UGL VOLUNTEERS
The UGL Volunteers are Urban Green Lab’s frontline ambassadors working to make Nashville a more sustainable place. On their own time, volunteers connect their families, friends, and neighbors to key educational resources that inspire sustainable choices at home, like saving energy and reducing wasted food. We believe this monthly outreach is an impactful way to connect neighbors around topics of sustainability.
The UGL Volunteer Program
The members of the UGL Volunteer program are essential ambassadors to the Nashville community and are a big part of growing our educational mission.
Who can volunteer?
Volunteers can be anyone over the age of 18 in the Nashville area. You don't need to have any prior sustainability background or volunteer experience.
Where can I volunteer?
We encourage volunteers to share the monthly actions with their family, friends, and neighbors, in a place and at a time that feels natural and comfortable for them.
What will I be talking about?
Each quarter, we will share a theme and monthly actions with a resource and discussion questions around various topics of sustainability important to our city. The resource will be short but informative. Those topics include food waste, water conservation, saving energy at home, environmental justice, and more.
Where can I find each action?
Volunteers have access to the UGL Circle Community where they can learn about and engage in each quarterly theme and monthly action, explore the topic further, connect with other volunteers, and more!
What are the benefits of becoming a UGL volunteer?
Volunteers are trained on sustainability and how to share sustainability with others. Volunteers also gain connections to sustainability networks, conversations, and special events around Nashville, including other UGL programs.
Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities
Share monthly actions with your family, friends, and neighbors.
Facilitate casual discussion around key topics of sustainability in Nashville.
Complete a simple field report after completing a monthly action.
Enlist peers to become volunteers themselves, especially in your own zip codes.
Represent UGL by spreading awareness of our mission, programs, and special initiatives.
Connect with volunteers and UGL through Circle Community.
Drive residents toward engaging in UGL's other programs and annual giving toward our cause.
Share monthly actions with your family, friends, and neighbors.
Facilitate casual discussion around key topics of sustainability in Nashville.
Complete a simple field report after meeting each monthly action.
Enlist peers to become volunteers themselves, especially in your own zip code.
Represent UGL by spreading awareness of our mission, programs, and special initiatives.
Connect with volunteers and UGL through Circle Community.
Drive residents toward engaging in UGL's other programs and annual giving toward our cause.
UGL Volunteer Testimonials
“It makes me happy that there is such a community of inspired people with the goal of making Nashville more sustainable on an individual and community level.”
- Maria Morales, UGL Volunteer
"It was meaningful to attend this [training] because of UGL’s focus on our local community. I am someone who has committed to living more sustainably and advocating for initiatives in my circles, so it is nice to have a local non-profit to connect with and build on these efforts as a larger Nashville community."
- Suzanne Merlino, UGL Volunteer
"I love our planet and my community. I want to make a difference by taking action to live more sustainably."
Luz Soto Leon, UGL Volunteer
Upcoming Volunteer Trainings
UGL Volunteer Training – June 7
The UGL Volunteers are Urban Green Lab’s frontline ambassadors working to make Nashville a more sustainable place. Join us for volunteer training to learn more about sustainability and how to talk about sustainability with family, friends, and neighbors.
Learn More
UGL Volunteer Training – September 13
The UGL Volunteers are Urban Green Lab’s frontline ambassadors working to make Nashville a more sustainable place. Join us for volunteer training to learn more about sustainability and how to talk about sustainability with family, friends, and neighbors.
Learn MoreRequest a Group Volunteer Training
Is your community organization, religious group, neighborhood association, or something similar interested in a sustainability training from the Households Division? Fill out the following request form to request a UGL Volunteer orientation session for your group of five or more.
Disclaimer: This job description is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, requirements, or conditions. While / to be accurate, it is not meant to exclude that other, different tasks may be required when circumstances change (such as during emergencies, personnel changes, workload alterations, rush jobs, or technological developments or advancements).
To learn more about the UGL Volunteers, contact Karissa Hampton at karissa@urbangreenlab.org.
Key Successes
Trained 180 UGL Volunteers on sustainability and how to share about sustainability with their friends, family, and neighbors
Collaborated with organizations like the Nashville Public Library and the YMCA of Middle Tennessee to host trainings and expand access to sustainability education, reaching diverse communities across Nashville
Created an online community of tools and resources for UGL Volunteers to continue learning and connecting beyond the orientation
Selected accomplishments since the program started in 2023. Updated February 19, 2025.
26
Middle Tennessee zip codes represented by UGL Volunteers