One of the most exciting areas of my work sits at the intersection of large‑scale climate strategy and community‑centered sustainability efforts. I’m consistently emboldened by how directly these efforts reinforce one another. 

  

I’m currently managing a project titled Building Improvement Toolkit (BIT) for Resilient HBCUs in partnership with Sustain Our Future Foundation and Southface Institute. The program is focused on advancing long‑term campus sustainability at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). My team serves as technical and strategic advisors to participating HBCUs, providing them with wide-ranging sustainability services that can scale their campus sustainability programming while driving student success.  

  

Still in early stages of the initiative, our approach is intentionally needs‑driven, and we begin by listening. The engagement is shaped by what the HBCUs identify as most critical for advancing their campus’ sustainability, whether rooted in improved energy performance, planning infrastructure upgrades, conducting feasibility assessments for greywater reuse, or developing a sustainability roadmap. 

 

We work closely with facilities, sustainability leaders, and student fellows to translate campus insights into actionable strategies and projects that can be implemented at scale. The work also emphasizes capacity building – ensuring that the participating HBCUs have the tools, knowledge, and capacity to carry the work forward after the engagement ends. Trust is foundational to this model as it is what turns technical assistance into lasting partnership. We fill the gaps without overriding existing expertise. 

  

In parallel, I also support another corporate client on renewable energy procurement, an effort central to achieving their 2030 carbon‑negative goal. My role includes supporting contract negotiations for new renewable energy projects, reviewing and assessing energy forecast modeling, and coordinating complex procurement processes across internal and external stakeholders. A defining feature of this work is the integration of community benefits into the procurement strategy. Developers are supported in partnering with NGOs to deliver workforce development, local investment, and other place‑based benefits in the regions where the projects operate, extending impact beyond carbon reduction alone. 

 

Together, these efforts come full circle. At a macro level, I’m able to support the advancement of a robust renewable energy portfolio that advances ambitious climate targets. At the same time, I’m able to support on‑the‑ground impact with embedding community benefits into clean energy development. Holistically, both these projects sit at the intersection of strategy and execution. The work is people‑centered, data‑driven, and designed for lasting impact, which is what makes this work so exciting.