Episode 5 features 6 local artists who worked with us to create interactive art exhibits displayed at Easton and Bethlehem Area Public Libraries. These exhibits reflect on the major themes of CREATE Connections’ community-wide approach to climate action, and visitors can contribute by choosing an action to pledge to take. The installations will be exhibited at the libraries until later this fall. 

Artists participating in the project are: Lynn Alexander, Jamie Cabreza, William Christine, Lauren Kindle, Charles Stonewall, and Cleveland Wall. Additionally, students in Professor and Artist Deirdre Murphy’s “Big Questions” class at Lehigh University contributed works.

The CREATE Connections podcast centers on the idea that no matter what roles you hold - elected official, parent, volunteer, student, or other - you are a crucial part of climate action in your community. We are all impacted by climate change and other environmental hazards, and we all have strengths and resources we can bring to make our community more resilient. 

We will “CREATE Connections” as we interview a variety of guests to explore how they have found their place in the network of people and organizations working to build healthy, sustainable, resilient, people-centered places to live and work. Along the way, we will highlight opportunities for listeners to take action and form new connections throughout our region! 

Links and additional resources from the episode:

• Visit the exhibit!
• BAPL Open Hours
• Mon. – Wed. 9AM – 8PM
• Thurs. & Fri. 9AM – 6PM
• Sat. 10AM – 5PM
• Sun. CLOSED
• EAPL Open Hours
• Mon - Thurs. 8AM - 8PM
• Friday 8AM - 5PM
• Saturday  9AM - 5PM
• Sunday  CLOSED
• More about the artists:
• Lynn Alexander - Website | Instagram | Easton Book Festival 
• Jamie Cabreza - Website
• Bill Christine - Website | Facebook
• Lauren Kindle - Website
• Charles Stonewall - Website | Video of Work | Recent Exhibit
• Cleveland Wall - Home Page
• The Climate Museum
• Tell Your Climate Story - Climate Generation
• Climate Art Ideas - 350.org
• Sign up for the CREATE Connections Newsletter
• More about the CREATE Connections Project
• Connect with Nurture Nature Center
• Facebook
• Instagram

This podcast was prepared by the Nurture Nature Center under award NA23SEC0080002 from the Environmental Literacy Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The CREATE Connections podcast centers on the idea that no matter what roles you hold - elected official, parent, volunteer, student, or other - you are a crucial part of climate action in your community. We are all impacted by climate change and other environmental hazards, and we all have strengths and resources we can bring to make our community more resilient. 

We will “CREATE Connections” as we interview a variety of guests to explore how they have found their place in the network of people and organizations working to build healthy, sustainable, resilient, people-centered places to live and work. Along the way, we will highlight opportunities for listeners to take action and form new connections throughout our region! 

Episode 4 features Nature’s Way Market in Easton. We talk to Amanda and Eliana about steps the store takes to be more sustainable, which resulted in them receiving the “committed” level of recognition in the Lehigh Valley Sustainable Business Program, an upcoming sale and maker’s market as part of Climate Action Week, and more of the role small businesses can play in local sustainability and climate action.  

Links and additional resources from the episode:

• Nature’s Way
• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• List of Participating Businesses in the LV Sustainable Business Program
• Info on joining LV Sustainable Business Program and Network
• Next Sustainable Business Network Meeting
• Monday, November 3, 6-7pm
• Virtual
• Join the LV Sustainable Business Network and representatives from PPL to learn about rebates, cost savings, and resources available to businesses to reduce energy use! Bring any questions about how to save energy in your building.
• Not a PPL customer? Many of the tips shared may still apply to you! We’d love to have you join us. Email Lauren ([email protected]) with any questions!
• Register to receive the meeting link at tinyurl.com/PPLNov3 
• Climate Action Week Schedule
• Sign up for the CREATE Connections Newsletter
• More about the CREATE Connections Project
• Connect with Nurture Nature Center
• Facebook
• Instagram

This podcast was prepared by the Nurture Nature Center under award NA23SEC0080002 from the Environmental Literacy Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The CREATE Connections podcast centers on the idea that no matter what roles you hold - elected official, parent, volunteer, student, or other - you are a crucial part of climate action in your community. We are all impacted by climate change and other environmental hazards, and we all have strengths and resources we can bring to make our community more resilient. 

We will “CREATE Connections” as we interview a variety of guests to explore how they have found their place in the network of people and organizations working to build healthy, sustainable, resilient, people-centered places to live and work. Along the way, we will highlight opportunities for listeners to take action and form new connections throughout our region! 

Episode 3 features Brandon Sullivan, City of Easton Sustainability Coordinator, Sarah DeGrendel, City of Bethlehem Sustainability Manager, and Veronika Vostinak, City of Allentown Sustainability Coordinator. All three were hired in the last couple of years to oversee their city’s sustainability efforts and serve as liaisons between the many different people in city government and in the community working on local environmental issues. We talk about their priorities for the next few years, recent successes, and how residents can get involved with sustainability efforts in their city. 

