Sunset Stroll/Climate Cafe at Conner Prairie
By Nouran El Bolkiny, September 9, 2025
At a vibrant climate event at Conner Prairie, Change the Chamber’s Nouran El Bolkiny and Evey Mengelkoch sparked powerful conversations on nature, sustainability, and equity. They highlighted bold, youth-led initiatives and the impact of community-driven climate action.
This summer, I had the pleasure of representing Change the Chamber alongside our Congressional and Corporate Outreach Team Lead, Evey Mengelkoch, at a community climate event hosted at the scenic Conner Prairie.
The evening began with guests arriving at 6:30 PM, grabbing snacks, drinks, and engaging in tabletop conversations about climate, nature, and our personal relationships with the environment. These initial discussions set the tone for a night focused on connection and collective action, where further conversation took place during a walk around the Conner Prairie grounds. People shared their experiences with nature, talked about their fondest memories in nature, their watershed moment that drove them to connect further with nature, and swapped their personal experiences with each other about how they can best make room for everyone in their climate activism. Event goers also shared sustainable resources local to the state of Indiana.
One of the most powerful aspects of the evening was how it brought together people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Creating space for inclusive, and community-rooted conversations is essential for a just transition to a sustainable future. Climate action is strongest when it reflects the voices of all communities!
Nouran El Bolkiny and Evey Mengelkoch
After the walk, we all gathered at the Hilltop Pavilion, where Evey and I gave a short talk about Change the Chamber’s mission. We highlighted our youth-focused work in climate action through:
Environmental justice advocacy,
Our Environment Social Governance (ESG)/sustainable investing campaign,
The How to Be a Changemaker Training, which empowers young people with the knowledge and skills they need to influence policy and build green careers.
The How to Be a Changemaker Training, a free, asynchronous set of modules completed online, empowers young people with the knowledge and skills they need to successfully shape policy and seize opportunities in growing green economy. Evey and I showcased how we help our National and International Climate Fellows to develop their climate leadership skills during their time at Change the Chamber, and how we support them beyond the fellowship with resources to launch impactful careers in sustainability.
One of the highlights of the evening came during a few words from Norman Burns on how things have been going at the museum, including their continued dedication to sustainable practices in environmental education. With 36 years of experience as an entrepreneurial leader and museum/non-profit executive, Norman has successfully developed innovative approaches and bold, compelling visions for operations and general museum over the past 36 years. His leadership continues to shape Conner Prairie into a place that embraces sustainability, learning, and community engagement.
As the sun set, conversations continued to flow effortlessly. People refreshed their rainbow cups, and exchanged warm, tight hugs. Much love to everyone who came, shared and beauty-reminded. Special shout out to Michelle Morton, Conner Prairie’s Nature Engagement Specialist, and Camryn, their Civic Engagement Specialist, for their thoughtful organizing, seamless coordination, and wrapping everything with thought of their labor.
One of the most powerful aspects of the evening was how it brought together people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Creating space for inclusive, and community-rooted conversations is essential for a just transition to a sustainable future. Climate action is strongest when it reflects the voices of all communities!
The evening showed how powerful it is when people come together, share ideas, and support one another. It was a great way to remember the traditional ways of sharing through community conversations as we work together a better and more sustainable tomorrow.
Change The Chamber is a nonpartisan coalition of young adults, 100+ student groups across the country, environmental justice and frontline community groups, and other allied organizations.