We teach communities how to live sustainably.
The Opportunity
There’s never been a more important time to teach about sustainability. From the food we eat to the cars we drive, we make choices every day that impact our habitat, climate, and fellow species, and the consequences can be irreversible. Systemic change begins with teaching about sustainability in all the places where we live, learn, and work.
Our Story
Urban Green Lab was founded as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2009 by a group of Nashville residents who believed education is key to the city’s sustainability. In the early days, we taught workshops at festivals and events. In 2016, we launched our mobile lab delivering sustainable living education to schools citywide. Today we know every space is a potential “lab” of learning and we work to ensure sustainability education is accessible citywide.
Sustainability to Us
Living sustainably is about making choices that protect Earth’s resources while empowering the lives which depend on them. Rather than perfection, we encourage all of us to make informed decisions and apply a sustainability lens to our daily habits. As a justice-centered organization, we work to ensure underrepresented communities have equal access to sustainability education and resources.
To learn more, check out Sustainability 101.
How We Work
With a focus on Nashville and the Davidson County area, we organize teams, train communities to make sustainable choices, and connect people with services and peers that make a meaningful difference in our classrooms, households, and workplaces – places where culture begins. Everyone is on a different part of their sustainability journey, so we facilitate exchange of best practices and model our work for other cities.
Our Values
Sustainability is for all of us.
Sustainability is a human right and our work is for everyone regardless of race, place, and identity. To us, living more sustainably is a journey rooted in compassion, inclusion, and justice.
Education leads to action.
We believe education is the first step toward taking meaningful action, and that learning to live sustainably can be simple and fun. We empower people to try little changes that make a big difference.
Collaboration makes us stronger.
Nothing is achieved alone. Our diverse partnerships allow us to work creatively, accountably, and in harmony. We believe we go further together.
We are good stewards of our organization.
Taking good care of what we have is at the heart of who we are and what we do. We are committed to using your gifts of support responsibly and transparently to deliver credible work toward our shared goals.
Our Team
Urban Green Lab’s team is a community of people who want to prioritize sustainable living education and care deeply about protecting resources by making better choices in our daily lives. In addition to our staff and board of directors, our team includes the interns, volunteers, and frontline champions who go the extra mile every day to be the solution.
Click here to learn more about us and opportunities to join our team.