Links and additional resources from the episode: 

• Allentown
• Allentown Sustainability
• Take the Climate Action Plan Survey
• Bethlehem
• Bethlehem Climate Action Plan
• Bethlehem's hub for community engagement, WeBuildBethlehem 
• Sign up for the Bethlehem Climate Challenge! 
• Easton
• Easton Climate Action Plan 
• Submit ideas or concerns about sustainability and the environment: [email protected] 
• Easton Urban Conservation Department
• Sign up for the CREATE Connections Newsletter
• More about the CREATE Connections Project
• Connect with Nurture Nature Center
• Facebook
• Instagram

This podcast was prepared by the Nurture Nature Center under award NA23SEC0080002 from the Environmental Literacy Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The CREATE Connections podcast centers on the idea that no matter what roles you hold - elected official, parent, volunteer, student, or other - you are a crucial part of climate action in your community. We are all impacted by climate change and other environmental hazards, and we all have strengths and resources we can bring to make our community more resilient. 

We will “CREATE Connections” as we interview a variety of guests to explore how they have found their place in the network of people and organizations working to build healthy, sustainable, resilient, people-centered places to live and work. Along the way, we will highlight opportunities for listeners to take action and form new connections throughout our region! 

This episode features Jason Sizemore of Butterhead Kitchen, a vegan kitchen offering cooking demos, catering, and small batch products in Bethlehem Township. We discuss the benefits of eating more plants for planetary and personal health, the journey that brought Jason to create Butterhead, and some of Jason’s favorite vegan recipes.

Links and additional resources from the pisode: 

• Connect with Butterhead Kitchen:
• Website 
• 610-686-3000, [email protected]
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• The Vegan Calculator - Resource Jason mentions to calculate the benefits of each vegan meal you eat
• Strategy Spotlight: Eat Local and Plant-Based
• Plant-Rich Diets: Project Drawdown
• Buy Fresh Buy Local - Local Food Finder
• Buy Fresh Buy Local - 2024-2026 Local Foods Guide
• Sign up for the CREATE Connections Newsletter
• More about the CREATE Connections Project
• Connect with Nurture Nature Center
• Facebook
• Instagram

This podcast was prepared by the Nurture Nature Center under award NA23SEC0080002 from the Environmental Literacy Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Welcome back to the CREATE Connections podcast! This podcast centers on the idea that no matter what roles you hold - elected official, parent, volunteer, student, or other - you are a crucial part of climate action in your community. We are all impacted by climate change and other environmental hazards, and we all have strengths and resources we can bring to make our community more resilient. 

We will “CREATE Connections” as we interview a variety of guests to explore how they have found their place in the network of people and organizations working to build healthy, sustainable, resilient, people-centered places to live and work. Along the way, we will highlight opportunities for listeners to take action and form new connections throughout our region! 

Our first episode for this season is a conversation with our 5 college interns who have worked with us on elements of the CREATE Connections project for the last year. 

Links and additional resources from the episode: 

• Climate Storytelling from Climate Generation
• TED Talk: The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: Talk about it, Katharine Hayhoe
• Sign up for the CREATE Connections Newsletter
• More about the CREATE Connections Project
• Want to share a climate story? Check out our social media or email us at [email protected]

This podcast was prepared by the Nurture Nature Center under award NA23SEC0080002 from the Environmental Literacy Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

CREATE Connections Episode 6 focuses on people-powered transportation, an important climate action that can help our community be more sustainable. It features Aaron and Lamont, students who are part of Community Bike Works in Easton, along with Nella Panella, the Easton shop’s program manager. We discuss what they love about biking, some of the obstacles that exist to getting more people out on bikes in a city like Easton, and the lessons they take away from their involvement in our local bike community. 

Links and additional resources from the episode: 

• Community Bike Works
• Coalition for Appropriate Transportation (CAT)
• THE LINK Trail Network - Find your local trail
• Spend a few minutes to learn how to signal and scan with this video from the League of American Bicyclists: https://bikeleague.org/videos/signaling-and-scanning/    
• NNC’s Youth Climate Summit of the Lehigh Valley
• Sign up for the CREATE Connections Newsletter
• More about the CREATE Connections Project 

Welcome to the CREATE Connections podcast! This podcast centers on the idea that no matter what roles you hold - elected official, parent, volunteer, student, or other - you are a crucial part of climate action in your community. We are all impacted by climate change and other environmental hazards, and we all have strengths and resources we can bring to make our community more resilient. 

We will “CREATE Connections” as we interview a variety of guests to explore how they have found their place in the network of people and organizations working to build healthy, sustainable, resilient, people-centered places to live and work. Along the way, we will highlight opportunities for listeners to take action and form new connections throughout our region! 

This podcast was prepared by the Nurture Nature Center under award NA23SEC0080002 from the Environmental Literacy Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

CREATE Connections Episode 5 features some of the student leaders of Palisades High School’s STEM Outreach Club and their advisor, Mr. Dylan Fedell, discussing youth’s role in climate action, their involvement in the Youth Climate Summit, and their hopes for the future. . 

