Indy Leaders in Sustainability

One of the great things about Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is that there’s a little something for everyone. If you’re passionate about the city you can come out to plant trees in the parks with us on a Saturday morning. If you want to build a stronger community, you can adopt your block and organize a litter cleanup with your neighbors. And if you’re a weekend warrior then plogging is probably right up your alley – pun definitely intended!

It’s no surprise that the inaugural cohort of the Indy Leaders in Sustainability is made up of people from all different backgrounds and interests. We caught up with Meghan DeMars Kiger, Executive Vice President at Gershman Partners to ask her about why she joined the group.

I’m one of those people who turned a hobby into a career.

Before I started working at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, I was a volunteer who did the hard work of picking up litter and planting trees because I believed in helping people and nature thrive. When I tell that story, some people are skeptical. But how can I ask for their support, money, or time unless I’m passionate about the mission?

The truth is I’m an educator at heart. When I talk to people about KIB, I’m not just telling them about native plants, or the benefits of trees or about our youth employment programs. I’m teaching them about a wonderful community organization and showing them why they should love it as much as I do.