Grant Spotlight: Investing in Local Climate Resilience

map of U.S. with grant cities marked

We’re thrilled to announce that several of our member communities have been awarded grants through the Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI)! Here’s what’s happening: Boynton Beach, FL, has received $100,000 to develop a data-informed, community-driven urban heat resilience strategy, including efforts around tree canopy expansion and cooling infrastructure. Chatham County, GA, secured $110,787 to create…

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Richmond Battles Heat with New Cool Kit

Child playing in outdoor splashpad

The City of Richmond’s Office of Sustainability (an SSDN member community) just released its first-ever heat mitigation guide, the Richmond Cool Kit, with 25 evidence-based strategies to help city staff and community members tackle extreme heat. It’s a timely, practical resource designed to cool down both public and private spaces—because every degree matters. We’re proud…

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Green Minds Podcast: Careers in Sustainability

Square Green Minds podcast logo with head with leaf inside and squiggly line behind

Our August episode of Green Minds dives into the realities of landing—and thriving—in sustainability jobs, especially in local government. From breaking into the field to stepping into leadership roles like Chief Sustainability Officer, our guests Abena Ojetayo with the City of Tallahassee and Shelby Buso, formerly with the City of Atlanta and now with the…

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Community Resilience Hubs: Infrastructure That Connects and Protects

Town grid with glowing church and two other buildings

By Anita Tillman, AMCorp International Every city needs bridges. Roads. Drainage systems. We invest in these structures not just because we use them every day, but because they help us weather the disruption, stay connected, and return to normal after disaster. Today, the Southeast faces a new kind of infrastructure imperative – one designed not…

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SE Communities Leading the Way on Heat Resilience

screen shot of Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring Locations

We’re excited to share that New Orleans, LA, and Memphis, TN, both SSDN members, have been selected as 2025 Community Science Partners through the Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring (CCHM), a national collaboration of science centers and technical experts. This work will support locally driven efforts to collect and use data on extreme heat, air…

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Celebrating Our TN Member Communities

Four photos of various Tennessee cities with Celebrating Tennessee in the middle

From microgrids to municipal fleet transitions, check out what our member communities in Tennessee are doing:   Knoxville is driving change with a Green Fleet Policy, a decarbonization plan for public transit, and a partnership with Knoxville Utilities Board’s community solar array program. It’s aiming for a 50% cut in municipal emissions by 2030 and…

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Green Minds Podcast: Climate Action Plans

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Does your community have a Climate Action Plan, Climate Vulnerability or Risk Assessment? Are you interested in one? Take a deep dive with us as we explore what makes a successful plan on our Green Minds podcast, which just dropped today. Host Dr. Robyn Byers interviews Leif Olson of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Michelle Midanier of…

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West Palm Beach Energy Milestone

Two women and two men pose for a photo with their award

We’re celebrating a big win for the SSDN member community West Palm Beach, which has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as a 2024 Better Buildings Challenge Goal Achiever!  By reducing energy use by 16% across all municipal buildings and infrastructure, the City cemented its status as a leader in municipal energy efficiency…

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What’s in Your Energy/Water Efficiency Kit?

green cloth bag surrounded by several items for an energy efficiency kit

LED lightbulbs? Low-flow showerheads? Our sustainability experts recently discussed what items they provide to homeowners and renters as part of their community sustainability efforts as well as which items had an impact and what items just weren’t effective. These kits help community members try out items they might not otherwise purchase so they can see…

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What’s the Buzz about Bee Cities?

Bumble bee on a pink flower

Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are essential to healthy ecosystems, local agriculture, and biodiversity—but they’re in trouble. That’s where Bee City USA steps in, helping communities take meaningful steps to protect these vital species. Becoming a Bee City means your community commits to: ✅ Creating and enhancing pollinator habitats ✅ Educating the public about…

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Congrats to Our Very Own Energy Exec: Jake!

man smiling with trees in the background

We’re proud to share that SSDN’s Jake Leech has been selected to join the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 2025 Executive Energy Leadership  program (Energy Execs)! This prestigious four-month leadership program brings together 19 professionals from across the country to dive deep into cutting-edge clean energy technologies, tools, and innovations. Jake’s…

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Built Shade: A Critical Tool in Heat Resilience

