Workshop Helps SSDN Members Navigate Federal Funding for Environmental Justice

The Biden Administration has put Environmental Justice front and center to help support equitable distribution of federal investment. Local governments in the Southeast have a need for targeted investment to mitigate conditions that have left many communities to experience environmental justice conditions. Columbia University Master of Sustainability Program recently hosted a Capstone Workshop to help…

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Knoxville’s long term commitment to energy efficiency and developing equity partnerships pays dividends for struggling residents

As any local government official knows well, strong community partnerships aren’t developed overnight. Establishing ties that yield meaningful impacts takes time to cultivate and a commitment to shared goals.  The City of Knoxville knows a thing or two about what it takes to form a solid partnership and, through their long term commitment to equity-centered…

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Town of Cary, NC Supports the Walnut Creek Watershed

In 2018, SSDN awarded the Town of Cary a grant through its Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund program, supported by Kresge Foundation and The Kendeda Fund. This award catalyzed the Town’s investment in watershed protection and restoration, and bolstered its leadership as the headwaters of Walnut Creek, the critical watershed in the Research/Triangle area of North…

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Year in Review: SSDN Members’ Best of 2021

Despite the obstacles brought to communities in Southeast during the second year of the pandemic, our members have continued to achieve innovative, collaborative, and equity-centered milestones in their sustainability and resilience goals. We are so proud to support the critical work our members pursue every day. In addition to stories shared on our last Green…

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SSDN Kicks Off Strategic Planning Refresh with Member Input Opportunities

SSDN underwent its first strategic planning process in 2018, and adopted its first strategic plan in 2019. This came at a critical step in the network, with staff transitions, membership growth, and new program development. This plan was meant to guide the network forward for 3-5 years. Because of the enormous changes and challenges that…

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SSDN Announces 2021 Community Collaboration Catalyst Micro Grant Award Winners

SSDN members believe that rooting sustainability work in equity is essential to seeing success in both solving the climate crisis and dismantling inequity. Our members are committed to addressing climate change by centering people and their experiences, and promote equal opportunity in the benefits from climate action.  With support from The Kresge Foundation, SSDN launched…

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Enhancing Sustainability in Small Southern Communities

Every day, we have the opportunity to hear about our members’ innovative projects, recent successes, and exciting ambitions for building and implementing sustainability in their communities. Through our Workgroups, committees, surveys, trainings, and more, we also have the pleasure of receiving valuable feedback from our members about how their participation at SSDN continues to broaden…

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SSDN 2020 Annual Report

Ferns Photo by Elias Tigiser from Pexels

Our culture has always been focused on building trusted relationships, and those relationships have persevered in a time of disconnection and intense anxiety. As a result, our members continued to show up for the network and for each other. They continued to demonstrate impact in their communities despite insurmountable challenges. Read the full 2020 Annual Report.…

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