Welcome Jenna!
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…
Read MoreGreen Minds Podcast: Benefits of Joining SSDN
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…
Read MoreWelcome to the team Amanda
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…
Read MoreAnnouncing: Our NEW Leadership!
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…
Read MoreTogether 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…
Read MoreSSDN 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…
Read MoreSSDN Urges the Tennessee Valley Authority to Strengthen Its Commitment to Resilient Energy
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…
Read More“Energy For All Y’All” shares inspiring stories of how the South is benefiting from clean energy
Asheville, NC — From training local workers as solar installers to test-driving electric vehicles, renewable energy is alive and well in the Southeast. These kinds of stories need to be told if people are to see the value of clean energy in their everyday lives. That’s the impetus behind “Energy For All Y’all,” a collaboration from…
Read MoreTransportation 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…
Read MoreHurricane 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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