Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup
Building climate-resilient communities in the Upper Valley through collaboration, research, information sharing, education, and action.
Climate Change
Leadership Academy
Returns in 2021!
March 24 – June 16, 2021
Apply starting January 11
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About UVAW
The Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup (UVAW) is a bi-state, multi-stakeholder working group of leaders and partner organizations. Started in December 2011, the workgroup meets monthly to focus on building climate-resilient communities in the Upper Valley.
Our Working Definition of Climate Resiliency
Climate Resiliency is the ability of a community to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate impacts in a way that minimizes significant disruption to our lives and impacts on our shared resources. This includes our health, safety, built environment, food availability, natural resources, wildlife, and financial strength.
Climate change is not some distant problem – it is happening here and now in the Upper Valley. In recent years, we have seen climate disruptions affect our communities in the form of droughts, deluges, ice and hail storms, intense cold snaps, and sudden heat waves. We must recognize these increasingly frequent extreme weather events for what they are: our new normal.
Resources from our Spring 2019 Forum
Let’s Talk About Climate Change!
Effective strategies for productive conversations
Presentation Slides on Communicating about Climate Change
Resources recommended by presenter Christa Daniels, Ph.D. AICP from the Center for Climate Preparedness and Community Resilience at Antioch University New England.
Photos from our October 2018 Forum
Droughts and Downpours
Managing for Extremes
Attendees learn about rainwater infiltration from the NHDES Soak Up the Rain program
Attendees tour stormwater management systems at Hypertherm.
Stacey Chiocchio of Hyperthem demonstrates how the porous pavement absorbs rainwater
Three groups visit the various stormwater management systems at Hypertherm
John Rooney of Hypertherm leads a tour of stormwater management systems
A full house enjoys the presentation portion of the forum!
All photos from the Droughts and Downpours event were taken by volunteer photographer, Rob Strong. Thanks, Rob!
UVAW Members
Sherry Godlewski
NH Department of Environmental Services, Co-Chair UVAW
sgodlewski@des.state.nh.us
Alice Ely
Public Health Council of the Upper Valley
alice.ely@uvpublichealth.org
Michael Simpson
Antioch University New England
msimpson@antioch.edu
Gregory Norman
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
gregory.a.norman@hitchcock.org
Alex Jaccaci
Hypertherm, Co-Chair UVAW
alex.jaccaci@hypertherm.com
Kevin Geiger
Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission
kgeiger@trorc.org
Julia Griffin
Town of Hanover
julia.griffin@hanovernh.org
Lizann Peyton
Nonprofit Consultant
lizann.peyton@gmail.com
Ana Mejia
Vital Communities
ana@vitalcommunities.org
Sarah Brock
Vital Communities
sarah@vitalcommunities.org
Meghan Butts
Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission
mbutts@uvlsrpc.org
Mark Goodwin
City of Lebanon
mark.goodwin@lebcity.com
Rosi Kerr
Dartmouth College
rosalie.e.kerr@dartmouth.edu
Beth Sawin
Climate Interactive
esawin@climateinteractive.org
Lisa Wise
UNH Extension and NH Sea Grant
lisa.wise@unh.edu
Erich Osterberg
Dartmouth College
erich.c.osterberg@dartmouth.edu
Jenny Levy
Hypertherm
jenny.levy@hypertherm.com
Cameron Wake
University of NH, Carbon Solutions New England
cameron.wake@unh.edu
Need to Contact Us?
Ana Mejia, Climate Projects Coordinator at Vital Communities | ana@vitalcommunities.org, 802-291-9100 x114
Alex Jaccaci & Sherry Godlewski, UVAW Co-Chairs | alex.jaccaci@hypertherm.com and sherry.godlewski@des.nh.gov