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Join Our Earth Month Tours
Celebrating Earth Day throughout the month of April
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The Next Sustainable CT Coffee Hour:
THURSDAY, April 17 at 10 a.m.
April is the coolest month
Join us to learn about the results of a three-year Sustainable Materials Management pilot funded by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to address the state’s growing waste challenges. Municipalities that participated in the program achieved significant waste reduction and increased recycling rates. The pilots that became permanent programs now lead the state in food scrap separation and composting. This session will feature speakers from pilot communities, sharing insights on what worked, how they engaged residents, and the impact of their efforts. We'll also have representatives from DEEP and Waste Zero on hand to provide background. This is an opportunity to connect, ask questions, and hear real-world experiences and key takeaways from the pilot program.
REGISTER for APRIL 17>
Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal discussions most third THURSDAYS 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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April's IMPACT: Dave Dickson,
UConn CLEAR
UConn isn't just about basketball. Yeah, OK, but congratulations, Huskies!
We catch up with David Dickson, Director of the University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research - a/k/a UConn CLEAR. UConn CLEAR provides indispensable resources to land use decision makers in support of better land use decisions, healthier natural resources, and more resilient communities. Dave also happens to be a member of the Sustainable CT Board of Directors, so this will be a fun and informative conversation about sustainability. And basketball.
This month's episode of the IMPACT will be available on April 15 on the Sustainable CT website, and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Optimizing for Equity
Our spring Virtual Equity Training series takes place April 10, May 8 and June 12. All sessions are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
These no-cost, virtual events provide a comprehensive framework of racial equity, diversity and inclusion. Who should attend? Sustainability Team members (elected officials, municipal staff, commissioners, volunteers) in registered Sustainable CT communities. This will be a live training series and will not be recorded.
Attendance at all three sessions is required to complete the series, and you should only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session. Attendance for our virtual equity workshops is capped at 35, and spaces fill up quickly, so please register without delay.
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The Community Match Fund
Projects are blooming!
'Tis the season for Community Match Fund projects - with 17 currently active. There's so much to choose from to show your support... like Send a Kid to Farm & Forest Camp! It's a program in which kids can spend summer days outside learning about and caring for our beautiful natural environment. Children have access to a place where they can explore and enjoy the stillness of the woods, get their hands in the dirt, plant and harvest organic vegetables, and learn to respect themselves. C'mon, send a kid to camp!
| | LEARN MORE about the Sustainable CT Community Match Fund | | | | |
Big Brain Wanted
Bring the left side of your brain - and the right side, too! - to work with us as an Administrative Coordinator. We're seeking a talented and creative professional to provide support in the areas of accounting, technology, development, data and record keeping, office coordination, and vendor engagement. If the right side of your brain has a passion for sustainability, and the left side of your brain makes you super-organized and detail-oriented, we want you on our team! Get all the details and apply by May 5!
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CIRCA's Resilience Roundup for April
The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaption (CIRCA) has a monthly newsletter that lists events, webinars, announcements, grant information, state and regional news clips, and a whole lot more you need to know. Don't miss it.
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CT Mirror: New Haven sues Trump over climate change, energy funding loss
New Haven has joined a second nationwide lawsuit against the Trump administration, this time over the city’s loss of access to tens of millions of dollars in already-allocated grants addressing climate change and clean energy. Read the entire article.
~AND~
The EPA proposed 31 environmental rollbacks - what comes next?
Jan Ellen Spiegel surveys the Trump Administration's undoing of environmental initiatives and the impact on Connecticut. Read it here.
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Partnership for Strong Communities Housing Data Profiles
The Partnership for Strong Communities' Housing Data Profiles are a free resource to help Connecticut residents, developers, legislators, municipal officials, and others make data-informed decisions. Profiles are available for every town in the state, as well as each county, and the state as a whole.
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DEEP's Equity & Environmental Justice Monthly Newsletter
The Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Equity & Environmental Justice Newsletter for April includes important announcements, news, events, funding opportunities, and job listings. Find it here.
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YPCCC's newest article: "The Impacts of Climate Activism"
In this article, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC) research team reviews and synthesizes 50 research articles from the last few years that examine the question: what are the impacts of climate activism? Because climate activism has many different goals and outcomes, the team organized the scientific literature into different outcomes, focusing on impacts on the public, the media, the political system, and other outcomes (e.g., stock market).
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Housatonic Valley Association seeks new Executive Director
The Housatonic Valley Association, Inc. (HVA) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is serving as the voice of the Housatonic River, its land and tributaries; and working and acting to protect, restore, and advocate for its natural beauty and resiliency through collaboration, education, and engagement. Read the full job description.
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SPRING CERTIFICATION DEADLINE: TOMORROW, APRIL 8, AT NOON
Questions? Don't hesitate to contact us.
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Save the Date!
