Community Programs

Earth & Equity Lab

Earth & Equity Lab brings together community members, practitioners, and local leaders to actively advance environmental stewardship through hands-on learning and shared action.

The Community Life Collaborative uses its 40 acres of land and 20,000-square-foot facility as a living model for sustainability, implementing visible, practical projects such as rain gardens, recycling systems, composting, and other environmentally responsible practices.

We divert about 1,000 pounds of waste from landfills through our recycling program and annually we’re cleaning and filtering 14,000 gallons of rain water through our green infrastructure

Tree Up Akron

Tree Up Akron is a collaborative initiative that brings together partners like Big Love Network, Akron Parks Collaborative, and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to plant trees, educate residents, and restore the local environment, especially in Black and Brown communities disproportionately affected by reduced tree canopy.

Through hands-on workshops and community engagement, the program promotes environmental stewardship, mitigates climate change, and fosters healthier, more connected neighborhoods. We’ve planted hundreds of native trees and plants in Summit County.

Green Youth Immersions

Green Youth Immersions empowers young leaders to explore environmental stewardship and climate justice through hands-on learning experiences in nature. In partnership with organizations like Organic Connects, Living Water Association, Case Western Reserve University, and the Northern Ohio Recovery Association, this program customizes workshops and activities that connect youth with experts and peers, fostering leadership, advocacy, and a deeper bond with the natural world.

By cultivating the next generation of leaders, Green Youth Immersions is building a more just, informed, and resilient future. We’ve hosted about 100 students on our campus and trained a number across Northeast Ohio.

Community Education & Training

Community Life Collaborative’s Community Education and Training programs bring people together to learn, connect, and take action on issues that impact our communities. Through educational forums, workshops, and convenings, participants explore topics such as social justice, climate justice, faith-based engagement, and community leadership.

By combining learning with collaboration, we equip individuals and organizations to create positive change and strengthen the common good. We’ve had the pleasure of training hundreds of leaders through programs like our organizer trainings and workshops.