Built shade trolley stop in Tampa

When it comes to beating the heat, trees are a great solution, but they aren’t the only solution — and in places like East Tampa, built shade is playing a vital role in protecting communities. As highlighted by Kayla Caselli with the City of Tampa and featured in the Tampa Heat Resilience Playbook, built shade…

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Congrats to Our New Membership Manager: Gabi

Dark haired woman leaning against a wall

Since joining SSDN, Gabriela “Gabi” Sanchez Barrocas has been a vital part of our team — bringing dedication, heart, and a deep commitment to supporting our members. She began taking on many of the responsibilities of this role in the fall of last year and was officially promoted in March. Her biggest undertaking so far…

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New SSDN Jobs Board

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We’re excited to launch the SSDN Jobs Board—a growing hub for local government sustainability and resilience career opportunities across the Southeast! Looking for your next step or know someone who is looking?  To post a job, simply fill out the quick submission form here: 🔗 https://www.southeastsdn.org/members/member-login/job-postings/ You can also send jobs to Amanda@southeastsdn.org.  We’re building…

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Inspiration to Anticipation: SSDN’s 2025 Annual Meeting

large group of people with SSDN banner

“Feeling gratitude for SSDN bringing together such a thoughtful and driven community committed to local climate action and collective impact.”- Alannah Irwin, Boynton Beach, FL Dear SSDN Community, As the energy from our recent gathering in Richmond begins to settle, we find ourselves reflecting on connections made, inspiration found, and knowledge gained and shared. For…

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Celebrating GA’s Sustainability Momentum

8 men and women posing for a photo on a stage.

Across Georgia SSDN members are leading the way in sustainability action. At the 2025 Cobb County Sustainability Expo, our Georgia Policy Manager Joy Ward joined local m embers to spotlight how regional collaboration is accelerating progress across the state. With more than 400 attendees, the event underscored SSDN’s belief that regional challenges require regional solutions—and…

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When Solutions Are Local

Two women carry a plant

By Anita Tillman, AMCorp International Across the Southeast, communities are rewriting the blueprint for prosperity—not by waiting for rescue, but by reimagining what growth could look like when it is rooted in resilience, opportunity, and independence. The Cost of Staying In Place The cost of outdated housing, pollution, high energy, and healthcare has quietly chipped…

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Welcome Jenna!

Circle with picture of a blond woman smiling and wearing a burgundy top with a leaf at the bottom and text that reads welcome to the team Jenna! Tennessee Valley Policy Manager

Warm wishes to our newest employee, Tennessee Valley Policy Manager Jenna Guillen. A California native and recent transplant to Nashville, TN, Jenna is passionate about supporting our members’ sustainability efforts in the Tennessee Valley region. In her career, Jenna has worked in various roles for state and local government in Central and Northern California primarily…

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Green Minds Podcast: Benefits of Joining SSDN

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Do you have a Green Mind? 💚🧠 Check out our Green Minds podcast. In our latest episode, hosts Dr. Robyn Byers and Dr. Shaleen Miller engage with Rebecca Coplin, Beautification Project Manager for High Point, NC, to explore the benefits of SSDN membership. They discuss traditional and unique advantages, emphasizing relationship building, connections, and grant…

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Welcome to the team Amanda

Text reads: Welcome to the team, Amanda! Communications Manager with image of a woman with shoulder length hair and glasses

Welcome Amanda! 👋 A big shout out 🎉 to our first ever communications manager, Amanda Nalley. Amanda has a 20+ year career in environmental communications, starting as a camp kid turned camp counselor on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She has two undergraduate degrees from Loyola University New Orleans. She taught environmental education, was a newspaper…

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Announcing: Our NEW Leadership!

board members in hall way around a piano pose for a picture

Join us in thanking the inaugural members of our board. We look forward to working with this group of committed members as they lead our newly designated 501(c)(3). President Laura Thomas – Richmond, VA Vice President Lori Forsman – Orange County, FL Secretary Jeanette Johnson – Wake Forest, NC Alia Garrett – Sarasota, FL Chandra…

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Together Louisiana’s Bold Vision Empowers Communities with Clean Energy

