Embedded Files
Climate change isn't just about policy. We feel it in our homes, on our blocks, and in our bodies. When neighbors meet, we share what we're going through, learn what help is out there, and make a plan.
Getting ready for climate change starts with knowing your neighbors. A gathering is a great place to start.
You don't need to be an expert or have a big budget. You need a little space, a few neighbors, and a willingness to show up. Everything else is here.
These gatherings are built to feel caring, safe, and joyful. They start from what your community already does well.
Hosting kit:
Hosting kit:
Step 1: Take a quick tour
Step 1: Take a quick tour
A short walk-through of how a gathering works.
2: Print the Gathering Guide
2: Print the Gathering Guide
This is your script. It tells you what to say and do at each step, with tips for each topic.
3: Show day-of slides
3: Show day-of slides
Put these on a screen so everyone can follow along.
4: Hand out the workbook
4: Hand out the workbook
One per guest, to write ideas and stories and take home next steps.
5: Pick a topic deck
5: Pick a topic deck
6: Let us know you hosted
6: Let us know you hosted
Extra help
Extra help
Leading hard conversations. Tips for when talks get emotional, how to share stories with care, and how to take care of yourself.
Have tough questions?
Have tough questions?
Invite a guest from a City office. Contacts below.
Want practice first?
Want practice first?
Creative Praxis offers training
Office of Sustainability: sustainability@phila.gov (215) 686-3495
Office of Emergency Management: oem@phila.gov (215) 683-3261
Department of Public Health: (215) 686-5200 Contact link
Philadelphia Water Department: waterinfo@phila.gov (215) 685-6300
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation: parksandrecreation@phila.gov (215) 683-3600
Department of Planning and Development: planning@phila.gov (215) 683-4601
Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems: otis@phila.gov
Don't forget to have fun!
Don't forget to have fun!
We know that these heavy topics can be hard to discuss, so here are some fun ways to help tell your story!
Films
Films
PG, Youtube
Step into the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss with the Lorax! Join the fun as the Lorax speaks for the trees in this magical animated read-along, where the vibrant story unfolds with the famous Truffula trees, the grumpy Once-ler, and the unforgettable message about caring for the environment!PG, Youtube
PG, Youtube
The world seems to be coming to an end, teeming with the vestiges of a human presence. Cat is a solitary animal, but as his home is devastated by a great flood, he finds refuge on a boat populated by various species, and will have to team up with them despite their differences. In the lonesome boat sailing through mystical overflowed landscapes, they navigate the challenges and dangers of adapting to this new world.PG, Youtube
Documentary
How to Live on Earth is an ambitious, visionary feature documentary that explores our vital connection to nature and its role in our future. Presented by Benedict Cumberbatch, this ultimate "how-to video" features inspirational, cutting-edge stories and powerful cinematography from around the world to reveal how humans are learning to team up with nature to solve our biggest challenges. Heart-warming, entertaining, energising, the film presents a hopeful vision of a future within reach – one in which nature thrives, and so do we. Lead contributors include Xiye Bastida, a climate justice activist, Dan O'Neill, a field biologist, wildlife filmmaker, and explorer, and Sam Kass, a former White House chef and senior policy advisor on nutrition, who all share fascinating stories that bring to life the extraordinary value of nature and the jeopardy of a world without it.Documentary
ASALi: Power of The Pollinators
ASALi: Power of The Pollinators
Animation
Directed by award winning youth environmentalist and animator Maya Penn, executive produced by Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, and featuring the voice talents of Whoopi Goldberg, Monique Coleman and more. ASALi: Power of The Pollinators follows Asali, a little bee who is one of the survivors of the destruction of her bee colony alongside her Queen mother. She meets a colorful group of pollinator friends and a human who is an environmental scientist on a timely mission. Together they fight to save their home from the monster that took everything from them. Nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Animated Short, ASALi reminds us of the power of community, hope, and confronting ecological trauma. Family-friendly, recommended for ages 9+.Animation
Plant Life
Plant Life
Documentary
Joanne Chory has spent decades revealing the secret life of plants—how they grow, sense, and respond to the world. Now, facing her own mortality, she devotes her final years to one last experiment, engineering plants to heal a warming planet. Plant Life is an intimate portrait of a scientist whose decades of discovery converge in a race against time, showing how the life of plants may hold the key to the survival of us all.Documentary
Fork in the Road
Fork in the Road
Documentary
Through compelling stories from independent farmers across the United States, from Alaskan kelp harvesters to dairy farmers in Kentucky, the film reveals the lived realities and growing challenges faced by those resisting the tide of industrialized agriculture. Featuring Nick Offerman, a passionate champion of regional agriculture and the American farmer, the film brings humor and authenticity to the movement supporting sustainable, regenerative farming. Featuring insights from chefs, activists, and experts, Fork In The Road expands the conversation beyond the farm, showing how food sustainability is deeply connected to our kitchens, communities, health, and future. More than a call to environmental action, the film illuminates how regenerative food practices can nourish our bodies, strengthen local communities, and help heal the Earth.Documentary
Listen
Listen
Documentary
Listen is a short documentary set in the largest wilderness on Earth. It follows Alaskan author Hank Lentfer as he records forgotten sounds of the natural world and cares for his mother with dementia. Listen is a sensory immersion that dissolves the boundaries between us and the more-than-human world.Documentary
