Sustainable CT Seeks Executive Director | |
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Sustainable CT is actively seeking its first external successor to its founder-leader. The new Executive Director will have the opportunity to lead an inclusive, innovative, and collaborative state-wide organization that is a catalyst for the sustainability movement in Connecticut. In collaboration with a dedicated, experienced, and cohesive cadre of staff, Equity Coaches, and Fellows, the Executive Director will continue to grow Sustainable CT’s impact throughout the State.
This executive search is being conducted by Eos Transition Partners. For a complete position description including application instructions, visit the Eos Transition Partners Open Searches Page. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled with those received by March 29, 2024, receiving priority.
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A Message From Lynn Stoddard
Hello Sustainable CT friends. I have some exciting news to share. I will be retiring from my role as Executive Director of Sustainable CT this summer, on June 28th.
This is an exciting milestone for me personally as I look forward to retirement adventures, endless Saturdays, volunteer work on climate solutions, and more time with family including my adorable grandtwins!
More importantly, this is an exciting time and opportunity for Sustainable CT...
READ LYNN'S ENTIRE MESSAGE>
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The Next Sustainable CT Coffee Hour:
March 15 at 10 a.m.
Discover the "magic" of recycling
Join us for an engaging Coffee Hour focusing on the art, science and “magic” of recycling education. Cyril "CJ" May, Refuse/Recycling Coordinator for the City of Waterbury, brings a wealth of experience and insights into sustainable waste practices and public outreach. From standard practices like door knocking to more elaborate, innovative strategies like recycling magic shows, our host, and perhaps a special guest, will be available to share their perspectives on how to engage in effective recycling outreach. CJ will cover the best ways to use traditional recycling education methods, some new “best practices," and even some outside-the-box magic tools useful to magician and “muggle” alike. Don't miss this opportunity to caffeinate, connect, and be inspired! Learn more about CJ’s “enviromagic” at betterworldmagic.com.
REGISTER for MARCH 15>
Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Fridays 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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March's IMPACT: in conversation with Nicole Chevalier
Nicole joins us for the Ides of March
Et tu, Nicole? Nicole Chevalier - philanthropist, activist, writer, member of the Sustainable CT Board of Directors, and chair of our search committee for a brand new Executive Director - talks about the ED's role, how finding the right person is so important, and what the future holds for Sustainable CT. One thing's for certain: there's no need to beware the Ides of March!
This month's episode of the IMPACT will be available on March 15 at sustainablect.org and wherever you get your podcasts.
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The Community Match Fund
Help the Free Center hit the runway with Debris Couture
Support the Free Center's effort in an exciting and environmentally conscious community art project, Debris Couture: A Sustainable Trashion Project. Together with the community, the Free Center will be turning trash into a collection of “haute couture.” Debris Couture is designed to prepare cohorts of families, communities, school groups, businesses, and organizations to create their own bespoke outfits for a spring collection scheduled to hit the runway in April 2024 at the Free Center. Dress trashy and support this Community Match Fund project!
~AND~
Our crowdfunding partner, Patronicity, has published a Community Match Fund Annual Report for 2023. Check it out.
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LEARN MORE about the Sustainable CT Community Match Fund | | |
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Optimizing for Equity
Pathway to Gold Webinar: Action 1.1
We kicked-off our "Pathway to Gold" series with February's Coffee Hour. This month, the series continues with a webinar on Action 1.1, Optimize for Equity. Action 1.1 is required for all of our certification levels, and no less so for Gold. Find out how this action can benefit municipal operations at every level; hear about Action 1.1 "Success Stories"; and have the opportunity to ask questions of Sustainable CT staff who will be on hand to guide you on the pathway to Gold. Join the webinar Thursday, March 28, at 10 a.m. Register today!
~AND~
Our spring Virtual Equity Training series takes place April 10, May 15 and June 12. All sessions are from 1 to 3 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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A Closer Look at CT Zoning Laws and Affordable Housing
CT Mirror had a compelling "CT Viewpoints" piece by Dice Oh last month, "Connecticut must reform its exclusionary zoning laws," making the case that "excessive restrictions on land use, such as single-family zoning (aka multifamily housing bans), minimum lot sizes, setback requirements, height limits, and parking requirements serve to artificially drive up the cost of housing" and exacerbate Connecticut's housing crisis. Marketplace host Amy Scott did a follow-on interview with Sara Bronin, director of the National Zoning Atlas, a federated effort to record and put all of the country’s zoning laws into one map. Fascinating stuff.
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Governor Lamont Commemorates International Open Data Day: Tenth Year Anniversary of Connecticut's Open Data Portal
Governor Ned Lamont marked International Open Data Day (Saturday, March 2, 2024) by highlighting the availability of data for the public through the Connecticut Open Data Portal, data.ct.gov. The portal was launched in 2014 and it is overseen by the Connecticut Open Data Advisory Council. It currently hosts more than 550 datasets submitted by various state agencies. Read the Governor's press release.
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Town of Vernon Seeks Sustainability Intern
The Town of Vernon intends to place a highly qualified intern in its Planning and Development office to assist with the implementation of Sustainable CT action items. We like the sound of that, Vernon! Read the full job description.
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South Central Regional Council of Governments is Hiring!
