News
Strong partnerships with community organizations, local governments, key to Keep Safe Miami resilience program
Source: Twitter, @CityofMiami Resilience is a journey, and the sustainability staff at the City of Miami are determined to reach their destination. The ever-progressing impacts of climate change across south Florida don’t make the road easy, particularly for those living in the area’s affordable housing communities. But working alongside strong community partners like Enterprise Community…
Read MoreSSDN Communities Make Strides in Participatory Engagement, Supported by 2021 Community Collaboration Catalyst MicroGrant Award
With support from The Kresge Foundation, SSDN launched its new Community Collaboration Catalyst Micro Grant Program in 2021. This program provided small grants to local government and community partnerships for the purposes of supporting equity-centered community leadership and engagement in local climate and resilience planning and program development. Grantees tested innovative approaches to engagement for…
Read MoreA Look Back: SSDN 2022 Annual Meeting
“Best. Meeting. Ever!” “Incredible people! Love to meet my new colleagues.” “I’m happy to know that I’m not alone.” These words and more were shared in the aftermath of our phenomenal 2022 Annual Meeting in sunny Savannah, Georgia at the beginning of May. After three years of pent-up desire to once again enjoy what makes…
Read MoreCity of Little Rock Launches Green Restaurant Certificate Program
Last month, the City of Little Rock launched a new program to add sustainability practices to their local hospitality! Restaurants in the city will now be able to take part in a three tier program to help them learn how to implement changes like composting food waste, installing energy-saving equipment to lower energy consumption and…
Read MoreSSDN Speaks at Congress for New Urbanism’s 30th Congress, Represents at North Carolina Rural Summit
As the restraints of the pandemic wane, SSDN’s staff have stretched their legs and participated in two events that will allow the network to grow its connections, knowledge, and share its successes. SSDN’s Executive Director, Meg Jamison, presented in Oklahoma City on March 25, 2022 at the Congress for New Urbanism’s annual congress. This event,…
Read MoreWorkshop 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…
Read MoreKnoxville’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…
Read MoreTown 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…
Read MoreYear 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…
Read MoreSSDN 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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