In the wake of Hurricane Ida, Louisiana residents were left without power for weeks, exposing the deep vulnerabilities of the state’s energy infrastructure. But instead of waiting for solutions from the top down, a coalition of churches, nonprofits, labor unions, and community organizations took matters into their own hands. Together Louisiana launched a groundbreaking initiative…

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SSDN Announces Leadership Transition and New Beginnings

Dear SSDN members, partners and community, It has been an incredible honor to serve as SSDN’s first Executive Director and work with SSDN for nearly 10 years. I am pleased and honored that I have had the chance to lead such an impactful organization, and I commend my team and our members for the incredible…

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SSDN Urges the Tennessee Valley Authority to Strengthen Its Commitment to Resilient Energy

Tennessee mountains at sunset

December 6, 2024 – The Southeast Sustainability Directors Network (SSDN), representing more than 125 local governments dedicated to advancing sustainability across the southeastern United States, submitted comments yesterday to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) regarding its 2025 Draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). SSDN’s recommendations focus on driving a stronger commitment to sustainability, transparency, and equity…

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Transportation Grants Pave the Way for Community Reconnection and Resilience

By Anita Tillman, AMCorp International The elevated Interstate 10 looms in the distance along the North Claiborne Avenue corridor in New Orleans — a stark concrete barrier bisecting the historic Tremé neighborhood, where 1960s urban renewal projects have had detrimental impacts on a once-economically thriving community. NEW ORLEANS — In an era where infrastructure often…

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Hurricane Recovery Resources and How to Help

The aftermath of any storm is life altering for those in its midst as well as for those of us out of the path watching what is happening in neighborhoods just like ours. Our hearts are with every community dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and our prayers are with those in the path…

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A Season of Change: Farewell and Thank You to Riyza Jose Morales

by Meg Jamison, Executive Director As we prepare to bid farewell to our wonderful Riyza, we want to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate her remarkable journey with us. After three years of dedication to our organization and to our members, Riyza is embarking on a new chapter, and while we are sad…

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Celebrating New Heights in the Queen City: SSDN’s 2024 Annual Meeting

In the spring, SSDN celebrated another impactful Annual Meeting in the midst of new heights and growth experienced by our network. The 2024 SSDN Annual Meeting was held April 30th to May 3rd in Charlotte, North Carolina. This year’s festivities welcomed 130 staff from 80 local governments, with representatives from all 10 states in our…

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Gratitude for SSDN’s Growth & Planning Ahead for 2024

by Meg Jamison, Executive Director I started working with SSDN as a consultant in 2015 with one of SSDN’s founding members, Maggie Ullman. I helped organize our Annual Meeting in Atlanta where we gathered about 35 local government practitioners in Atlanta. At that point, SSDN had no network staff… only two consultants trying to build…

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Refuse to Surrender: How an Underdog City Applied for a $10 Million Federal Grant

By Anita Tillman, AMCorp International Across the southeast, from Texas to Virginia, cities and towns overflow with ideas, hopes, needs, and dreams. Unfortunately, most find themselves wrestling with the realities of fragile infrastructure, an affordable housing crisis, population fluctuations, and little capacity to access the pots of federal funding at the end of the rainbow…

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Start Where Communities Are: How Local Infrastructure Hub Cohorts Build Local Capacity to Access Federal Funding

by Anita M. Tillman, AMCorp International Navigating the complex landscape of infrastructure needs and federal funding opportunities can often feel like you’re lost in an intricate maze without a map. You understand the corners and contours of your community, you’re attuned to its challenges and potential, and yet, transforming those needs into actionable projects feels…

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Celebrating Growth and Progress: A Rundown of SSDN’s Federal Funding Programs

We are excited to continue strengthening our capacity to support for local communities in accessing federal resources! Two years ago, SSDN launched the Southeast Sustainable Recovery Center (SSRC), a member-focused support program for local governments with the goal of increasing access to federal funding and resources to advance sustainability and equity.  Building on SSDN’s peer-to-peer…

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SSDN Launches Local Infrastructure Hub Cohorts Program to Deepen Support for Southeast Communities’ Access to Federal Funding

The Southeast Sustainability Directors Network has officially launched a new program as part of a broader effort to provide deeper support to communities who need additional capacity to access federal funding. The Local Infrastructure Hub (LIH) Regional Cohorts program provides direct support and technical assistance (TA) to local governments and their partners in the Midwest…

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