Engaging Residents Through the Cool the City Forums
Residents discuss their funding priorities and seek to reach consensus at the second Cool the City Forum on September 22, 2025 at Studio Two Three.
As part of the Cool the City campaign, Southside ReLeaf launched a series of interactive community forums designed to help Richmond residents better understand extreme heat, flooding, sustainability, and neighborhood resilience. Through hands-on simulation activities and facilitated discussions, participants explored how cities make decisions about green investments and grappled with the difficult tradeoffs involved in funding infrastructure, community engagement, and nature-based solutions. Hosted in partnership with organizations including Virginia Interfaith Power & Light and the Community Climate Collaborative, the first two forums brought together residents, advocates, faith leaders, and community partners to discuss how Richmond can build a cooler, healthier, and more resilient future.
In May 2026, Southside ReLeaf hosted its first fully Spanish-language Cool the City Forum, expanding access to Spanish-speaking residents and creating a more inclusive space for resilience conversations. The event resulted in a fully translated set of educational facilitation materials, which can continue to support multilingual engagement for years to come. The Spanish-language forum represented an important step toward ensuring that Richmond’s resilience conversations and educational opportunities are accessible to communities that are often underrepresented in environmental planning processes.
Impact
Engaged nearly 100 residents through three Cool the City Community Forums focused on environmental resilience and sustainability between June 2025 and May 2026.
Helped residents explore the tradeoffs cities face when investing in climate and infrastructure solutions.
Created opportunities for community-centered conversations about urban heat, flooding, and neighborhood resilience.
Hosted the campaign’s first fully Spanish-language forum, expanding access for Spanish-speaking community members.
Developed a fully translated set of NOAA-funded educational materials for future multilingual programming.
Strengthened partnerships with local organizations, faith communities, and sustainability leaders through collaborative public programming.
Increased public understanding of how community engagement, infrastructure investments, and nature-based solutions work together to address climate challenges.
A group of residents speaks with Glen Allen from Virginia Interfaith Power & Light as they consider how they would invest city funds to support resilience at the June 23, 2025 forum at Studio Two Three.
Amy and Lisa from Southside ReLeaf gather with Spanish-speaking residents at Hickory Hill Community Center on May 12, 2026, to discuss how to create a cooler, healthier city.