The South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) is hiring for multiple positions including Highway Safety Program Specialist, Transportation Planner, Director of Regional Planning, and Municipal Services Coordinator. Check out their full list of employment opportunities.
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CT Nonprofit Alliance: Upcoming Legislative Events
The CT Nonprofit Alliance (a/k/a The Alliance) is reminding us that there are several legislative "listening sessions" taking place in March:
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Wednesday, March 6, 8 to 9 a.m. with Representative Kerry Wood (D) at Dream Café, 154 New Britain Ave, Lower Level, Rocky Hill. Rep Kerry Wood represents the towns of Rocky Hill and Wethersfield.
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Thursday, March 7, 8 to 9 a.m. with Representative Mark DeCaprio (R) at McDonalds, 375 S Main Street, Colchester. Rep DeCaprio represents the towns of Bozrah, Colchester, Franklin, and Lebanon.
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Saturday, March 9, 10 a.m. to 12 noon with Representative Corey Paris (D), virtual office hours (Register here). Rep Paris represents the city of Stamford.
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Yale Forest Forum - Tribal Forestry: Understanding Current Issues and Challenges in Contemporary and Traditional Management of Forested Landscapes
This virtual speaker series focuses on the current state of tribal forest management and Indigenous stewardship with a series of speakers from different tribes, universities, non-profits, and agencies. March 7 and 28; April 4, 11, 18 and 25; beginning at noon for all dates.
REGISTER>
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Sustainable and Resilient Communities Regional Funding Workshops
Are you looking for funding opportunities to support sustainability and resilience projects in your community? Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) is holding regional funding workshops, where attendees can gain valuable insights from program officers and successful awardees of resilience-related funding.
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WORKSHOP 1: SRC Regional Funding Workshop - Eastern CT, Thursday, March 7th; UConn Avery Point Lowell P. Weicker Building, Rm. 103, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton. REGISTER>
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WORKSHOP 2: SRC Regional Funding Workshop - Western CT, Thursday, March 21; Housatonic Community College, BEA 214, 900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport. REGISTER>
These are in-person events. Both workshops are from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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Connecticut Association of Wetland Scientists to Hold Annual Meeting
The Connecticut Association of Wetland Scientists (CAWS) holds its Annual Meeting and Environmental Conference on Thursday, March 7, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They welcome ecologists, designers, and other land use professionals, government officials, municipal commission members, and other interested parties to join the in-person event. The Heritage Hotel Golf, Spa & Conference Center, 522 Heritage Road, Southbury.
REGISTER>
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Age Well Collaborative Holds Next "Age Well Academy"
The Connecticut Age Well Collaborative will hold its next Age Well Academy on Thursday, March 7, 11 a.m. to 12 noon. This session is all about the opportunities for education and support that the Age Well Collaborative is offering as part of their "Every Age, Every Ability" campaign.
REGISTER>
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Connecticut Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects to Hold Climate Action Education Program
The Connecticut Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) will hold a full-day continuing education program, "Climate Action: Building Resilient Communities," on March 14, 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., at O&G Earth Products Showcase, 325 Hancock Ave, Bridgeport. A diverse group of presenters will share the latest on carbon footprint reduction, product lifecycle analysis, and innovative geo-polymers.
REGISTER for this IN-PERSON EVENT>
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Crowdfunding to Build Old Saybrook Tree Canopy
SOS Trees is in the middle of their crowd-funding campaign to offer free trees for Old Saybrook residents in celebration of this year's Arbor Day (April 27). They're responding to the growing concern of the loss of trees and the associated critical health and economic benefits of a strong and healthy tree canopy in Old Saybrook. The SOS Trees crowd-funding campaign to receive match funds through the Sustainable CT Community Match Fund ends March 17.
THROW THEM some SHADE!>
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Yale School of the Environment Energy Justice Seminar
Energy justice is a burgeoning field of real-world practices driving beyond equity and remedies into major domestic and international financial instruments as well as on-the-ground energy projects. Drawing on Yale’s faculty and practitioners from the field, this energy justice seminar gives attendees detailed insight into the latest thinking and practice and help prepare students to work in this field. The seminar draws from multiple disciplines, including law, sociology, anthropology, and economics. It covers topics relating to energy justice in the areas of policy and regulation, community advocacy, legal implications, health implications, and private sector innovation. This is an on-going virtual seminar (webinar): March 25, April 1, 8, 15 and 22. All sessions begin at 10 a.m.
REGISTER>
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It's Scholarship Season at the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut
Our friends at the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut (CFEC) hear firsthand how students' lives are changed by the financial support that scholarships provide. As students plan their future, they can help. Visit the CFEC website to learn more about the scholarships they offer and apply! Application deadline: May 1, 2024.
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Spring Certification Deadline: APRIL 10
Ah, spring is in the air (almost). And with it arrives our 2024 spring certification deadline. The application deadline for the 2024 spring certification cycle is April 10, at noon. You can do this! Remember, answers to your questions are just an email away: info@sustainablect.org. We hope to be able to share unofficial certification results by the end of May. All 2023 certified towns will be recognized together at our Annual Awards Celebration in November, but watch for an invitation to our Spring into Summer event when we'll be making a special acknowledgement of spring certified towns - coming soon!
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