About Urban Green Lab
Urban Green Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to teach communities how to live sustainably in Nashville, TN and its surrounding counties. We organize teams, train them on making sustainable choices, and connect people with services and peers to walk with on their sustainable journey. We envision a Nashville where everyone has access to opportunities for learning about sustainable living.
Educating in places where culture begins
The Classrooms programs train educators and provide confidence, tools, and community to bring a sustainable lens into any classroom.
The Households division creates sustainable living education systems that inspire residents and families to be part of the solution.
The Workplaces branch educates and builds communities and cultures of sustainability in businesses throughout the Nashville area.
Special Initiatives
Our special initiatives are focus areas of sustainability education that Urban Green Lab has chosen to highlight and incorporate throughout the divisions.
The Nashville Environmental Justice Initiative is growing a movement of environmental justice learning that protects Nashville's marginalized communities.
The Nashville Food Waste Initiative develops tools and implements strategies for decreasing food waste and growing sustainable food consumption practices to serve as a model for other cities.
2023 annual report
For more information on our organization, programs, and impact, read our 2023 Annual Report.
EVENTS
UGL Volunteer Training at the YMCA- July 23
The UGL Volunteers are Urban Green Lab’s frontline ambassadors working to make Nashville a more sustainable place. Join us for volunteer training to learn more about sustainability and how to talk about sustainability with family, friends, and neighbors.
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Mural Launch Party – July 13
Join us to celebrate three murals in Urban Green Lab’s “Waste Less” murals project at Turnip Truck on Charlotte Ave. Celebrate community art with low-waste cooking demos, free food, educational opportunities, live music, a story walk leading from Richland Park Farmer’s Market, and a giveaway.
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Nashville Sustainability Roundtable: July 18
Join us on Thursday, July 18, for the Nashville Sustainability Roundtable hosted by Urban Green Lab in partnership with the Nashville Public Library!
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I Never Thought of Tennessee as a Prairie State–I Was Wrong.
Read our latest blog post written by the Cumberland River Compact to learn why we should protect our grasslands and what Nashville residents can do to help.
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Environmental Justice is Social Justice
Each quarter, our UGL Volunteers learn about a topic in sustainability, and this quarter we are learning more about environmental justice. This blog is an excerpt of content shared with our UGL Volunteers.
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Tips for Dining Deliberately
As we host the Nashville Earth Day Restaurant Challenge, here are a few tips for dining more deliberately at a restaurant or at home.
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Urban Green Lab Announced as Nashville SC Community Partner for Greener Goals Starting XI Initiative
Nashville SC announces Urban Green Lab as a community partner for Greener Goals Starting XI Initiative addressing environmental challenges.
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Urban Green Lab Publishes 2023 Annual Report
Urban Green Lab shares the 2023 Annual Report showcasing program achievements and stories from stakeholders
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Urban Green Lab Receives 2023 Airbnb Community Fund Grant
Urban Green Lab is one of 40 nonprofits to receive a 2023 Airbnb Community Fund Grant. Learn more about how the grant will be used to teach communities to live sustainably.
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