MHC Fellow - Wayne County Michigan Sustainability & Innovation Division - Cohort 4

About the site:
Wayne County Sustainability & Innovation is a relatively new team seated within the County’s Economic Development Department. Guided by Mr. Warren C. Evans's leadership, our team collaborates to create projects and policies that decrease the County’s carbon footprint and build stronger, more resilient communities in the face of a changing climate.

This division's work was championed by local sustainability pioneers and established by Commission Resolution 2022-838. Today, we’re in an exciting startup phase. Sustainability & Innovation focuses on supporting the County’s most vulnerable residents and neighborhoods, improving resource efficiency, and strengthening alignment between existing State, Regional, and Local sustainability goals. Every day, we strive to embody the County’s core values of Integrity, Transparency, and Diversity as we work toward a more sustainable future for all.

Dates of Service: 1/13/2027 – 8/20/2027

Position Type: Hybrid (Mondays and Fridays are remote days. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are in person)

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 8:30AM - 4:30PM

Site Location: 500 Griswold St, Detroit, MI 48226 - 28th Floor

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the continued growth and implementation of Wayne Forward, Wayne County’s technical assistance program for local governments. Support the planning and coordination of Wayne Forward sessions throughout the service term. This will include identifying and scheduling speakers, coordinating logistics and outreach, developing meeting materials, supporting interactive programming, documenting feedback, and following up with participants after each session.
• Support ongoing engagement with local government staff across Wayne County to better understand community priorities, implementation barriers, and emerging needs and develop practical resources that respond to needs identified by local governments.
• Develop local case studies and success stories that document how Wayne County communities are addressing sustainability, resilience, infrastructure, and planning challenges.
• Support related Sustainability & Innovation initiatives where they directly complement Wayne Forward and provide useful resources or learning opportunities for local governments
• Empower the campus and local community to access federal and state climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and other outreach activities to consistently share information related to reducing emissions, energy use and waste.
• Participate in MHC Fellows member development, shared learning, and collaboration activities, including three in-person convenings and monthly virtual trainings.