Links and additional resources from the episode: 

• NNC’s Youth Climate Summit of the Lehigh Valley - Registration now open for 2025!
• Climate Action Strategy Spotlights 
• List of Youth Climate Action Organizations 
• Sign up for the CREATE Connections Newsletter
• More about the CREATE Connections Project 

Welcome to the CREATE Connections podcast! This podcast centers on the idea that no matter what roles you hold - elected official, parent, volunteer, student, or other - you are a crucial part of climate action in your community. We are all impacted by climate change and other environmental hazards, and we all have strengths and resources we can bring to make our community more resilient. 

We will “CREATE Connections” as we interview a variety of guests to explore how they have found their place in the network of people and organizations working to build healthy, sustainable, resilient, people-centered places to live and work. Along the way, we will highlight opportunities for listeners to take action and form new connections throughout our region! 

This podcast was prepared by the Nurture Nature Center under award NA23SEC0080002 from the Environmental Literacy Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

CREATE Connections Episode 4 features Megan McBride, executive director of Buy Fresh Buy Local of the Greater Lehigh Valley (BFBL). Our discussion ranging from supporting farmers to improving access to fresh food to the possibility of a local food processing plant in the region is sure to satisfy anyone hungry to learn more about the local food system from farm to plate. 

Links and additional resources from the episode: 

• BFBL Website
• Follow BFBL on Facebook
• Follow BFBL on Instagram
• BFBL Calendar - find a wide variety of food and farm events. There’s a lot going on this fall!
• Contact Megan: [email protected] 
• Sign up for the CREATE Connections Newsletter
• More about the CREATE Connections Project 

Welcome to the CREATE Connections podcast! This podcast centers on the idea that no matter what roles you hold - elected official, parent, volunteer, student, or other - you are a crucial part of climate action in your community. We are all impacted by climate change and other environmental hazards, and we all have strengths and resources we can bring to make our community more resilient. 

We will “CREATE Connections” as we interview a variety of guests to explore how they have found their place in the network of people and organizations working to build healthy, sustainable, resilient, people-centered places to live and work. Along the way, we will highlight opportunities for listeners to take action and form new connections throughout our region! 

This podcast was prepared by the Nurture Nature Center under award NA23SEC0080002 from the Environmental Literacy Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Episode 3 features Lynn Rothman, chair of the city of Bethlehem’s Environmental Advisory Council, and Ian Kindle, chair of the city of Easton’s Environmental Advisory Council. We discussed the EAC’s role as a link between city government and residents, the wide range of projects each EAC is working on, and what someone who is interested might expect at their first EAC meeting. 

Links and additional resources from the episode: 

• Bethlehem EAC
• Meetings: First Thursday of every month, 7:00 pm Northampton Community College Fowler Family Southside Center, Room 106, 511 E 3rd St, Bethlehem, and via Zoom (link on website)
• Website
• Facebook
• Easton EAC
• Meetings: First Tuesday of every month, 6:00 pm
• Easton City Hall, 123 S Third Street, City Council Chambers or the Mayor's Conference Room, and via Zoom (link on Facebook)
• Website
• Facebook
• WeConservePA Resources for EAC Members
• Sign up for the CREATE Connections Newsletter
• More about the CREATE Connections Project 

Welcome to the CREATE Connections podcast! This podcast centers on the idea that no matter what roles you hold - elected official, parent, volunteer, student, or other - you are a crucial part of climate action in your community. We are all impacted by climate change and other environmental hazards, and we all have strengths and resources we can bring to make our community more resilient. 

We will “CREATE Connections” as we interview a variety of guests to explore how they have found their place in the network of people and organizations working to build healthy, sustainable, resilient, people-centered places to live and work. Along the way, we will highlight opportunities for listeners to take action and form new connections throughout our region! 

This podcast was prepared by the Nurture Nature Center under award NA23SEC0080002 from the Environmental Literacy Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Episode 2 features Rob Christopher, the City of Easton’s Urban Conservation Manager, for a discussion about trees, their importance to climate change, their benefits to quality of life, and the work that goes into maintaining an urban forest. 

Links and additional resources from the episode: 

• Easton’s Urban Conservation Office (includes links to request a free street tree or submit questions/concerns to Rob)
• Easton Urban Conservation Facebook
• Bethlehem Bureau of Urban Forestry
• There are many apps/programs that let you earn points to plant trees. A quick Google search can help you find the most current options.
• Sign up for the CREATE Connections Newsletter
• More about the CREATE Connections Project 

Welcome to the CREATE Connections podcast! This podcast centers on the idea that no matter what roles you hold - elected official, parent, volunteer, student, or other - you are a crucial part of climate action in your community. We are all impacted by climate change and other environmental hazards, and we all have strengths and resources we can bring to make our community more resilient. 

We will “CREATE Connections” as we interview a variety of guests to explore how they have found their place in the network of people and organizations working to build healthy, sustainable, resilient, people-centered places to live and work. Along the way, we will highlight opportunities for listeners to take action and form new connections throughout our region! 

This podcast was prepared by the Nurture Nature Center under award NA23SEC0080002 from the Environmental Literacy Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.