Connecting with Legislators
LinkMind’s Legislative/Outreach Officer, Zahabia, reached out and connected with ~15 policymakers (including legislators, council members, and governors) to spread awareness of LinkMind’s mission and advocate for stronger public health policy.
Through this outreach, Zahabia has been building relationships with key decision-makers who can help advance our goals at a larger scale.
A Letter to Editor in the Chicago Tribune
LinkMind’s President, Renee, published a letter to the editor in the Chicago Tribune, a prominent daily newspaper founded in 1847 that serves as the most-read publication in the Chicago metropolitan area. The letter is titled “We need guardrails on data centers in Illinois” and urges lawmakers to revive and pass the POWER Act this fall, framed around environmental justice and the unequal burden data centers place on disadvantaged communities. This letter to the editor pushes our organization closer to having an impact on surrounding data centers.
Read the full piece linked below!
LinkMind at Market Grun
This Friday, LinkMind’s Research, Survey, and Events Coordinator, Charleigh, went to Market Grün to pitch LinkMind. Market Grün is a seasonal evening marketplace in Cincinnati dedicated to sustainability and environmental education.
We had a great time engaging with the community and continued collecting survey responses for our Environmental Risk Exposure Survey. Visit our instagram for any photos from Market Grün!
LinkMind Public Comment Published
LinkMind’s Director of Operations and Educational Programs, Emma, published a formal public comment to the U.S. EPA’s regulatory docket, raising LinkMind’s concerns over a proposed rule that would push back the compliance deadline for PFOA and PFOS drinking water standards by 2 years. Public comments are an official part of the administrative record, giving LinkMind a direct voice in shaping drinking water policy. This advances LinkMind’s mission to keep our drinking water clean and free of carcinogenic “forever chemicals”.
Read the full comment linked below!
LinkMind in Crain's Chicago Business
LinkMind’s President, Renee, published an opinion editorial guest piece in Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago’s leading source for business and policy news. The piece is titled “Illinois lawmakers must require microplastics testing to protect our drinking water” and argues that increased regulation of microplastics is necessary to keep Illinois residents safe. The Op-Ed marks an important step in LinkMind’s mission to bring microplastics research to the attention of policymakers and expand the reach of our advocacy.
Read the full piece linked below!
LinkMind in Grayslake
LinkMind’s Chief Communications Officer, Kevin, represented LinkMind at Grayslake’s Pride Parade. Following the previous day’s Data Center Protest, he helped collect tens of responses to our Environmental Risk Exposure Survey while celebrating Pride in fashion. Towns like Grayslake continue to oppose the approval of a massive T5 data center in development, and need your help.
Track the closest data center to you and help us fill out our survey to help our communities understand the effects of data centers better!
LinkMind Advocates for POWER Act
LinkMind’s President, Renee, represented the organization at the POWER Act Lobby Day at the Illinois State Capitol. She collected responses to our environmental risk exposure survey. She advocated for the POWER Act, legislation that targets the inequities caused by data center pollution, bridging our research directly with policy. In doing so, she met with Senator Fine, Representative Gong-Gershowitz, and Representative Gabel’s Leadership Assistant.
Make your own LinkMind Chapter to push the boundaries of Public Health and Environmental Advocacy!
LinkMind in Legislation
LinkMind connected with State Representative Laura Faver Dias of the Illinois Houses’ 62nd district to push for the passage of SB3917, the EPA-Waste Discharge Permit bill. This is a bill that mandates facilities seeking or renewing wastewater discharge permits to test for and report levels of PFAS contamination, protecting both water quality and public health, values that sit at the heart of LinkMind’s community mission. Through this outreach, LinkMind helped bring State Senator Laura Fine on board as a co-sponsor and stressed the urgency of its passage. On May 22nd, the bill successfully passed both houses, marking an impactful legislative win!
LinkMind in Legislation
LinkMind recently met with State Senator Laura Fine and secured her commitment to co-sponsor the Protect the Great Lakes Act: a policy requiring routine testing of microplastics in Lake Michigan. Senator Fines has been a steadfast supporter of LinkMind’s work, and her agreement to co-sponsor this legislation marks an important step forward in our shared effort to create lasting change.
LinkMind at the Cincinnati Zoo!
LinkMind hit the Cincinnati Zoo on April 23, 2026 to bring our research to the community! We had an amazing time connecting with visitors and gathering responses for our Environmental Risk Exposure Survey. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and took the time to participate. Every response brings us one step closer to our research goal!
LinkMind Celebrates Earth Day!
What a wonderful experience with Cincinnati’s Earth Day Festival! LinkMind met with so many people who care deeply about the environment. We had incredible conversations and connected with community members who are passionate about the world around them. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and chatted with us!
Watch us celebrate Earth Day on Instagram!
2026 Environmental Risk Exposure Survey
We’re excited to launch our first research project of 2026: Environmental Disparities in Undeserved Communities! We will need your help with the Environmental Risk Exposure Survey to understand the environmental hazards people encounter in their daily lives: how aware they are of the risks around them and how often they’re exposed. We need your help to build quality research on the environmental challenges facing people across the United States.
LinkMind Expansion & Leadership Change - December 2025
LinkMind is broadening its mission beyond sustainable energy and is expanding its reach into public health under new leadership. We hope this shift can deepen our impact across communities nationwide and enable us to connect our work to tangible outcomes.
Learn more about our organization now by clicking below!
Home Energy Survey Gets Published
LinkMind is committed to producing high-quality research on the energy and environmental issues that impact our communities. The Home Energy Survey was our first research project, conducted in 2024. It aims to capture the awareness levels, energy consumption, and participation in incentive programs of households across the United States. In 2025, it was published in the Curieux Academic Journal.
Survey Insights on Residential Energy Use and Incentive Program Attitudes in Four U.S. Regions
We conducted a large-scale survey effort to collect data in Ohio, Virginia, New York, and DC. Together, we received over 200 responses: an illuminating snapshot of residential energy use habits and public attitudes towards energy-saving incentive programs.
The statistical analysis of our survey results is awaiting publication in Curieux Academic Journal. View a PDF version of the research paper here:
Do you have ideas or recommendations about future research projects?
Send your feedback on our website through the contact page. If you’re a contractor in any of the states or territories we operate in, we’d be happy to get your contact information, as we are planning to create an interactive map where customers can find local energy incentives and contractors for their home upgrade needs!
Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Energy Outreach
Often, residents feel ill-equipped to navigate federal and local policies aimed at boosting energy efficiency and renewables. To support our communities in maneuvering the informational, logistical, and financial hurdles associated with these policies, we place a heavy emphasis on volunteering and on-the-ground outreach. Ever since our inception, we’ve attended festivals, parades, and other events in our communities to promote sustainable energies. We frequently distribute flyers, brochures, and other literature in public areas to foster community engagement with our mission and have plans going forward to continue our outreach and public awareness campaigns.
