Trainings & Events

Reserve your spot today for the 2025 LIS Summit, hosted in person at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, CT. Informed by each other’s perspectives and experiences and guided by resources like the updated Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), this Summit will focus on building strong partnerships, sharing knowledge, and exploring communication approaches. Registration Closes March 13.

There is a $25 registration fee which covers lunch for attendees. A limited number of scholarships to waive registration fees and attend the Long Island Sound Summit are available. Learn more about Summit scholarships by clicking this link.
 

Building on themes from the book What’s Possible: Investing NOW for Prosperous, Sustainable Neighborhoods, the New York Fed, together with the Yale Program on Social Enterprise, Innovation, and Impact; Yale Center for Business and the Environment; Yale Center for Environmental Justice; and Connecticut Green Bank; will convene a half-day conference that will spotlight promising pathways for investing in resilience and sustainable community development.

With a keynote fireside featuring high-level state officials and panel discussions centered on delivering benefits from sustainability and resilience infrastructure to low- and moderate-income communities in Connecticut, the in-person event will bring the public together with prominent social sector leaders and experts at Yale. The conversations will dovetail with the Yale Economic Development Symposium the following day, March 28^th

The event will be of interest to academics, economists, financial services professionals, and leaders of community organizations, government agencies, and policy advocacy organizations.
 

Repair Cafes prolong the life of fixable household items, keep them from clogging landfills and help you save money. You’ll find skilled repair volunteers with tools to help fix your broken items. Repairs are free, except for necessary parts you may need to buy, but donations to cover Cafe costs are appreciated.

Suffield’s first Repair Cafe is being held on Saturday, March 29th from 10 am - 2 pm! Bring your broken items to the Suffield Senior Center (145 Bridge St) during opening hours to get your items fixed for free!

To volunteer or ask questions Please email [email protected].
 

The Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) team will host the 2nd Annual Connecticut Regional Funding Workshop on Monday, March 31, 2025 from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm in New Haven, CT to provide information on funding opportunities to support sustainability and resilience-focused projects. The event is free, and lunch will be provided.

Registration and the workshop agenda will be coming soon!

Attendees will hear from program officers representing various local, state, and regional funding organizations and be able to engage in discussions with funders to explore project ideas and ways to improve funding applications. Attendees will also hear from a panel of successful awardees about their experiences and strategies. The workshop is intended for municipal officials and staff, nonprofits, community organizations, and other parties interested in planning and implementing projects that advance the sustainability and resilience of Long Island Sound communities.

View the resources materials from one of last year’s Funding Workshops:

2024 Funding Workshop Materials – Western CT
 

The intensifying threats of climate change, including flooding and extreme heat, are especially evident in cities - home to the majority of the globe's population. To address these challenges, there is growing investment in urban forests and tree planting as “nature-based solutions” to build resilience and reduce environmental inequities. Throughout this seminar series, urban forestry experts will share their use of data to effectively resolve management problems and measure the efficacy of different solutions. Bringing a range of experience across government, research, and nonprofit leadership, lecturers will present insights to guide decision-making for more equitable, green, and climate-ready cities.

Speakers include:

• Freetown, Sierra Leone’s Treetown Strategy: Manja Kargo, Team Lead of Mayor’s Delivery Unit

• The Importance of High-Resolution Land Cover Mapping: Paige Brochu, Director of University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab

• Trees Cool the City but Feel the Heat: Mike Alonzo, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at American University

• Health Benefits of Urban Greening: Matt Browning, Co-Director of the Virtual Reality & Nature Lab

The series is free and open to the public.  Each session will be recorded.  CEUs will be offered for urban foresters in attendance through the Society of American Foresters (SAF) and CT DEEP.

More information is available on the Hixon website. For any questions, please contact [email protected].
 

Join the US Composting Council for their upcoming webinar: “School Composting from the Soil Up” taking place on Tuesday, April 1st, at 6 PM Eastern Standard Time, this event will serve as a guide to starting a school composting program, using examples from three different models.

This webinar will help you learn about the common obstacles faced in starting a composting program and how dedicated groups overcame them to establish successful diversion programs.

You’ll hear from program leaders in Florida, New York, and Kentucky.

Register today to secure your spot and join the conversation!

Registration Fee:

• Members: Free
• Non-Members: $25

The Connecticut Arts Awards event celebrates the courageous creativity of extraordinary Connecticut residents who are engaged in and supporting the arts. The evening will honor nine (9) Connecticut Arts Heroes and four (4) Emerging Creatives.

This event is FREE & OPEN TO ALL!
 

