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March 6, 2023 - v. 3, number 4 |
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Introducing
New Sustainable CT
Equity Coaches
Fresh faces, new ideas, steadfast support
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We're excited to announce that six new Equity Coaches are joining us this spring. Highly talented, socially and professionally astute, our cohort of Equity Coaches will bring a fresh perspective and critical support to towns seeking to enhance their approach to equity.
TeriLynn Rogers exemplifies much of what we look for in a Sustainable CT Equity Coach. Dedicated to dealing with everyday challenges by applying nonviolent concepts and insight in pursuit of social justice and systemic change, TeriLynn serves on the Vernon Town Council and is the president of the Vernon Community Network, a non-profit organization. She's also the executive director of the Miss Greater Rockville Scholarship program, a division of the Miss America organization that offers scholarships to young women in the greater Rockville area.
A community can be paired with a Sustainable CT Equity Coach through our no cost assistance program to lay out a process to complete actions in our "Inclusive and Equitable Community Impacts" category, or to address other equity-related issues of importance that may or may not be related to a Sustainable CT application. We hope you'll get to know each of our dedicated Equity Coaches in the days ahead and take advantage of all they have to offer in this remarkable, free program.
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CT Communities Challenge Grant Program - Round 3
The CT Department of Economic and Community Development has announced Round 3 of its CT Communities Grant Program - a competitive grant program ($1M - $10M per project) to improve livability, vibrancy, convenience, and equity in communities throughout the state.
- March 1, 2023: NOFA/Application Period Opens
- May 3, 2023: Application Deadline
- July 2023: Awardees Announced
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U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Buildings Upgrade Prize
The DOE has a new opportunity for up to 60 cross-sectoral teams to win a prize of $200k-$400k plus technical assistance to support the transformation of existing U.S. buildings into more energy-efficient and clean energy-ready homes, commercial spaces, and communities. ACEEE is hosting webinars on March 7th at 1pm and March 9th at 12pm to discuss the prize.
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DEEP: Next Steps in Waste Management
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A Request for Information to solicit input on materials management infrastructure. A listening session is on March 14, and concept papers and public comments are due by April 14.
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A Sustainable CT Webinar: Sustainable Snow Management
Don't Think Spring just yet. Sustainability in winter operations is more important than ever. Winter maintenance professionals must employ best practices to minimize salt use and maximize their operations for both fiscal and environmental stewardship. Sustainable CT Action 3.14, Implement Sustainable Snow Management, was newly added in 2023. Mary McCarthy, T2 Center Program Director, and Shannon O’Loughlin, T2 Center Educational Program Coordinator, will talk more about the activities within this action and specifically about the CT Green Snow Pro training opportunities and how it can help your town earn points for your certification. March 9, 1-2pm.
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Climate Leader Webinar Series: Streamlining Solar Permitting in Your Community
Hear from representatives from the Great Plains Institute and Cadmus as they discuss the SolSmart designation program and how they can help your community achieve national recognition at no cost. March 22, 11am - 12pm.
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First Workshop in our Spring 2023 Virtual Equity Training Series is March 28
The series begins with "Managing Unconscious Bias." This workshop is designed to increase awareness of bias and to explore how conscious and unconscious bias impacts communication and decision-making when we interact with individuals and groups that are different from us.
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This free, three-part, virtual equity workshop series provides a comprehensive framework of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion (REDI). Attendance at all three sessions is required. Sessions run 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on: March 28, April 25, and May 23. Content will be geared to help Sustainability Teams integrate equity considerations into their Sustainable CT initiatives. Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live training and will not be recorded. Only register if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.
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Save the Sound is hiring!
Do you believe that every person from our region’s diverse communities deserves access to restorative nature, clean water, and healthy air? Save the Sound is seeking a Director of Land Protection and Resilience to join their dynamic team.
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CT Post: Everything You Need to Know About Going Solar
Erin Kenney at the CT Post shares seven steps to go solar in CT — from understanding federal and state cost incentives to estimating process hacks. You’ll know everything you need to know about the CT solar process.
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Hartford Courant: Sustainable CT Marlborough Discusses Inclusive and Equitable Community Impacts
On Feb. 25, the Marlborough Sustainable CT team discussed Inclusive and Equitable Community Impacts, at Elmer Thienes-Mary Hall Elementary School.
Leading the discussion was town Director of Planning and Development Peter Hughes. Hughes is also the Fair Housing coordinator and ADA coordinator for the town.
Hughes explained the purpose behind the meeting, as well as future events planned around the subject.
“The root of this process is to get more people involved in the decision-making process than the small core group,” he said...
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This month: we go Zooming with John Elsesser, the long-serving Town Manager of Coventry. We haven't had this much fun since Harry met Sally.
The IMPACT is available March 15 at sustainablect.org and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Announcing Sustainable CT Community Leadership and Action Regional Conferences
We're excited to announce a series of six regional Community Leadership and Action Conferences starting on Saturday, May 20th, from 10am-5pm, at the Free Center in Middletown, CT.
Our goal is to bring the Community Match Fund closer to leaders and neighborhoods, while providing a platform for turning ideas into initiatives through funding, support and action. We’ll progress to Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, New London and Waterbury through the rest of the year. While we encourage you to attend the conference in your region, and to connect with leaders near you, if you can’t attend your local conference, all are welcome to attend any event around the state.
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Our Community Leadership and Action Conferences are generously sponsored by |
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The Next Sustainable CT Coffee Hour:
March 17 at 10am
Preparing for Spring Certification
Yes, believe it or not, the spring certification deadline is just a month away - April 4! Join us for our next Coffee Hour when we'll bring you quick tips for application submission, including reminders of tools to track your progress, available resources and supports, and, of course, an opportunity to ask questions. We can do this!
AND a sneak-peek at what we have planned for our special Earth Day Coffee Hour in April: Eric Fine from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC) will join us to discuss YPCCC’s research on climate change public opinion and messaging. Stay tuned for more!
Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions on the third Friday of each month. We share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are free and open to all.
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For more fun and informative March events,
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We’re celebrating the newness of things.
Come meet our new Equity Coaches and our newest class of Sustainable CT Fellows. We’ll be acknowledging our newest cohort of Certified Communities, too, with the participation of our Board of Directors and the entire Sustainable CT team. We’ll provide music, light fare and good cheer as we revel in Glastonbury’s “brownfield to boathouse” success story. Register today and help us spring into summer!
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Actions & Impact is 100% chatbot-free. We think. |
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