Mobilize Frederick is a nonprofit formed by former members of the Climate Emergency Mobilization Working Group. They partner with local governments, businesses, and community organizations to implement conservation, clean energy, and ecosystem restoration projects based on 40 recommendations developed by the Workgroup in 2021.
A Conversation with Karen Cannon, Executive Director
Tell us your organization’s origin story!
Mobilize Frederick was born out of this collaborative effort and continues to advance the mission of addressing the climate emergency through local solutions. In 2020 a group of County and City residents convened under the Climate Emergency Resolution, adopted by the City Board of Aldermen and County Council. They formed the Climate Emergency Mobilization Workgroup, submitting 40 recommendations for local action in their 2021 report, Climate Response and Resilience. Volunteers dedicated more than 18,500 hours to identify steps our governments, businesses, community organizations, and residents could take to create a safer, healthier, more resilient county.
The workgroup:
- Solicited ideas in meetings with more than 80 stakeholders;
- Studied scores of peer-reviewed papers, conference presentations, and reports from other municipalities
- Developed relationships with decision-makers in government agencies, elected officials, and community leaders;
- Learned what other communities are doing to implement equitable solutions.
Mobilize Frederick was established by many members of the Workgroup to implement the report’s proposed solutions. Our first-year efforts paid off. Frederick County has allocated $3.7 million to start an Office of Climate and Energy and to expand existing programs, such as home weatherization, solar installations, and fleet electrification. The City of Frederick has also increased its budget for climate-related programs and funded a study of a “Green Bank” to finance cleaner technologies for low-income households, farms, and small businesses. Governments alone cannot achieve the goal. There must also be community-wide collaboration.
What do you like most about being an organization in Frederick County?
We love interacting and getting feedback from the community. Our work is focused on bringing climate solutions to Frederick, and ensuring they are accessible to the whole community.
What makes your organization unique?
Mobilize Frederick is unique in that our actions are guided by the community. Through the 40 recommendations, interactions with the community and decision-makers, we seek to advance economic vitality, equity, and human health by promoting innovative and effective local solutions to the growing climate emergency, in ways that are personal to Frederick County.
What do you want your organization to be known for, or what do you wish people knew about your organization?
Mobilize Frederick would like to be best known for our mission: our seeking to advance economic vitality, equity, and human health by promoting innovative and effective local solutions to the growing climate emergency.
How can the community support you?
The community can best support us by donating at https://givebutter.com/nJuEAJ, signing up for our newsletter through our website https://www.mobilizefrederick.org/, and following us @mobilizefrederick on Insta and Facebook. Donations and newsletter sign-ups are the best way to support our programs and stay up-to-date!
What do you do best?
Our best service is sharing and implementing equitable solutions, and our favorite event of the year is our annual Climate Summit where we share information with community leaders and members as well as serve as a cornerstone event for community education and collaboration.
Is there anything else you’d like the Chamber membership to know about?
With the withdrawal of federal involvement in climate action, it is more urgent than ever that communities make progress on achieving climate and clean energy goals. Your support makes our work possible. Please attend our Third Annual Climate Summit: “It’s All Connected! How Climate Solutions Work Together for a Better Future”, to learn more about how we can make a difference together.
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.