Upcoming Events.
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Upcoming Events. *
Midwest BDC Health Working Group
📢 You're Invited! Midwest BDC Health Working Group
🗓 Wednesday, August 19, 2026
🕐 1:00 p.m. ET
Healthy buildings create healthy communities.
Join the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition's monthly Health Working Group as we bring together public health professionals, healthcare leaders, researchers, community advocates, and policy experts to address the health impacts of fossil fuel combustion in buildings and advance healthier, more equitable indoor environments.
Together, we:
🏡 Advance healthy homes and buildings through policy and advocacy.
🌎 Explore the connections between indoor air quality, climate, and public health.
🤝 Build capacity through collaboration, education, and shared learning.
📢 Develop strategies that center health equity in building decarbonization.
Our recent work includes:
• A Health & Building Decarbonization Fact Sheet
• A presentation and Q&A with Stanford researcher Yannai Kashtan
• Public comments to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on the health impacts of gas stoves
• Additional resources supporting healthy building policies across the Midwest
Interested in joining the conversation?
📧 Contact Marnese Jackson at jackson@midwestdecarb.org to get involved.
Together, we can build healthier homes, cleaner air, and more resilient communities across the Midwest.
Policy Power Hour: Grid Resilience, Energy Infrastructure & Data Center Impacts
Join Midwest BDC’s monthly Policy Power Hour
—a dynamic, one-hour session where coalition members unpack the latest legislative updates, regulatory shifts, and advocacy opportunities across the Midwest.
This Month’s topic:
GRID RESILIENCE & ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
As electrification accelerates, the Midwest grid is under growing pressure.
This Policy Power Hour is designed to help members feel confident navigating complex energy issues—and to ensure our movement is prepared for the infrastructure challenges ahead.
Communities, utilities, and policymakers are all asking the same questions:
What does grid resilience actually mean in our region? Where are the gaps? And how should we plan for the infrastructure we’ll need?
This month, we’re building on that foundation. Together, we’ll examine how data centers, electric vehicles, and energy conversion technologies contribute to grid stress, and what that means for long‑term community planning. We’ll explore how these trends intersect with state‑level policy, utility decision‑making, and local advocacy efforts.
What Participants Will Gain
By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with tools to:
Understand the core components of grid resilience in the Midwest
Identify where grid vulnerabilities intersect with data center growth and EV adoption
Recognize how infrastructure decisions shape community outcomes
Spot policy windows and regulatory levers that can strengthen resilience
Connect these insights to ongoing campaigns and coalition strategy
Who Should Attend:
Residents, community leaders, local government staff, environmental justice advocates, and anyone interested in how digital infrastructure affects energy systems and community well‑being.
Midwest BDC Affordable Housing August Working Group
🏘️ You're Invited! Midwest BDC Affordable Housing Working Group
🗓 Tuesday, August 25, 2026
🕐 1:00 p.m. ET
Join the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition's monthly Affordable Housing Working Group as we work to advance energy efficiency, building decarbonization, and electrification in affordable housing—ensuring low-income renters can equitably benefit from the clean energy transition.
This collaborative working group brings together:
🏡 Affordable housing organizations
🌱 Green building and energy efficiency experts
🤝 Community advocates and organizers
📋 Policy leaders from across the Midwest
Together, we explore and advance solutions that improve housing affordability, reduce energy burdens, and create healthier homes through equitable policies and programs.
Current and past topics include:
Affordable housing developer tax credits
Energy benchmarking for multifamily buildings
Building electrification
Energy efficiency programs
State and regional affordable housing policy opportunities
Whether you're an experienced practitioner or new to this work, we welcome your perspective and participation.
📧 Interested in joining?
Email Dana Gibson at gibson@midwestdecarb.org to get involved.
Together, we're building healthier, more affordable, and climate-resilient housing across the Midwest.
Midwest BDC Training: Building Regenerative Coalitions: Power, Practice, and Culture
🌱 You're Invited!
Midwest BDC Training
Building Regenerative Coalitions: Power, Practice, and Culture
🗓 Thursday, August 27, 2026
🕛 12:00 p.m. ET (US & Canada)
Coalitions are how movements achieve what no single organization can accomplish alone.
