Climate Onramps: Find Your Place in MN Climate Work
New to climate work? Start here.
Maybe you just moved to the Twin Cities. Maybe you're a student, or you've spent ten years in one career and can't shake the feeling that you want your work to matter for the planet.
Either way, the hardest part is usually the first step: figuring out who's doing what, and where someone like you fits.
Climate Onramps is a monthly Thursday evening hosted by the Twin Cities Climate Collaborative (TC3), made for exactly that moment. It's relaxed and friendly, with just enough structure that nobody ends up standing alone by the snacks.
→ You'll leave with three things
One real connection. At least one person you know by name and would be glad to see again.
A map of Minnesota climate work. A plain-language tour of the lanes (energy, buildings, transportation, food and land, water, waste and reuse, policy, finance) and some of the local organizations working in each.
A concrete next step. One event, volunteer shift, organization, or person to follow up with, picked by you before you head home.
→ This evening is for you if you're
Climate curious and not sure where to begin
A student exploring climate careers
Switching careers, or wondering how to bring climate into the job you already have
New to Minnesota (welcome, and yes, winter is real)
Already in the work and glad to welcome newcomers (we love having a few of you in the room)
→ How the evening flows
5:30 Arrive, grab a drink, and write one word on your name tag for what brought you here
5:45 A short welcome from Cam and Rohan: why we gather and what to expect
5:50 A Map of Minnesota Climate Work (10 minutes, no jargon, we promise)
6:00 Small-group intros: four or five people, one question, everyone gets a turn
6:20 Pick your next step from a menu of upcoming events, organizations, and ways to plug in
6:30–7:30 Open conversation. Stay as long as you like.
Q&A
Do I need to know anything about climate? Not a thing. No matter how you identify, where you're from, how you dress, whether you know acronyms like MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency), or what disabilities you have, you are explicitly invited and welcome. We'd love to have you.
Will I have to talk in front of the whole group? Nope! Sharing happens in small groups, and passing is always okay. Some people come to listen, and that's a perfectly good way to start.
I'm job searching. Is this a job fair? Not exactly. Searching for a climate job can be an emotional rollercoaster, and we won't pretend to have a magic list of openings. What you will find is people who've made the jump and are happy to tell you how they did it.
Can I bring a friend? Please do. Showing up is easier with someone you know.
How will I find the group? Look for one of the hosts, trust your intuition, or just walk up and ask. (We're working on a better system. For now, we're the table with name tags.)
Is it free? Yep! Always.
Who's hosting? What is TC3? Onramps is hosted by the Twin Cities Climate Collaborative. TC3 is a grassroots, volunteer-led team that celebrates, educates, and connects the people, resources, and organizations building a regenerative, decarbonized, equitable future in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Learn more about our work.
→ After tonight, keep the momentum going
Follow the TC3 calendar on Luma: luma.com/tc3_msp
Get the monthly TC3 newsletter: tc3msp.org
Browse our directory of Minnesota climate organizations: tc3msp.org
Bring a colleague next time, especially someone from a different corner of the work than yours.
(We're also exploring a Twin Cities climate jobs board. It isn't ready yet, and we'll let you know when it is.)
Thanks for being curious. Showing up for the first time takes courage, and we're glad you did.