We'll be having our 2025 Spring into Summer Celebration at the Mark Twain House and Museum, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, on Wednesday, June 4, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Some of our favorite partners will be tabling, we'll honor our spring certified communities, we'll introduce our newest cohort of Sustainable CT Fellows, and tours of the Twain House will be available, too. We'll have music and light fare, of course, and all of your Sustainable CT friends will be there. "To get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with," Twain said. We hope you will come divide it with us.
REGISTER EARLY>
The 2025 Spring into Summer Celebration is generously sponsored by:
| | | | Sponsorship opportunities are available! Join us in working for a better Connecticut. Don't wait: contact Jessica LeClair, 860-259-4767, to discuss options and details. | | |
An Environmental Law Institute webinar: Creating a Glide Path for Municipal Action - an Overview of Model Ordinances and Executive Orders on Food Waste Reduction
Join the Environmental Law Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council to learn about the suite of governance tools they have developed to reduce the time and effort required of municipalities to adopt ordinances, executive orders, and policies to reduce food waste. April 8, 1-1:50 p.m.
REGISTER>
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A Yale Program on Climate Change Communication webinar: Local Governments Engaging Communities & Leading Climate Change Communication
Increasingly, local government leaders recognize that climate communication is a vital climate strategy. How do they listen to their communities? How do they frame climate action to resonate across diverse communities? How can behavior change campaigns scale the impact? What strategies help them turn constituent feedback into tangible progress? Join YPCCC for a discussion on the critical role of local leadership in driving climate communication from the ground up. Tuesday, April 15, 2-3 p.m.
REGISTER>
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ARCC hosts Earth Day Lunch and Learn
Join Access to Resources for Climate Change (ARCC) for a free Earth Day event filled with delicious food and valuable information. There will be a presentation on the impacts of climate change for people of color in Greater New Haven, followed by a discussion about disaster preparation for your household and community. There will be a free buffet-style lunch from CaribeSoul. Don’t miss this chance to eat, learn, and celebrate Earth Day. An in-person event: April 19, 12-2 p.m., at the African American Society, 12 Manila Avenue, Hamden.
INFO and TICKETS>
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Groton Earth Day Expo 2025
Join Groton community organizations as they celebrate Earth Day and raise awareness of climate change, and give the community resources it needs to live more sustainably. This community event features a variety of vendors and organizations who support sustainable living as well as speakers throughout the day. An in-person event - Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Groton Public Library, 52 Newtown Rd, Groton.
MORE INFORMATION>
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On Earth Hartford 2025
Hosted in Hartford's Parkville neighborhood, On Earth is a vibrant celebration of the Earth that includes vendors, food trucks, farmers, workshops, music & more! All vendors will interactively explain their sustainable practices and their mission to reduce their environmental footprint--and help participants learn about creative ways to reduce our footprints as well. An in-person event: April 26, 12-5 p.m., 1429 Park Street, Hartford.
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Connecticut Green Bank Spring 2025 Update Webinar
Join Connecticut Green Bank as they provide an update on Green Bank programs and solutions for homes, buildings, and investments. Topics will include updates on Energy Storage Solutions, C-PACE, Smart-E, Environmental Infrastructure, and more. Tuesday, April 29, 12-1 p.m.
REGISTER>
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Trash to treasured fashion: Recycled Runway dazzles at the American Mural Project
The American Mural Project (AMP) will host its third Recycled Runway event. This playful celebration brings wearable art made from repurposed materials to the catwalk. Following sold-out shows in 2019 and 2023, Recycled Runway 2025 returns on Saturday, May 10, at 7 p.m., at AMP's renovated mill gallery in Winsted. A paid, in-person event.
INFO and TICKETS>
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Two Great Ways to Help Connecticut Communities
For a limited time and a limited time only!
We're participating in two exciting fundraising events: Give Local, April 29-30, and The Great Give, May 7-8. Please consider making a gift to Sustainable CT during either - or both! - of these special events so we can better serve local communities.
We know there are many worthy causes competing for space in your heart and head – and wallet. We’d like to offer two fundamental reasons why Sustainable CT should be part of your passion, part of your thinking, and part of your generosity:
HOPE. Your support for the aspirations of community leaders of every color, sex, ethnicity, political affiliation, and religious belief brings hope and positive change – on the street, in the family, in the neighborhood, and in the lives of tens of thousands of Connecticut residents every day.
EMPOWERMENT. What can one person possibly do to make a difference? With your support of Sustainable CT, you can make a difference, you can have an impact. Our work with individuals, communities, and municipal governments across Connecticut to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience is more important, more urgent, and more impactful than ever.
Your gift fights climate change, protects the environment, supports sustainable transportation, champions affordable housing, strengthens local economies, celebrates the arts, and embraces equity. Please take advantage of these limited opportunities on April 29-30 and May 7-8 to drive meaningful change in your community and across the state. And thank you!
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