The environment became a top priority — both personally and professionally — for Jennifer in 2013 when she found more time for volunteer efforts. She joined and became a founding board member of Go Green Northbrook where she first worked to raise awareness of the detrimental effects of human activity on the environment.
In 2015, she attended a Climate Reality Leadership Corps training with former Vice President Al Gore and an impressive roster of world-renowned experts where she learned extensively about the science of the climate crisis, powerful and effective communication practices, and leadership skills to pull it all together for greatest effectiveness. She has returned numerous times to serve as a mentor to new leaders. She was awarded their highest honor, the Green Ring Award, in 2019 by Al Gore at the Minneapolis training for her contributions.
In 2017, she co-founded and began serving as the founding chapter chair of The Climate Reality Project: Chicago Metro Chapter where she served in leadership for four and a half years. She structured the organizational foundation, built a leadership team, designed the website and online presence, and helped grow the chapter to over 600 members with a dozen action teams. In 2021, the United Nations Association of Chicago awarded the chapter a Global Goals Award for climate action.
Jennifer is newly getting involved with Climate Designers where she will help build out their international chapters program.
Knowledge of the imperative need for societies to address human-caused carbon emissions is omnipresent. Jennifer is ever seeking ways to use her time and skills to advance solutions to the climate crisis.