Join the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition for an interactive training exploring what it takes to build strong, equitable, and lasting coalitions that drive meaningful change.
In this training, you'll:
🤝 Explore the history and purpose of coalition building.
🌿 Learn how White Supremacy Culture can undermine collaboration and collective power.
📊 Apply the Regenerative–Extractive–Performative (REP) Diagnostic Framework to assess and strengthen coalition practices.
💡 Gain practical tools to build trust, accountability, and resilient partnerships.
Whether you're an organizer, advocate, nonprofit leader, policymaker, or community member, this session will provide actionable strategies for creating coalitions rooted in justice, shared leadership, and long-term impact.
Together, we'll build the power, practice, and culture needed to transform our communities.
Midwest BDC Training: Cooling the Block, Powering Justice Training | Where Urban Heat, Healthy Buildings, and Climate Justice Meet
Urban heat, aging buildings, and climate inequity collide in the same neighborhoods—often those shaped by decades of disinvestment. This session explores how heat islands form, how buildings contribute to climate and health burdens, and how justice‑centered solutions can cool communities and improve lives. Who This Training Is For Community advocates, organizers, neighborhood leaders, and coalition partners working on housing, energy, public health, or environmental justice. What Participants Will Gain A clear understanding of how urban heat, building emissions, and climate injustice intersect Practical strategies to cool neighborhoods and decarbonize homes Justice‑centered approaches that prioritize community needs and prevent displacement Tools to connect local stories to policy, organizing, and community action
Midwest BDC August Advocacy Working Group
Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition
Advocacy Working Group
📅 Tuesday, August 18, 2026
🕑 2:00 p.m. ET
Join the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition's monthly Advocacy Working Group—a collaborative space where advocates, organizers, and coalition members come together to advance equitable building decarbonization through education, strategy, and collective action.
We believe advocacy should be accessible to everyone—whether you're influencing policy, sharing your lived experience, organizing your community, or building public support for climate justice.
This is more than a meeting—it's a virtual advocacy workshop.
Together, we'll:
Explore different forms of advocacy, including legislative, regulatory, narrative, and coalition-based strategies.
Learn how to engage in advocacy while remaining compliant with nonprofit lobbying guidelines.
Strengthen your advocacy skills through practical exercises, storytelling, and personalized coaching.
Connect with advocates from across the Midwest to build relationships, share resources, and coordinate regional action.
Interested in participating?
Email Edward Davis at davis@midwestdecarb.org to get involved.
Together, we can build the power needed to create healthier homes, stronger communities, and a more equitable clean energy future across the Midwest.
Midwest BDC Orientation + Coalition Building Training
Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition
New Member Orientation & Coalition Building Training
📅 Tuesday, August 18, 2026
🕛 12:00–1:30 p.m. ET
Get grounded in who we are, how we work, and how to get involved with the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition (Midwest BDC). This interactive New Member Orientation & Coalition Building Training introduces our mission, coalition structure, working groups, and the tools and resources available to members while exploring the principles of effective coalition building across the Midwest.
Required: Attendance at the New Member Orientation & Coalition Building Training and completion of the membership application are required before participating in Midwest BDC Working Group meetings.
Open to Everyone: Our Policy Power Hour and Advocacy & Equity trainings are open to the public and do not require membership.
Join us to connect with fellow advocates, organizers, housing leaders, public health professionals, and climate partners as we work together to advance equitable building decarbonization and climate justice across the Midwest.
August Monthly Coalition Meeting
Monthly Orientation and Monthly Meeting
Get grounded in who we are, how we work, and how to plug into the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition. This session covers our mission, structure, working groups, and the tools available to members. Required: You must attend an orientation and complete the membership application before joining our working group meetings
Midwest BDC Data Center Strategy: Aligning Grasstops & Grassroots Power
This interactive strategy workshop brings together organizers, advocates, and partners from across the Midwest to examine how communities are responding to data center expansion — and what tactics are proving effective at the state level. Participants are encouraged to come prepared to share what they and their allies are doing to push back on harmful data center proposals, elevate community concerns, and shape policy conversations. Together, we’ll map the distinct roles of grasstops and grassroots actors, identify where each holds power, and explore how those strengths can be leveraged in coordinated campaigns. Through collaborative discussion and real‑world examples, we’ll clarify why our movement operates the way it does, how influence flows across sectors, and what strategic opportunities exist to protect Midwestern communities from extractive data center development.
