MORPC Summit on Sustainability brings together community leaders, Voinovich School members

The annual Summit on Sustainability commenced in Columbus earlier this fall. This event, organized by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC}, brings together hundreds of community members committed to leading the charge towards a more sustainable future.  

Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service is proud to have two members of its community who appeared at the Summit.   

Natalie Kruse-Daniels, professor and director of the Environmental Studies Program in the Voinovich School, took the stage as a speaker. Her presentation discussed climate resilience in Appalachia. 

“The key point that I was talking about was this idea that if you don't have the basics of community development —if you lack access to health care, food, transportation, jobs, quality education— then you can't expect people to be resilient to climate change,” Kruse said. “Adapting in many ways is a privilege, right? And if you can't make ends meet, then that's just not something you can do.”  

Kruse highlighted Passion Works, a local art studio, as an example strengthening community ties. Since 1998, Passion Works has created opportunities, employment and creative purpose for people with developmental differences in the heart of Athens, according to its website. 

Initiatives such as Passion Works create connection and inclusion among communities, according to Kruse.

“So then when you have major power outage, or when you have a storm come through... when you have another big disconnecting event, that connection creates community that allows us to respond better and know who is vulnerable and how they need to be served, because we know them and we're connected to them,” Kruse said. 

Kruse also gave a lunchtime presentation on air quality, joined by a number of other influential leaders in the fight for clean air.  

Stephen Renner is another Bobcat who appeared onstage at MORPC. Renner is the director of the Franklin County Department of Sanitary Engineering, and a graduate student at the Voinovich School. 

“Dr. Kruse reached out to me and asked me to say a few words about the Voinovich school and the program, so that's how I ended up on the MORPC stage,” Renner explained.  

Renner’s speech focused on the themes he has learned during his time in the Online Master’s in Sustainability, Security and Resilience program; including the power of community and service, unifying passion with action and a call to action for the future. 

“It's going to take all of us together to solve these problems,” Renner explained. “These three themes are what Voinovich teaches us at the high level. So, I just wanted to be able to shout to the world, ‘Hey check this out, you’ve got to see this school and peer into this program.’”

The MSSR program is an entirely online program offered to working professionals seeking a tailored educational experience. Graduates of MSSR have the skills needed to address our world’s most pressing challenges, including climate change, natural disasters, and global crises. 

Renner enrolled in the MSSR program in spring 2023 and will receive his master’s from the Voinovich School in December.  

“To now be able to be at the end of this program and receive a master's level degree from this school, I'm going to cherish and honor what the Voinovich School is. It's quite an honor to be part of the family of the Voinovich School,” Renner said. “They've helped transform me into a leader and I feel touched by that. What I want to do is just give back, you know, whatever it is, whatever my future is, I'm going to find a way to give back."