What do a food compost mill, a monarch garden, and a pile of old sweaters have in common?

They’re all ideas that started with curious residents and turned into real, city-supported environmental projects through this year’s Community Environmental Academy cohort.

This recently revamped program invites Lexingtonians to step inside the work of the city’s Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works, including divisions like:

Waste Management
Water Quality
Environmental Services
Traffic Engineering

How the program works

The Community Environmental Academy is designed in two phases:

Part one
First, through a mix of in-person classes, tours, and online video classes, participants learn how these city divisions operate and how their work intersects with our local environment.

Part two
Residents who complete the program can then choose to put that knowledge into action by developing a project, supported by city funding of up to $1,500.

Over the years, those projects have taken many forms, from rain gardens and tree supports to welcome packets for new homeowners.

Ready to get involved?

If you’re interested in seeing how the city works, connecting with the community, or turning ideas into action, consider this your invitation to apply to the Community Environmental Academy.

Applications are open March 23-May 1, and the class capacity is limited to 20 participants.

This year’s programming includes four in-person sessions, held between mid-July and October. Participants are expected to attend all sessions in order to graduate and qualify for the optional project component.

Bonus: Stay up to date with Community Environmental Academy projects on Facebook and Instagram.