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Building Neighborhood Resilience

Building a resilient neighborhood isn't just about emergency preparedness---it's about building social capital that keeps neighbors connected and communities capable of weathering the adverse impacts of climate change. The Ames Climate Action Team pursues initiatives, big and small, that promote tangible action. As climate-related events increase across the globe, changes at the local, state, and federal levels can be slow-moving. It is becoming increasingly clear that social capital and resiliency are our greatest assets in the fight against climate change.

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Actions Steps to Get Started

1. Join the Ames Climate Action Team for a dialogue about building neighborhood resilience

Building a resilient neighborhood isn’t just about emergency preparedness – it’s about creating lasting connections that help communities thrive through any challenge. Email AmesClimateActionTeam@gmail.com for updated info.

 

May 11th, CASA (130 S. Sheldon Ave. Suite 107 Room 202 7pm - 8:30 pm

June 8th, Ames Public Library 7 pm - 8:30 pm

2. Throw a block party to get to know your neighbors. 

Reserve the City of Ames’ Street 'N' Greet Block Party Trailer for free to help host your party! In 2026 the city is trying hard to reach out and create more neighborhood connections, follow this link to learn more about opportunities in this program.

Get information on upcoming sustainability events calendar as well as updates on our city Climate Action Plan progress and activities. The subscribe link is towards the bottom of the webpage.

4. Talk about climate change with someone you know.

Discussion starters:

  1. What do you both care about? 

  2. Share what worries you about water, soil, air, temperature, or storms where you live – and how that might affect what you both care about or enjoy. 

  3. Share what makes you hopeful about protecting our water, soil, air, family, friends, and communities. 

  4. Identify a very small next step you could take, together, to get involved in actions that protect our water, soil, air, families, friends, and communities.

5. Apply for a City of Ames Climate Action Grant to build community resiliency!

These grants can support projects that: 

  • Reduce energy use

  • Encourage walking, biking, taking the bus, and driving hybrid or electric cars

  • Reduce waste by repairing, reusing, recycling, and composting

  • Conserve water

  • Plant trees and prairie 

  • Increase local food 

  • Start a community garden

  • Host an event to bring people together to learn about and take action on sustainability!

  • And more!

6. Learn more about climate health risks and levels in your county.

The Climate Change and Environmental Health in Iowa Mapping Tool is free to use and has data to help understand the local impacts of climate change.

7. Learn more about City of Ames' efforts to address climate change.

8. Learn more about individual actions to address climate change.

Explore ecologically sustainable climate solutions such as:

  • deep-rooted, native plants for landscaping (instead of grass lawns)

  • water capturing

  • plant more trees

  • plants more prairie

  • engage in community gardening and food share programs

  • utilize biochar and manures to enrich soil

  • growing a vegetable/fruit garden

Explore other climate-friendly solutions such as:

  • circular economies

  • shopping local

  • reduce, reuse, recycle

  • Ames Repair Cafe

  • seed libraries

  • tool-share programs

9. Learn more about other climate action concepts.

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