Oberlin Business Partnership hosts monthly Good Morning Oberlin

Oberlin Business Partnership hosted the monthly Good Morning Oberlin meeting at the Oberlin Public Library, 65 S Main St., for the public to join in discussion on current events.

The May 8 meeting, which takes place the second Thursday of each month, encourages residents, business owners, nonprofits, city officials and the community to bring ideas and topics of discussion to one setting, according to Abbie Fox, executive director of the Oberlin Business Partnership.

“My take on these meetings is I found them to be more helpful and more exciting when organizations, nonprofits, businesses can come together and have more of an open forum,” Fox said. “I learn so much at every meeting; I’m learning so much about this community.”

Meetings will feature guest speakers representing different industries, though there usually are updates on upcoming events, projects in the city, items that need addressing and other topics pertaining to the community, she said.

The May meeting featured three representatives from the Climate Action Plan Steering Committee of Oberlin, who helped to raise awareness of the action taken since 2011 with climate change and efficiency in Oberlin.

Cindy Frantz, chair of psychology and professor at Oberlin College and member of the steering committee, said the group is working on its fourth Climate Action Plan.

“We are trying to get as much input from the public as possible,” Frantz said.

Linda Arbogast, sustainability coordinator for the city of Oberlin, said the steering committee needs to get the word out about the Climate Action Plan.

Frantz and Arbogast took turns informing guests on ways in which the city is committed to reducing its emissions and the latest on the next Climate Action Plan.

The pair highlighted the history of the city’s Climate Action Plans over the years and ways in which Oberlin has improved, and continues to improve, the amount of emissions.

An upcoming goal in drafting the plan is to gather more input from the public and stakeholders in the city, they said.

“We are incorporating concerns about climate resilience and our vulnerabilities to the changing climate, but we are also incorporating concerns about social equity throughout the plan,” Frantz said. “Now, it is very front and center; those are two improvements I think we’re taking a more holistic approach to thinking about our Climate Action Plan.”

Good Morning Oberlin can help to gather information and offer networking opportunities, Fox said.

The meetings can serve as a prime platform for businesses and organizations to reach a larger audience, as well as a space to identify ways for the community to thrive, she said.

“Every meeting is different, and I think that intrigues people to want to come back,” Fox said. “It’s a great way to get a mass of people in the room to talk about different things.”

Visit oberlinbusinesspartnership.com or call 440-774-6262 for more information regarding Good Morning Oberlin.