Danielle Beard ’17, Policy Research Labs special projects coordinator for the Michigan Municipal League (MML) will speak Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. in Bobbitt Auditorium. Beard will be discussing, “Advancing Community Sustainability and Livability in Michigan.”

Beard will discuss her work with the Michigan Green Communities program. She will help people understand what Michigan is doing at the city level to make sure the environment is protected.

“Our students have a passion for sustainability and protecting the environment. There are ways to get involved in the environment on a local level, instead of waiting on congress or state representatives to work on the environment,” said Eddie Visco. “There are innovative projects taking place at city, town, and village levels. There are ways to get involved on the local level and this lecture will highlight that.”

At the MML, Beard manages the Michigan Green Communities program – a sustainability benchmarking, networking, and technical assistance program. Beard works with communities across the state to embed environmental sustainability in their operations and policies.

Prior to joining the MML, she spent the previous four years working for the City of Albion in various roles. The most recent of which was as a project manager for the Albion Economic Development Corporation.

Beard graduated from Albion College with a double major in public policy and economics and management with a minor in French. Her experience is in community planning, economic development, grant writing, and project management.