https://www.thelenaproject.org/home daily 1.0 2023-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613169879682-YQYD0DU1DQTBMLE4DZS6/83964880_10158055205944458_8030230560112640000_n.jpg Home https://www.thelenaproject.org/our-story daily 0.75 2021-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613772460414-AYP9YTCHRPLCILK6RHO9/Lena.png Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613768696847-HTR0BYEO9Z336KOZGHGL/89772953_2826483437434603_1126536631449288704_o.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/9bf6a7d1-00fc-4065-93fd-9d02ee3e9ce4/IMG_5274+%282%29.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613768695656-MXI8TA9L08JGSQWVYRVW/72075088_2213652092261534_5836353847907319808_o.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613768694621-LP938TISO30K228LZPND/71827738_2213650352261708_6721117020689006592_n.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/61edf058-dadd-4286-8e31-e87b1e2d5e12/277807320_3008035102823225_5794622172826400964_n.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613768697990-MOQVL7L3B7SCWHH1IUD4/thumbnail_spidergirl2+%282%29.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613771340600-15V0WL5S73QS232SULHO/unnamed.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613768694850-GS02PY36IQXZ0H7YZ5KM/47680895_2013202212306524_9004667629218037760_o.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613768704117-8KAQPY4RIUMKOKRKH3JS/20190702_141556.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613768696886-CCJ2SNNROO6Y123DTSHQ/thumbnail_proclamation+day.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/6ecfa28e-5ee4-4677-b121-9739295e858d/20220620_155852.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/26acd447-5a9c-4190-9db3-960865d81e46/294121748_3082954215331313_3476944315707628283_n.jpg Our Story https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/6322c586-77e1-41ec-9ba1-6dac01f45f89/284509570_3041817242778344_1842665632878247082_n.jpg Our Story https://www.thelenaproject.org/meet-the-team daily 0.75 2022-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613177463772-ALXQ3CV0W3FO2ZJMT57R/101883443_3330822470263509_6080475605713813504_o.jpg Meet the Team Tricia Windschitl -- Cofounder and Codirector. Tricia earned a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Iowa State University and has been the Administrative Director of Preucil Preschool since ...Inspired by her preschoolers, she cofounded The LENA Project to amplify the voices of young people who are concerned about living in an unsustainable world. She is passionate about environmental education and creating a better future for her students. She works hard for The LENA Project to come up with creative and engaging outreach activities, organizes meetings, communicates with other organizations, and helps us to maintain our non-profit status. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613177529162-YRJ0Z77MN5QRMI8OIJ3M/elke.jpg Meet the Team Elke Windschitl -- Codirector. Elke is a recent graduate with a B.S. in Biology from Iowa State University. She is a digital artist and an aspiring marine biologist. Elke was involved in The Strawless Initiative which eventually led to the founding of The LENA Project. Elke rejoined our team this fall after returning to Iowa City. She spearheaded the Iowa City Holiday Toy Redistribution Project, and currently helps with website design, social media, and project planning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/b2acc960-cbcc-47ab-9071-44d2dd46beb8/sarah.png Meet the Team https://www.thelenaproject.org/donate daily 0.75 2024-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613770417515-5OL0SRGEVMHOX0HY5JIW/20180618_104816.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/f7ef8d03-a50b-4b3d-b7f2-5e12dcaff21f/IMG_0148.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/b1127fc6-8106-48f3-9d3c-a7f5529f0cd1/412352147_7384921488186900_5943794348269005470_n.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/adec7368-065e-427c-951e-74a2a92f51d0/13313904-C4CE-409A-97C4-195CC6B1BF24.jpeg https://www.thelenaproject.org/current-project-prompt-for-the-planet daily 0.75 2025-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/548d2ddb-9d75-439c-a437-4280ee92cbab/Screenshot+2025-04-09+080042.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/38c45731-d147-4d67-8b00-dcaa5e9c668c/238881606_857052361612354_1544297401608072651_n.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/9d2c9bc5-6de3-47ac-9a5d-345e25b7ca7e/Screenshot+2024-06-11+111806.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/5a7fedce-8b3a-457f-be18-a6d54a4c10c7/20231217_125138.jpg https://www.thelenaproject.org/past-projects daily 0.75 2025-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/044c5179-558b-44d3-afb2-fbe44a798e21/release1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/4806bfeb-7b61-497f-a286-49746dd0986c/diversity%2Bmarket.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/44354941-c947-48aa-99d3-4373c2a53957/20230507_102646.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/f671e710-f343-450f-9146-adae94793198/Screenshot+%2869%29.