About Marwa:
Marwa Altamimi is a Fulbright Scholar from Palestine with a Master’s in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship from Temple University. She has a background in architectural engineering and more than nine years of experience working on community development, sustainability, and capacity-building projects. Her work is driven by a commitment to advancing environmental resilience and supporting organizations in creating social impact. Marwa joined Green Building United to deepen her understanding of sustainability practices in the U.S., learn from community-based approaches, and explore how these lessons might be adapted to support resilience efforts back home.
When I first found out I was coming to Temple University as a Fulbright scholar, my excitement level was somewhere between “packing three months early” and “googling every art gallery in Philadelphia.” But beyond the thrill, I knew I wanted to do something meaningful alongside my studies, something that connected my passion for sustainability with my background in architecture and development back home in Palestine.
That’s how I found Green Building United (GBU); I still remember sending that first email half nervous —half hopeful and to my delight —, GBU responded with warmth and encouragement. They invited me for an interview, and before I knew it, I started a two-month internship in Fall 2024. Those first two months felt like opening a green treasure box: I got to meet the amazing GBU team, learn about their diverse projects, and discover where my skills could best contribute.
Fast forward a few months, and I was officially part of the team again in 2025. This time, my fellowship focused on the Climate Ready Capital Projects (CRCP) program. This role gave me a front-row seat to how GBU supports local organizations in embedding sustainability into their work. It was a mix of technical learning, coordination, creativity, and, of course, plenty of coffee-fueled Zoom meetings.
But what made the experience truly special was how it revealed the connections between two very different worlds: Palestine and Philadelphia. Working in both contexts has shown me how sustainability challenges may look different on the surface yet share the same heart: the drive to create resilient communities and meaningful change.
Through this experience, I broadened my understanding of how sustainability and resilience can empower communities to face challenges and adapt to uncertainty. It’s a concept I deeply believe in and one that I will carry back home to Palestine, where resilience is not just a theory, but a daily necessity. In Palestine, we have passionate donors and organizations eager to advance green projects, but public awareness and policy advocacy still need stronger momentum. In Philadelphia, awareness and technical expertise are strong, yet funding uncertainties can threaten the continuity of environmental initiatives.
Two very different contexts, yet both striving toward a shared goal: building resilient, sustainable communities that can withstand social, environmental, and economic challenges.
Throughout my time at GBU, I not only learned about climate resilience, green building, and community partnerships, I also learned about people. The staff, consultants, and community-based organizations I met are true changemakers. Each conversation left me inspired.
Looking back, this internship was more than just a line on my résumé. It was a journey of growth, merging what I’ve learned in my master’s program with hands-on experience, while expanding my professional and personal horizons.
GBU gave me the opportunity to learn, contribute, and dream bigger about how communities, no matter where they are, can come together for a greener and more resilient future. I look forward to staying connected with the GBU community from afar, and continuing to learn from and support this work in any way I can.