Affordable Housing Working Group
The Affordable Housing WG works to advance energy efficiency, decarbonization, and electrification in affordable housing programs so low-income renters are able to equitably benefit from the clean energy transition.
Working group membership features a mix of green building experts, affordable housing non-profits, and community advocates in Midwest BDC states. Past and on-going topics include affordable housing developer tax credits and energy benchmarking of multi-family buildings.
Canva Basics: Digital Design for Climate Justice 102
Intermediate Canva training for climate justice campaigns. Learn advanced layouts, branded templates, and movement‑aligned visuals that elevate Midwest decarb stories.
Advocacy Working Group | July
Join us for our Advocacy Working Group on the 3rd Tuesday and 2 pm EST
Coalition Orientation and Coalition Building 101
UPCOMING ORIENTATION
Orientation | July — Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition
Curious about building decarbonization? Want to see what an equitable, coalition-led method of organizing looks like? Join our monthly Midwest BDC Orientation meeting. Attending this orientation is the first step in getting more deeply involved with the Coalition and becoming a member
Policy Power Hour | ENERGY JUSTICE & DATA CENTERS-
This month, we will ground ourselves in justice frameworks before revisiting what data centers are and why they’re growing so rapidly across the Midwest. We’ll examine how this expansion shapes grid stress, job creation, air quality, infrastructure, and long‑term community planning. Participants will leave equipped with tools to understand trade‑offs, ask informed questions, and advocate for upcoming state legislation, community‑centered protections for frontline communities, and health‑impact reparations.
Health Working Group
We bring together public health experts, community advocates, and other professionals to understand and address the health and air quality impacts of fossil fuel combustion in buildings.
Through collaboration, capacity-building, and policy advocacy, the group works to ensure healthy homes and buildings for all.
Check out some of the Health WG’s recent projects on this page, including a fact sheet on health and building decarbonization, presentation and Q&A with Stanford researcher Yannai Kashtan, and a blog post detailing the process the working group took to successfully submit comments to the Consumer Product Safety Commission on the health impacts of gas stoves.
Canva Basics: Digital Design for Climate Justice 101
Beginner‑friendly Canva training for climate justice communicators. Learn layout, color, templates, and presentation tools to create clear, consistent movement visuals.
Midwest BDC Monthly Coalition Meeting
Learn more about joining the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition
Want to take your advocacy and involvement to the next level? Learn how you can become a member of Midwest BDC - we need your voice in this work.
Monthly Coalition Meeting- Register
Policy Power Hour | ENERGY JUSTICE & DATA CENTERS
Join Midwest BDC’s monthly Policy Power Hour
—a dynamic, one-hour session where coalition members unpack the latest legislative updates, regulatory shifts, and advocacy opportunities across the Midwest.
This Month’s topic:
ENERGYJUSTICE & DATA CENTERS
AI Data Centers and the Hidden Costs of Energy, Water, Air, and Noise
Last month, we explored the types of data centers, their impacts on community health and affordability, and what our members are doing to respond.
This month, we will ground ourselves in justice frameworks before revisiting what data centers are and why they’re growing so rapidly across the Midwest. We’ll examine how this expansion shapes grid stress, job creation, air quality, infrastructure, and long‑term community planning. Participants will leave equipped with tools to understand trade‑offs, ask informed questions, and advocate for upcoming state legislation, community‑centered protections for frontline communities, and health‑impact reparations.
Each session features:
• 🔍 Updates from the ground across the Midwest
• 🧭 Strategic insights on building decarbonization and energy justice
• 🗣️Interactive: Open discussion and Q&A with fellow advocates
• 📣 Calls to action and upcoming engagement opportunities
Who Should Attend:
Residents, community leaders, local government staff, environmental justice advocates, and anyone interested in how digital infrastructure affects energy systems and community well‑being.
