After the upheaval of the pandemic, Rau knew it was time for a new direction, but wanted one that still kept community at its heart. Following the pandemic, she signed on with AmeriCorps, joining Ampact’s Climate Impact Corps as a Sustainability Project Coordinator at GPI.
During her year of service, Rau supported Metro CERT initiatives focused on energy equity, organizing energy efficiency outreach at manufactured home parks and food shelves across the Metro region. When Climate Impact Corps members were invited to visit the White House in celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act and Earth Day, Rau attended and met former President Biden and other national leaders.
After her AmeriCorps term, Rau accepted a full-time role with CERTs and GPI, continuing the work she believes in, reducing energy burdens in underserved communities and building lasting, local connections. One of her most rewarding efforts is helping lead the Community Energy Ambassadors program, which equips individuals across Minnesota to identify energy needs in their communities and take action.
“I truly enjoy connecting with people, and the Community Energy Ambassadors program allows me to do that every day,” says Rau. “It’s about helping people name the needs in their communities, and then supporting them as they respond.”
She notes that this year’s Earth Day felt different from the last, less celebratory and more uncertain, as political focus shifts away from environmental priorities. But even amid that, Rau remains optimistic.
“The Community Energy Ambassador program gives me so much hope,” she shares. “People continue to come to us wanting to do more. They’re looking for ways to lead, to learn, to serve. Helping them find those routes to community leadership, that’s what fuels me on my journey.”