This 45-minute introductory presentation is the first in a two-part series on free and open source GIS. It will cover the new and broad ecosystem of GIS and geospatial tools (e.g. viewers, scripting tools and desktop applications), explain how to choose the right tools for your set of uses cases, access public data, and how to conduct simple spatial analyses with QGIS. Attendees will learn about free geospatial software and GIS tools which are widely available, reliable, and powerful. Many have the capabilities of expensive commercial products from the industry leaders. Free tools such as these provide substantial analytic and visualization capabilities to organizations needing location data and visualization solutions such as non-profits, small businesses, land-trusts, and local governments. These tools can be used in conjunction with a variety of public data sets including elevation and parcel data from Connecticut, the federal government, and other entities. UConn CLEAR will demonstrate a few of the most relevant capabilities such as analysis, big data visualization, and basic map-making.
 

Learn about solutions to the waste crisis in Connecticut, specifically how municipalities, schools, businesses and individuals are practicing and developing innovative programs to reduce, reuse and recycle the organic portion of our municipal solid waste. Sherill Baldwin of CT DEEP will provide an overview of activities around the state and steps individuals can take to be part of the food waste prevention and food recovery solutions.
 

The Connecticut River Museum is hosting the second annual Connecticut River Valley Environmental Summit at Wesleyan University on April 5, 2025. Environmental leaders will present sessions on pressing issues affecting the Connecticut River watershed, engaging an audience that includes scientists, policymakers, academics, cultural institutions, and more. This event serves as a platform for watershed professionals and community stakeholders to learn from their peers, forge new connections, and explore opportunities for collaboration and coalition building to keep our waterways healthy and safe for future generations.
 

The Haddam Sustainability Committee is hosting a Repair Cafe, an event where a group of volunteer "fixers" join together to offer their services. Join them on March 5, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Haddam Volunteer Firehouse, 439 Saybrook Road in Higganum.

For questions or more information on the event please contact [email protected].
 

Join the Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) for a webinar highlighting two Resilient Connecticut projects currently underway in East Haddam and Stonington Mystic, CT. This webinar will feature the following:

• Resilient Connecticut Program Overview Presentation - John Truscinski, Director of Resilience Planning at CIRCA
• Resilient East Haddam Presentation – Neil Kulikauskas and Dan Pasquale, Kleinfelder
• Resilient Stonington Mystic Presentation - Beth Kirmmse and Erik Mas, Fuss and O’Neill

Town representatives from both municipalities will also share their experiences working with CIRCA and the impact of these projects on local climate adaptation efforts. This webinar is an opportunity to learn about innovative resilience strategies and explore lessons that can be applied to other Connecticut communities. Attendees will be eligible to receive CAFM credits.
 

This free, three-part, virtual equity workshop series provides a comprehensive framework of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. Attendance at all three sessions is required.

Sessions run 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on: April 10, May 8, and June 12. Content will be geared to help Sustainability Teams integrate equity considerations into their Sustainable CT initiatives. Anyone is welcome to register and participate.

Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live, interactive training and will NOT be recorded. Please only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.

Attendees will actively participate in three different workshops:

April 10: From Unconscious Bias to Systemic Change - This workshop goes beyond recognizing unconscious bias to crafting strategies for systemic change. The session offers theoretical insights and practical tools to reshape the municipal landscape for equity and justice.

May 8: Race & Community - Deepening Engagement and Solidarity - This workshop is designed to deepen community engagement around issues of race and racism. This interactive session will focus on building partnerships, coalitions, and networks that can amplify efforts to challenge racism and build equitable communities.

June 12: Persuasion for Progress - Influencing Change in Community Attitudes - Aiming to create progressive shifts in community attitudes, this workshop provides participants with nuanced approaches to community conversation, listening, resistance, and persuasion. Understanding that change often meets resistance, this session equips leaders with psychological insights and advanced communication strategies to transform skepticism into support for the Be READI© principles.

This webinar is eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) professional development credit from the CT Conference of Municipalities.
 

Connecticut Sea Grant (CTSG), the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve (CT NERR), and the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) have partnered together to implement MyCoast as a pilot project in New London, Groton and Stonington. 

MyCoast is a tool for reporting coastal events such as storms, floods, and extreme high tides. To participate, download the MyCoast app for Apple iOS devices, or for Android devices, then make an account and upload images of these events to the Connecticut database.

This virtual gathering will include a description of the new MyCoast project recently funded through the Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) and focusing on the coastal communities of Stonington, Groton, and New London.

The project team will describe the goals, timeline and upcoming engagement activities. Invited speakers will describe the use of MyCoast to gather data, improve planning for local flood events, and increase public awareness about coastal flooding. The MyCoast tool and platform will also be described in addition to an example of one local community’s plan to use the tool.
 

Relevant Building Sectors: U.S. commercial and industrial buildings

Recommended For: Anyone who is responsible for benchmarking to comply with mandatory requirements (i.e., building owners, managers and/or service providers)

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Webinar Level: Beginner

Now that you’ve benchmarked and understand your results, it’s time to work on improving your building’s energy performance. In this session, you’ll learn about low-and-no-cost improvements that can help you reduce energy consumption and save money without significant capital investments. You’ll also learn about a variety of free ENERGY STAR resources that are available to help you improve your energy performance. Finally, you’ll learn how to connect with service provider organizations that can help you achieve your energy efficiency goals and earn ENERGY STAR certification for your building.

