Just six weeks into her National Service term, PMSC AmeriCorps member Lydia Neuhauser is getting things done with PMSC’s new partner organization: The Centre Region Council of Governments (CRCOG). The CRCOG has a goal to broaden the impact and meet objectives of the Centre Region Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. And, Lydia’s PMSC AmeriCorps Environmental Stewardship position with the CRCOG aims to meet this goal by engaging community members in energy conservation and renewable energy projects across the region.
Neuhauser is developing a brand new initiative in order to empower local residents to serve their neighbors: educating them on energy best practices and how to implement them in local homes and businesses. Lydia is serving with CRCOG to develop a program called Sustainable Communities Stewardship Network, to bring out the best of the Centre County Region in improving energy efficiency. The program will be, “A community group that would go through seven weeks of training to become ambassadors to the community: the community going to the community,” explains Neuhauser. In the Environmental Stewardship critical need area, AmeriCorps across the nation: “conserves natural habitats, improves energy efficiency, protects clean air and water, and helps to mitigate the effects of climate change,” (AmeriCorps.gov). So, this new initiative in Centre County seeks to put boots on the ground to make vision statements into realities.
Neuhauser is educating and connecting with the community at local events, club meetings, environmental studies and sustainability classes at Penn State University: sharing about the new ambassador program and the opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to become stewards. Simultaneously, Lydia is connecting with students, local professors, and other experts in the field to build the curriculum of the program for new stewards.
With projected program roll-out scheduled for early 2025, Neuhauser is on the move this fall-- using her service time to making critical connections across the community in an effort to be part of the Centre County Region Council of Governments goal: to “reduce energy consumption by 30% for homes and 25% for business; and to transition fossil sources to renewable energy for 10% of homes and 5% of businesses’ energy usage,” by the year 2030.
Lydia Neuhauser serves as part of the 2024-2025 Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps AmeriCorps-- the 30th year of service. Building on the legacy of over 3000 PMSC members before her, Neuhauser is getting things done to bring out the very best of Centre County, of Pennsylvania, and of America--building her own legacy for future generations.
Lydia is investing time into building the brand new ambassador curriculum and making connections across the region.