Julie Hancher

Julie Hancher is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since 2008, she has grown Green Philly from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, building a model that pairs impactful journalism with in-person experiences that inform, connect and engage people online and in real life.

Today, Green Philly reaches more than 120,000 people each month through journalism, social media, newsletters and events. Julie has led the organization’s evolution by experimenting with new ways to reach audiences, from social-first content to events that bring sustainability conversations offline and into the community. At the heart of her work is a belief that local media can do more than report the news: it can bring people together toward climate solutions.

A frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, Julie brings nearly two decades of experience building audiences around sustainability. She is also the creator of SustainPHL, Philadelphia’s annual sustainability awards, and Green Philly’s award-winning EcoFair.

Julie is passionate about building a stronger, more sustainable future for independent local media while finding new ways to make climate information relevant to people’s everyday lives. Outside of work, you’ll find her hiking, biking or exploring new places with her husband and dog (and reporting back to FLOOF, the cat).

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  • Hi Julie,
    I am as passionate as you in trying to be a green advocate. I feel like it all starts at home and modeling for others.
    My young boys are very aware of thier responcibility to preserve the environment.:recycling and reusing are part of our everyday routines.
    I just wish others would catch on ,Unfortunately ,it will have to take congress to mandate as americans are too selfish to change on thier own.
    Let me know what I can do to help spread the word.
    Love the blog
    debi

  • Hey, this blog is great. It has definately inspired me to start doing the little things that I can to help the enviroment. At first I just started using less plastic bags when at stores and not using them at all if the items I had were easy to carry out with just my hands. Recently I forked over the $1.99 and bought a resuable bag for my groceries. Life is busy and it's hard to be completely green but there are great tips on here on how you can do something small that will help a lot!

  • I have a question: I work really long days at my job...I am in the same time most places open and leave after most places are closed. We use a ton of paper at my work that eventually gets shredded and just thrown away. Is there any service that comes and pick up the shredded paper so that we can recycle it instead of just throwing it away?

  • Hey Lisa! Thanks for your question. I know Philly is now recycling paper every week on the same day as your trash schedule. Recyclebank (http://www.recyclebank.com/) is also great because they pick up your recyclables and give you incentives to do so. Good luck!

  • Great site, Keep up the good work, We all have to be enviromentally responsible to pass on a cleaner earth to our children. It all begins with ME. That is what we have to remember, We - ME are responsible for what we do, and how it impacts our neighbor. We think that small things do not make a difference, but they do more than you think. Others see what we are doing and it snowballs into something greater.

  • Good point Barbara- Often times people think of environmental habits as an inconvenience, although it can save money and help us in our everyday life. Keep up with the positivity!