Klean Energy Kulture names Corey Dennard president and CEO

Klean Energy Kulture has appointed Billboard music producer and co-founder Corey Dennard, known as Mr. Hanky, as president and CEO. The Atlanta-based nonprofit is betting Dennard can use music, media and culture to expand clean energy and economic opportunity for Black and Brown communities in the South.

Why it matters: - Klean Energy Kulture is trying to make clean energy feel more relevant to communities that have often been left out of sustainability and resilience conversations. - The organization is linking climate work to music, media, storytelling and culture to reach younger audiences and build community power. - Dennard’s appointment puts a Billboard-recognized producer at the center of that strategy.

What happened: - Klean Energy Kulture announced Corey Dennard, professionally known as Mr. Hanky, as president and CEO. - Dennard is a co-founder of Klean Energy Kulture and a music producer with decades of experience in entertainment and cultural engagement. - The nonprofit said Dennard will lead its next phase of work in Atlanta and across the South. - The announcement was made Sept. 28, 2026.

The details: - Klean Energy Kulture works at the intersection of clean energy, culture, community and economic opportunity. - Under Dennard, the group plans to expand access to clean energy, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity for Black and Brown communities in the South. - The organization said its work is supported by The Hive Fund for Gender and Climate Justice and Communities First Fund. - Current priorities include workforce development, youth engagement, clean energy education, technology, storytelling and community power-building. - Klean Energy Kulture is expanding programming through multimedia labs and art activations at EJ Wright School in South Fulton, Georgia, and at the Trenches Global Impact Center at 1230 Hightower Rd NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30318. - Rashod Stanley, president and CEO of Trenches Global, said the labs will help young people build skills in podcasting, digital media, storytelling and content production tied to environmental and clean energy issues. - Christina Hamilton, board chair, said Dennard’s music catalog streams over 2 billion times annually. - Klean Energy Kulture is also strengthening apprenticeship and workforce development programs that aim to give young people and community members technical skills, hands-on experience and pathways into the clean energy economy. - The nonprofit says it wants Black and Brown communities to become leaders, creators, entrepreneurs, workers and owners in the energy transition. - Upcoming activations include a Sept. 30 event with Climate Power and the Black Male Initiative. - The organization also plans to launch its multimedia labs and continue work with EJ Wright School and Trenches Impact Center during Atlanta’s inaugural Climate Week. - Additional social channels listed in the release include Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and X.

Between the lines: - The appointment signals that Klean Energy Kulture is leaning harder into culture-first organizing instead of a purely policy-driven climate message. - The nonprofit is also framing clean energy as an economic opportunity story, not just an environmental one. - The timing around Atlanta Climate Week suggests the group wants to use a bigger local climate moment to amplify its message. - The emphasis on youth training and media production points to a long-term strategy: build a pipeline of messengers as well as workers.

What's next: - Klean Energy Kulture will move ahead with the Sept. 30 community event and rollout of its multimedia lab programming. - The organization is expected to deepen partnerships tied to schools, impact centers and climate groups as Dennard takes over day-to-day leadership. - Future programming will focus on clean energy awareness, workforce development and community economic opportunity.

The bottom line: - Klean Energy Kulture is betting a music industry veteran can help turn clean energy into a cultural and economic movement for Black and Brown communities in the South.