Degree of Certainty
Degree of Certainty
Narrative short
It’s 1982, and Jackson Miller, a young risk analyst at one of the biggest US oil companies, fears for his job. The company loses millions every day due to falling oil prices, and he must prove that he can come up with ideas that address the issue. But when he uncovers findings of the company’s own climate science department, who just discovered a rapid rise in global temperature, he has to decide on which side of history he wants to be. Winner of the 2026 Cannes Lions - Young Director Award.Based on true events. Narrative short
Documentary
Explores the severe, interconnected impacts of climate change across the globe, investigating the calculated disinformation campaigns behind political inaction while offering scalable, real world solutions to avert an environmental crisis. Documentary
Rated R, Netflix
Two astronomers go on a media tour to warn humankind of a planet-killing comet hurtling toward Earth. Rated R, Netflix
Games
Games
Drought Games , National Drought Mitigation Center
There are two games you can play with kids, family, and students!Drought Games , National Drought Mitigation Center
Play Beat the Heat , Arizona State University
Staying safe in the heat is more than just a game, it can be a life saver. Luckily, you can see if you have what it takes to stay cool in a hot situation in this game. Tackle quests, find tips, and learn about heat strategies while you keep your cool in Beat the Heat.Play Beat the Heat , Arizona State University
For Educators
For Educators
SEEDS (State Environmental Education Directory) Department of Environmental Education Climate education is imperative as the planet is experiencing the effects of climate change at an alarming rate – from intense heat waves to excessive rainfall to unprecedented sea-level rise. And the Garden State, particularly, has been dealing with more frequent precipitation and damaging flooding only predicted to grow more challenging.
Urban Watershed Curriculum Fairmount Water Works (FWW)
The Fairmount Water Works designed a place-based, hands-on Curriculum for students to engage with their local watershed and water system, in order to grow their understanding of issues and take action for a more equitable and sustainable future they want for themselves. Call 215-685-0721 or contact Ellen.Schultz@phila.gov for more information. Urban Watershed Curriculum Fairmount Water Works (FWW)
Educator Resources NOAAGet Climate education resources from NOAA
Climate Resilience Toolkit The Neighborhood Design Center + NFWF
Through a year-long process, the Climate Change Action Plan Focus group created the Climate Change Action Plan, a plan that reviews how schools can make different decisions that will lessen the school system’s impact on the environment and be more resilient to the negative effects of climate change.
For Community Based Organizations
For Community Based Organizations
Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice Fund (CREJ) Office of Sustainability The Office of Sustainability (OOS), in partnership with the Philadelphia City Fund (PCF), is excited to announce the 2026 opening of the Community Resilience and Environmental Justice (CREJ) Fund. The primary goal of the CREJ Fund is to change the systems and built environment conditions that affect environmental justice communities and increase frontline community resilience to climate change. This means investing in systems and infrastructure to ensure long-term change.
The CREJ Fund was established out of recognition that community-based organizations know their neighborhoods’ challenges and opportunities the best; and to advance environmental justice, community leaders and community-led solutions need to be resourced. The CREJ Fund will award $30,000 grants with a two-year grant agreement.
Other Activities
Other Activities
Worksheets and Coloring Pages , Arizona State University
Test your knowledge of heat and sun safety with these worksheets. Or have fun coloring while learning about heat safety with the coloring page. Worksheets and Coloring Pages , Arizona State University
Art Activities, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Looking for a creative outlet? Sharpen your colored pencils, grab your favorite markers, or dip into your paint palettes with these coloring pages and art contests from NOAA programs!Art Activities, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NASA Climate Legacy
Climate Legacies, developed by NASA scientists, illustrate how different generations experience past and future warming during their lifetimes. Visit the site to create, download, and share your own warming stripes timeline based on your birth year. NASA Climate Legacy
Storm Drain Marking Program Philadelphia Water Department
Residents can register for a free storm drain marking kit online, to install 15 markers near your home, school, or neighborhood park. There are approximately 72,000 stormwater inlets on neighborhood streets across the City of Philadelphia. Each marker features the local watershed’s name and aquatic wildlife native to our city. Storm drain markers serve as helpful reminders, letting people know that our streets and sewers connect to our waterways.Storm Drain Marking Program Philadelphia Water Department
Drain Buddies
DRAIN BUDDIES is a project managed by Kadafi El-Kardah, Germantown resident and 2025 Knight Emerging City Champion. The Knight Emerging City Champions (KECC) is a fellowship and micro-grant program for young civic innovators with bold ideas to transform their communities. KECC asked a bold question: HOW WILL YOU TRANSORM YOUR CITY? Kadafi responded with DRAIN BUDDIES, a volunteer-led project in Germantown Philadelphia. The project empowers neighbors to take action in caring for vital community infrastructure: our storm drains and sidewalks. Germantown neighbors “adopt” a neighborhood storm drain, taking responsibility for monitoring it for litter, debris, flooding, pollution, and safety hazards. Participants will become local stewards for environmental resilience.Drain Buddies
These materials were developed by Hinge Collective in partnership with Creative Praxis and Philadelphia Office of Sustainability's Climate Resilience Partner Ambassadors.
Facilitation methodology developed by Creative Praxis. Used through partnership with Hinge Collective. © Creative Praxis.
Page updated
Report abuse