Our Story
Urban Green Lab was founded in 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee, and incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2011. The organization began as a group of passionate friends with a shared mission of sustainability education and an idea to build a brick-and-mortar center where the community could learn the basics of sustainable living. In 2013, Urban Green Lab hired its first executive director, and in 2016, shifted its outreach to a mobile laboratory that delivers sustainable living education citywide. Today, our mission thrives in systemic ways through our classrooms, households, and workplaces.
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.
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.
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.
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.