Community Foundation launches 'Jeans for Green New Albany' and proposes stakeholder convening

Craig Moore, a representative of the New Albany Community Foundation, told the Sustainability Advisory Board the foundation has renewed its focus on environmental sustainability and has begun small projects intended to engage schools and the broader community.

Annette Triplett, the foundation’s sustainability lead, described a campaign called 'Jeans for Green New Albany' that will run Sept. 22 for three weeks, with collection bins placed at village hall, all schools and the fire station. "We are collecting. You'll see collection bins go in front of village hall as well as all of the schools, and the fire station," Triplett said. Usable jeans will be donated to food‑pantry clients; remaining denim will go to fiber reclamation for uses such as insulation and housing material.

Moore said the foundation had surveyed local businesses and community leaders to identify sustainability priorities and that the denim collection is intended as a kickoff for a broader initiative. Staff told the board the foundation’s project aligns with the city's interest in coordinated sustainability programming and suggested a quarterly stakeholder meeting with representatives from the city, the foundation, the school district and business groups to share plans, avoid duplicative efforts and amplify outreach.

Board members discussed representation for the proposed stakeholder meetings and supported having one or two board representatives attend and report back to the Sustainability Advisory Board. Staff said they would reconnect with the foundation and the school superintendent’s office to clarify next steps and logistics.