leave behind.

Why is this important to you, your community, or the environment?

We only have one planet, if we have a negative mindset towards making an impact, nothing will change. We HAVE to start somewhere and keep going, it'll add up!

How can other Milwaukians get involved in what you do? 

Don't know where to start? Check out the City of Milwaukie Climate Action Portal for information, tips and ways to get involved! 

February 2019 - Andy Taylor

What is your connection to Milwaukie? 

I moved to Milwaukie in 2016, and shortly thereafter I started serving on the Tree Board. I also volunteered for the Climate Action Plan Committee.

How are you tackling climate action and sustainability? 

In my career as a forester, I help offset greenhouse gas emissions with forest management projects across the country. But as a volunteer for our Tree Board, I explore solutions to climate change right here in Milwaukie. Growing trees is the best way to make our air healthy, and they'll also help us adapt to a changing climate. Plus, they offer many other benefits to our community's quality of life. As we grow as a city, I want to make sure we're growing trees, too.

Why is this important to you, your community, or the environment?

Climate change is a real crisis, but it's also an opportunity to achieve a lot of other great things. As we act on climate change, let's make sure we do so as justly as possible. In Milwaukie, we can make sure trees are protected and grown throughout the city for all our residents to enjoy. Milwaukie's trees are beautiful and make this town special. Making sure they thrive is a joy! 

How can other Milwaukians get involved in what you do? 

Stay connected to the Tree Board through our email list (subscribe here), and be on the lookout for a new Milwaukie Urban Forestry website. Educate yourself and your neighbors on tree care, and if you have a good spot, plant a tree!

January 2019 - Britt McConn

What is your connection to Milwaukie?

I am a Milwaukie resident, and member of the Kellogg Good Neighbor Committee and the Climate Action Plan Committee. 

How are you tackling climate action and sustainability? 

I was fortunate for the opportunity to serve on the CAPC as a community member with some scientific expertise. I provided support for the Town Hall planning session regarding Climate Action, and was also able to use my skills as a researcher to locate pertinent scientific data to better inform the collaborative planning process on the committee. I also strive to recognize businesses and residents on social media when I observe them mitigating and reducing the impact of Climate Change in our community. 

Why is this action important to you, your community, or the environment?

Recognizing the impact of Climate Change and mitigating it's effects is all our responsibility. We have to acknowledge that this is not some impending doom that may eventually occur, but a real and active issue that is ongoing right now. While earning my degree in Micro/Molecular biology from PSU, I came to realize the more discrete ways that Climate Change directly impacts our local (and global) ecosystems, creating harmful conditions, reducing biodiversity, and affecting the quality of our public health. As someone familiar with the less obvious impacts, I feel responsible for educating those around me and I think everyone else could do the same. 

How can other Milwaukians get involved in what you do?

An excellent way to get started is to familiarize yourself with local resources like those available in the Milwaukie Climate Action Plan. Once you've done that, take one moment every day and share at least one piece of Climate Change education with a friend, co-worker, or your neighbor. You can share this in person, or on social media as it only takes a second. Teach your children about the importance of respecting their environment and create good household habits that you can hold each other accountable for. Reach out to a Climate Change and Sustainability Coordinator if you need assistance interpreting the planning guide or connecting with a resource. Just focus on what you can do, not necessarily the enormity of the problem. If we can each move a single stone, together we can move mountains. 

December 2018 - Kathy Hyzy

What is your connection to Milwaukie?

We live in the Island Station neighborhood of Milwaukie.

How are you tackling climate action and sustainability? 

I served as a citizen member of the Climate Change Action Plan Committee, and my involvement there inspired me to run for City Council! Developing a plan was just the first step, and I look forward to continuing to support Milwaukie’s leadership on climate action. In my daily life, I am always working toward driving less, reusing more, and reminding my legislators that we need big changes in the way we live and we need them now.

Why is this action important to you, your community, or the environment?

I often feel like there’s a flood of bad news about climate change threatening to drown me and everything I love. But I’ve come to realize that giving into despair or looking away from the problems because I feel like I can’t fix them are both luxuries. When people join together and decide that something needs to change, we can do it. We can make monumental change happen. After World War II, the global effort to recover from years of death and devastation not only succeeded in rebuilding war-torn countries, it launched decades of prosperity. We have all the knowledge and skills we need for the same sort of transformation to take place again as we shift away from a fossil fuel-based economy. All we need is the clarity of purpose and willpower to make it happen. Milwaukie is showing everyone else what that clarity looks like.

How can other Milwaukians get involved in what you do?

Checking out this website is a great first step! Our Climate Action Plan is designed to help you figure out what you can do in your daily life to reduce our community’s impact on the planet. Maybe this is the first time you’ve thought about how the way you live impacts climate change, or maybe you’ve been learning about this for a while. Maybe you have extra time and money, and maybe you don’t. Wherever you are, if you care to engage, there’s information here to help you do just that.