Cool the City Forums

Written By Sarah Wilkinson

In June and September 2025, Southside ReLeaf hosted community forums in collaboration with Virginia Interfaith Power & Light. Community members worked in groups to prioritize projects to address urban heat and flooding through a simulation game. An attendee summed up the experience: “The way [the forum] brought together such varied groups of people to discuss the Richmond RVAGreen 2050 priorities was outstanding. It really gave people the experience of having to choose between very important priorities while having only limited funding. It was a great reminder that we can't do everything, so where should we focus?”

Lisa from Southside ReLeaf stands talking to a blue table of six residents attending the forum.
Jacqui Bauer of C3 stands at the front of a large room in front of a presentation screen showing a cover slide that says Climate Resilience for Homes + Businesses. Residents grouped at tables look in her direction.
Glenn Allen from Virginia Interfaith Power & Light talks to residents at a table as they work on the activity. A service dog sleeps on the wood floor next to the table.
Sheri from Southside ReLeaf stands at the front of a large room presenting. A slide showing a relined map of Richmond is on the projector screen beside Sheri. Two tables full of residents look toward Sheri and the screen as she speaks.
Brandi from Southside ReLeaf holds up one of the activity cards as she speaks to another resident at her table.
A group of residents talks to each other as they work through the activity sitting at a blue table.
Sarah Wilkinson
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