Orientation | June
Curious about building decarbonization?
Want to see what an equitable, coalition-led method of organizing looks like?
Join our monthly Midwest BDC Orientation meeting. Attending this orientation is the first step in getting more deeply involved with the Coalition and becoming a member – we hope to see you there!
Expect to meet some of our staff, learn about our working groups, meeting schedules, membership, and how you can plug in with our work.
Strategic Powermapping
A hands‑on powermapping training for advocates and organizers working on decarbonization and energy justice. Learn how to identify key decision‑makers, map influence pathways, and build a power map you can immediately apply to your campaign. Come with a governing body in mind—or find one during the session.
Advocacy Working Group | June
Join us for our Advocacy Working Group on the 3rd Tuesday and 2 pm EST
Tenant Rights: From Redlining, Equity to Energy Justice
Explore how historic redlining and discriminatory housing policies shaped today’s unequal energy burdens and tenant challenges. This session connects past harms to present‑day energy and housing injustices and highlights tenant‑centered solutions emerging across the Midwest. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how housing justice, energy justice, and decarbonization intersect—and what meaningful action looks like in 2026.
Energy Justice 101: How Communities Benefit | Water, Data Centers, Utility Bills, Indoor Air — Why Energy Justice Matters More Than Ever
Do you want lower utility bills?
Do you want healthier air in your home?
Do you want your community protected as data centers and water demands grow?
If you answered yes, this session is for you.
Energy justice is about making sure every community—especially those historically overburdened by pollution, high energy costs, and poor housing conditions—benefits from the transition to clean, affordable, and healthy energy systems. And with Summer and Fall 2026 bringing rising utility bills, increased water demand, rapid data‑center expansion, and growing indoor air concerns, understanding these issues has never been more urgent.
You’ll learn how today’s energy systems work, where inequities show up, and how utilities, technical partners, and community organizations influence a fair transition. We’ll also share a practical roadmap for community‑centered decarbonization that prioritizes health, affordability, and resilience.
What We’ll Cover
- What “energy justice” means and why it matters in 2026
- How communities benefit from equitable decarbonization
- The basics of how buildings and energy systems work
- Utility roles, responsibilities, and opportunities for partnership
- How water, data centers, and rising energy demand shape community outcomes
- Indoor air quality and health impacts
- A roadmap for community‑centered planning and engagement
- How residents and advocates can influence local decisions
Who Should Attend
Residents, community leaders, local government staff, environmental justice advocates, and anyone interested in how clean energy and building decarbonization can support healthier, more affordable, and more resilient communities in 2026 and beyond.
Policy Power Hour | The Cloud Isn’t Invisible: Data Centers, Grid Stress, Jobs, and What Communities Can Do About It
Join Midwest BDC’s monthly Policy Power Hour
—a dynamic, one-hour session where coalition members unpack the latest legislative updates, regulatory shifts, and advocacy opportunities across the Midwest.
This Month’s topic:
The Cloud Isn’t Invisible
Let’s discuss Data Centers, Grid Stress, Jobs, and What Communities Can Do About It
As the Midwest moves toward cleaner and more affordable energy systems, energy demand is shifting rapidly. We will recap building decarbonization—what it is, why it matters, and how it supports community health, affordability, and resilience. Participants will learn how buildings use energy, why electrification is a key strategy, and how the Midwest’s housing stock and climate shape our path forward.
Each session features:
• 🔍 Timely policy briefings from across the region
• 🧭 Strategic insights on building decarbonization and energy justice
• 🗣️ Open discussion and Q&A with fellow advocates
• 📣 Calls to action and upcoming engagement opportunities
We then turn to one of the fastest‑growing drivers of regional energy demand: data centers. These facilities—central to cloud computing, AI, and digital storage—are expanding quickly and placing new pressures on local grids, land use, and community resources.
The session explains what data centers are, why they’re growing, and how their energy needs intersect with community decarbonization goals. We’ll explore impacts on grid stress, job creation, air quality, infrastructure, and long‑term planning. Participants will leave with tools to understand trade‑offs, ask informed questions, and advocate for upcoming state legislation, community‑centered protections for frontline communities, or health‑impact reparations.
