ICLEI USA launched the Colorado Resilience Engine (CORE) Internship Program with dual goals: 1) building capacity among Colorado local governments and 2) training the next generation of resilience leaders. With support from the CO-WY Ascend Engine, Innosphere, the National Science Foundation, and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the program placed five graduate-level interns with local governments across Colorado. Each host community identified a real-world resilience challenge that would become their interns’ project for the next 6 to 8 months. Learn more about these projects – and how the CORE interns are contributing to local disaster readiness, sustainability, and climate action efforts – in this blog series. ‘
Englewood
The City of Englewood – known as the “wooden nook” since 1903 for its abundance of trees – has long prided itself on being a tree haven. Today, with over 244 acres of parkland and recognition as a Tree City USA member, the community is honoring that history while planning for a resilient future – one that nurtures not only its natural assets but also the health and well-being of its residents.
This summer, ICLEI USA CORE intern Colton Zadkovic is working with the City’s Sustainability Division to develop a Community Climate Resiliency Framework. One area of particular concern for Englewood residents around the climate-related decline of native plants and animals; therefore, the framework prioritizes solutions that support a thriving ecosystem for the region’s native flora and fauna. The project takes input from local workshops and translates it into actionable next steps, from assessing program feasibility and identifying case studies to mapping funding opportunities. Once complete, the framework will be presented to the City Council for adoption and possible integration into the city’s updated strategic plan.
For Colton, the experience has been eye-opening. “Local government is the place where the rubber meets the road in the public policy world,” he said. “It provides the most tangible view of the effects of the work you’re doing.”
Looking ahead, Colton is both excited and nervous about presenting the final framework to the City Council this October. “Being able to show all of the hard work that has gone into this project and hopefully have it adopted will be a huge accomplishment.”
Reflecting on his time as a CORE intern, Colton shared how the experience has shaped his path forward. “My CORE internship has given me the confidence to believe I can have a career in the sustainability and resilience space. It’s also invigorated me to continue pursuing a career specifically in local government because of the impact I’ve seen the work can have.”
Through his work, Englewood is gaining a practical framework for resilience, and Colton is gaining the foundation for a future in climate leadership.
