Waukesha County Green Team (WCGT) is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advancing environmental sustainability in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Founded by a small group of local citizens in 2009, the organization serves the residents of Waukesha County, which is home to some 400,000 people in Southeast Wisconsin. “The county is made up of 38 very small communities, but they weren’t really talking to each other,” says Joanna Salinas, the organization’s outreach coordinator. “So the idea behind Waukesha County Green Team was to address sustainability as a whole throughout the county by working with these communities to address the particular issues they are facing.” To this end, WCGT engages in educational campaigns to raise residents’ awareness about sustainable living practices, advocates for local decision-makers to adopt eco-friendly policies, and brings the people of Waukesha County together to create environmentally conscious communities where both humans and nature can thrive.
A permaculture garden planted by the Waukesha County Green Team. Photo: Waukesha County Green Team
A woman-led organization with two part-time staff members, an active board of directors, and a network of more than one hundred volunteers, Waukesha County Green Team is a grassroots nonprofit leading the charge to make Waukesha County, Wisconsin a greener place. In 2025, WCGT partnered with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association to launch Grow Solar Milwaukee-Waukesha—an educational and bulk purchasing program that expands Waukesha County residents’ access to solar power. Through this initiative, the group has completed three solar group buys and installed 98 solar power units on homes, schools, and businesses across the county. WCGT has been active in supporting the National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program in Waukesha County as well, encouraging residents to adopt sustainable landscaping practices, cultivate native plant species, and minimize pesticide use. WCGT is also an active member of the Wisconsin Climate Table—a coalition of nearly 40 organizations committed to equitably eliminating greenhouse gas emissions in the state by 2050.
One of 98 solar power units installed in Waukesha County as part of the Grow Solar Milwaukee-Waukesha initiative. Photo: Grow Solar Milwaukee-Waukesha