Who Should Attend:
Residents, community leaders, local government staff, environmental justice advocates, and anyone interested in how digital infrastructure affects energy systems and community well‑being.
Advocacy 101: Why Advocacy Matters Now? | May
Are you ready to harness the power of storytelling for advocacy?
Join us for a compelling training session designed to equip you with the art of crafting stories that highlight your wins, needs, and the urgency of your cause.
Advocacy Working Group | May
Join us for our Advocacy Working Group on the 3rd Tuesday and 2 pm EST
Missouri Advocacy Day
Missouri Deserves Better Buildings. Join us in online, instead of Jefferson City on March 15 as advocates, residents, and partners come together to push for healthier, more affordable, low‑carbon buildings across the state. Building pollution drives poor air‑quality days and harms Missourians with asthma and respiratory conditions—this Advocacy Day is our moment to demand solutions that protect our communities.
Orientation
Curious about building decarbonization?
Want to see what an equitable, coalition-led method of organizing looks like?
Join our monthly Midwest BDC Orientation meeting. Attending this orientation is the first step in getting more deeply involved with the Coalition and becoming a member – we hope to see you there!
Expect to meet some of our staff, learn about our working groups, meeting schedules, membership, and how you can plug in with our work.
Policy Power Hour
Join Midwest BDC’s monthly Policy Power Hour
Whether you're a seasoned policy wonk or just getting oriented, this space is designed to keep you informed, inspired, and ready to act.
Each session features:
• 🔍 Timely policy briefings from across the region
• 🧭 Strategic insights on building decarbonization and energy justice
• 🗣️ Open discussion and Q&A with fellow advocates
• 📣 Calls to action and upcoming engagement opportunities
Come as you are, stay as long as you can, and leave with tools to move the work forward.
Advocacy 101: Why Advocacy Matters Now?
Are you ready to harness the power of storytelling for advocacy?
Join us for a compelling training session designed to equip you with the art of crafting stories that highlight your wins, needs, and the urgency of your cause.
Orientation
Curious about building decarbonization?
Want to see what an equitable, coalition-led method of organizing looks like?
Join our monthly Midwest BDC Orientation meeting. Attending this orientation is the first step in getting more deeply involved with the Coalition and becoming a member – we hope to see you there!
Expect to meet some of our staff, learn about our working groups, meeting schedules, membership, and how you can plug in with our work.
What is Building Decarbonization? | DECARB 101
Join Midwest BDC's Stephanie Bowman (Communications & Campaigns Manager) and Joanne Lee (Policy Manager) for Decarb 101, a welcoming, no-jargon session where you'll explore the differences between efficiency and decarbonization, the role buildings play in climate and health, and how electrification can drive justice.
Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or ready to dive in, this training is your entry point.
In this introductory session, you'll learn:
Common Key Terms: Get familiar with the essential vocabulary of building decarbonization.
What is Building Decarbonization? Understand the fundamentals and why it's crucial for our future.
Why Does It Matter to Me? Discover the personal and community benefits of decarbonization.
What is Midwest BDC Doing About It? Learn about the initiatives and projects led by Midwest BDC.
How Can I Get Involved? Find out how you can contribute and make a difference.
By the end of the session, you'll be well-prepared to inspire others in the journey towards a sustainable future.
Missouri “Let’s Keep the Lights On” Virtual Roundtable
Missouri “Let’s Keep the Lights On” Virtual Roundtable
6:00 PM EST
We’re convening a VIRTUAL roundtable to align on our priorities ahead of Advocacy Day. This session will help us refine our targets—especially around data centers and energy affordability—and shape the strategy we bring to the Capitol.
Please RSVP: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2h81ITvJSiWNMLOWXItlOQ
Michigan “Let’s Keep the Lights On” Virtual Roundtable
Michigan “Let’s Keep the Lights On” Virtual Roundtable
6:00 PM EST
We’re convening a VIRTUAL roundtable to align on our priorities ahead of Advocacy Day. This session will help us refine our targets—especially around data centers and energy affordability—and shape the strategy we bring to the Capitol.
Please RSVP:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Onh9bc0rSW-1tmdFdSGswQ
