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Fresh Water Institute
Through the Fresh Water Institute, Cuyahoga County is a catalyst and a convener to strengthen our region’s culture of freshwater stewardship. The Fresh Water Institute builds upon a foundation of youth education and community science—defining, supporting and connecting stakeholders to current and future workforce opportunities in the blue economy and advocating for freshwater stewardship and access.
EDUCATION & RESEARCH
We will work collaboratively to connect students to waterfront and water economy learning opportunities, exposing youth and families to community science opportunities.
Fresh Water Fellowship
In partnership with Teaching Place and See You at the Top (SYATT), this 2-year, after-school learning experience will provide high school sophomores and juniors with a foundation of historical, ecological, and career information about our freshwater resources and opportunities to connect with the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie.
Safety is Fundamental
The Fresh Water Institute supports water safety and swimming competency as a foundation for building our freshwater culture. The Institute will support free swim lessons for youth in the County.
Innovation and Research
The Fresh Water Institute will create young adult internship opportunities to connect them to good, blue jobs in the freshwater economy. Our goal year one goal is to place three young adults in summer internships in 2025.
ADVOCACY & ACCESS
Our region has a history of advancing the local and national policies that protect our water resources and provide environmental justice and equity to our communities. The Fresh Water Institute will build upon this legacy as a convener and catalyst for water stewardship, advocacy, and access.
Convening Counties around the Great Lakes
In partnership with National Association of Counties (NACo), the Fresh Water Institute will convene partners to advocate for priority policies to improve water quality and freshwater ecosystems related to pollution prevention and the development of blue economy jobs and workforce.
Youth Advocacy Platform
The Fresh Water Institute has a goal to create a platform for youth advocacy related to issues and policies that are priorities for students and young people in our community.
Waterfront Access
The Fresh Water Institute will convene partners to advocate for equitable waterfront access developing a shared platform for responsible freshwater development and access.
BLUE ECONOMY
The Fresh Water Institute will serve as a platform to advance an economy that respects the environment while leveraging its promise for growth and advance a plan for a circular freshwater economy.
Good Jobs, Blue Jobs
The Fresh Water Institute will create young adult internship opportunities to connect then to good, blue jobs in the freshwater economy. Our goal is to place interns in summer internships with program partners, as soon as 2025.