In 2018 The CLEO Institute gave its first-ever Circle of Change Awards. These award honor individuals whose initiatives paved the way for innovative solutions to the climate crisis. Whether it was for the creation of edible beer can rings that eliminated plastic pollution and provided food for the turtles, or the creation of the NYT bestselling book Drawdown, the most comprehensive book ever written on how to reverse global warming, or a collaboration between top local news media outlets to elevate climate issues in our community, the Circle of Change Awards are CLEO’s way of recognizing agents of change.
In 2019, The CLEO Institute decided to give the top recipient of these awards a more profound meaning, so we renamed it after one of our most influential founding members and first CLEO Board President, Dr. Lynn Leverett.
Dr. Lynn Leveret, a champion of change, has been with The CLEO Institute from the beginning, supporting our cause to bring climate literacy, engagement, and advocacy to our community. She is a lifelong environmentalist who believes in the power of the individual and has been instrumental in shaping CLEO’s mission. She is a pivotal member of our organization, serving as CLEO’s President for 4 years and then as a board member.
It is with great privilege that we honor Dr. Leverett’s significant contribution to The CLEO Institute by naming our most prestigious award after her lifelong dedication to climate advocacy.