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613424315529-LUMU71W64E0GCLZX8A1Y/IMG_6149.jpg Past Projects - The IC Holiday Toy Redistribution Project The IC Toy Redistribution Project was began in 2020 and continued in 2022. We aimed to redistribute wealth in our community via high-quality used toys. We collected approximately 1000 toys each year and provided a safe way for families to claim them for free. We are proud that this project brought joy to families who were struggling during difficult times as well as kept toys in circulation rather than heading to the landfill. The IC Toy Redistribution Project was presented in 2022 by CCAN, The LENA Project, local social justice advocate Anne Ventullo, and is financially sponsored by Michelle Balhan and Velvet Lotus Tattoo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613765498431-IO6HNCFX0LNLC0CLZMMJ/20200307_150904.jpg Past Projects - IC No Plastic Bags Project In 2020 The Lena Project, in collaboration with Millennials for Climate Action and The 100 Grannies planned a re-usable bag distribution project. We handed out 100s of re-usable shopping bags to HyVee customers, reducing the use of single-use plastic bags. Many of the re-useable shopping bags were created by The 100 Grannies using leftover upholstery fabric destined for the landfill. Other bags were donated by various local groups. Plans were made to continue this project throughout the spring and summer at several local grocery stores. The project was paused due to Covid-19. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/ba9dc40c-501a-43c9-8093-650f6d46f848/204842749_10159525425574458_3410423615273730772_n.jpg Past Projects LENA Kids Club/Outreach In Summer 2021 we got together in-person once again for LENA Kids Club and Outreach. We held six free Kids Club/Outreach events, providing local children an opportunity to experience nature, learn about the environment and discover small ways in which they can help Planet Earth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613768299986-JHUKK34IS08DN4DSJWDZ/20191213_195748+%282%29.jpg Past Projects - Community Climate Conversations In 2019, The Lena Project hosted its first Community Climate Conversation. A small group of city leaders, University of Iowa student leaders, small business owners, and community members met to discuss the issues surrounding the climate crisis and local challenges and solutions. Our Community Climate Conversations (CCC) were put on hold due to Covid. We held our second CCC was help in April 2022 to discuss Intersectional Environmentalism and how to bring environmental justice to our community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/1613765445845-TOJL1KI7NSEN5ZQ7U5W9/thumbnail_thumbnail_20180620_095203+%282%29.jpg Past Projects - The Strawless Initiative In 2018 a group of preschool children at Preucil Preschool set out to help the ocean and her creatures. They learned that sea animals were digesting plastic straws and getting sick, so they aimed to reduce plastic straw use in Iowa City (having also learned that all drains and rivers lead to the ocean). They convinced 10 local restaurants to change their practices of handing out plastic straws (but to have them available if requested). Soon after, many others followed their lead. The children talked to people at the Iowa City farmers market and to local news media, asking people to consider re-usable straws when possible. And finally, they spoke with the 2018 Mayor of Iowa City, Jim Throgmorton. He was supportive of their initiative and proclaimed July 18, 2018 Straw-Less Day in Iowa City. https://www.thelenaproject.org/contact daily 0.75 2021-11-04 https://www.thelenaproject.org/general-2 daily 0.75 2024-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/31bca31c-87f0-470f-b070-6e73d2220540/89772953_2826483437434603_1126536631449288704_o.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/fc79c57b-93e1-452d-b3e5-6cb17020254a/343407853_250567124095930_8831402566675374639_n.jpg LENA Kids Outreach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/65bcdf79-ff11-4a97-bf5c-4eb481fa738f/IMG_8286.jpg LENA Kids Outreach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/712e2f53-6263-47ee-a552-b1f48ac718e8/20230612_095116.jpg LENA Kids Outreach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/931e7af8-9bb6-4f99-b50e-6dfb3be6b444/Resized_20230630_094928.jpg LENA Kids Outreach 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own Sarah Neary https://www.thelenaproject.org/walk-through-winter-with-the-lena-project daily 0.75 2024-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/0e862fbe-2d0b-4042-b11c-7196511e4781/Shutterstock_1842945883.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Walk Through Winter with The LENA Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Walk Through Winter with The LENA Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Walk Through Winter with The LENA Project https://www.thelenaproject.org/promise-to-the-planet daily 0.75 2024-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/530ee192-96f3-4212-8ae5-d274c7b5158f/Screenshot%2B2024-06-11%2B111806.png https://www.thelenaproject.org/promises daily 0.75 2025-01-27 https://www.thelenaproject.org/new-page-2 daily 0.75 2025-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/11da44d9-2adb-4883-bb03-e37111faf758/IMG_9084.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/2ef80b9f-9a5e-448b-b5ec-8a7cc6b1108c/Sep2024-PromptForThePlanet-0N9A7192-Enhanced-NR.jpg LENA Earth Warriors Kids Choir https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/2c3c92e1-a59c-4fc9-bc5b-5c28bf24d11e/IMG_7523.jpg LENA Earth Warriors Kids Choir https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/22ec1c52-5f3d-4da3-bf9a-6b1590ddced4/493562500_1082246857282598_569565438377299686_n.jpg LENA Earth Warriors Kids Choir https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6022fd525fcf383bbc4039b4/bb2c2047-0c44-41c6-a353-3ceca9b29a7e/IMG_8119.jpg LENA Earth Warriors Kids Choir 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