NOTE: This session will focus on U.S. benchmarking policies only.

Topics include:

• Low- and no-cost energy efficiency improvements
• ENERGY STAR program tools, resources, and additional training opportunities
• Connecting with ENERGY STAR service providers

Join UConn TAB for our Spring Webinar series. Links to register for the webinars as well as more information will be updated continuously.

Register for the webinars:

January 29th (12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)  – Brownfield Redevelopment & TAB Services
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brownfield-redevelopment-tab-services-webinar-tickets-1109477149019?aff=oddtdtcreator 

February 19th (12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)  – Environmental Justice 101
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/environmental-justice-101-webinar-tickets-1109485473919?aff=oddtdtcreator

March 11th (12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)  – Community Engagement in Aging Communities
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-engagement-in-aging-communities-tickets-1109486858059?aff=oddtdtcreator 

April 16th (12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)  – Using Brownfield Funding for Local Planning (A Planner’s Perspective)
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/using-brownfield-funding-for-local-planning-webinar-tickets-1109487760759?aff=oddtdtcreator

May 1st (12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)  – Planning for a Successful Fall EPA Brownfield Grant Application: Don’t Wait Until September!
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/planning-for-a-successful-fall-epa-brownfield-grant-application-tickets-1109488673489?aff=oddtdtcreator
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays 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.
 

Join Access to Resources for Climate Change for a free Earth Day event filled with delicious food and valuable information! There will be a 30-min presentation on the impacts of climate change for people of color in Greater New Haven, followed by a 15-min discussion about disaster preparation for your household and community. We’ll finish with a free buffet-style lunch from CaribeSoul.
 

The Long Island Sound Study will host a series of public meetings to discuss and finalize the Stewardship Strategy. The Strategy aims to provide a framework in support of the 33 Stewardship Areas of the Initiative. The draft of the Strategy will be shared for public comment March 10 – May 9. 

Please use the registration links below to attend the meetings:

Meeting 1: March 18, 2025 from 11:00AM –1:00PM

• Introduce Strategy and Discussion
• Presentation 1 – Restoration Strategy at Bluff Point State Park by Larissa Graham and Jason Krumholz of the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve 
• Presentation 2 – Partnership at Sunken Meadow State Park by Vicky O’Neill of National Audubon Society
• Next Steps and Close Out

Meeting 2: April 24, 2025 from 11:00AM –1:00PM

• Briefly Recap/Discuss Strategy Comments
• Presentation 1 – Revitilization of Veterans Park in Norwalk by Sarah Crosby of the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
• Presentation 2 – River Restoration Network at the Stewardship Areas by Anthony Allen of Save the Sound
• Next Steps and Close Out

Meeting 3: June 4, 2025 from 11:00AM –1:00PM

• Summarize input and ideas for advancing the Stewardship Strategy
• Next Steps and Close Out

Date: April 26, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Registration and breakfast begin at 8:30 a.m.)
Location: UConn Middlesex County Extension Center, 1066 Saybrook Road, Haddam, CT 06438
Cost: $45.00 (includes complimentary breakfast)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 20, 2025

UConn CLEAR’s Land Use Academy is holding an in-person training for land use commisisoners on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at UConn's Middlesex County Extension Center located at 1066 Saybrook Road, Haddam, CT, 06438.

Renata Bertotti, AICP, Assistant Extension Educator in LU Planning and Climate Resilience, UConn Extension will present "Basic Training for New Commissioners." This training is most helpful to newly appointed or elected Land Use Commissioners.  It will cover three (3) hours of the required CGS Sec. 8-4c training as required by State Statute (Fair and Affordable Housing hour will NOT be covered).

Topics covered:

• Legal Basis for Land Use Regulation
• Types of Power for Land Use Commissions
• Types of Application:  Zone Change and Regulation Amendments v. Special Permit v. Site Plan v. Variances
• Meeting Decorum and Responsibilities/Fundamental Fairness

For more information, contact Renata Bertotti, UConn CLEAR at [email protected], (860) 345-5210.

UConn CLEAR is a partnership of the Departments of Extension and Natural Resources in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources and the CT Sea Grant Program.
 

Relevant Building Sectors: All commercial and industrial buildings

Recommended For: Anyone who is responsible for benchmarking to comply with mandatory requirements (i.e., building owners, managers and/or service providers)

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Webinar Level: Beginner

Are you a building owner who needs to comply with a mandatory benchmarking requirement? Do you have little or no experience using EPA’s Portfolio Manager tool?

You’ve come to the right place! This webinar will serve as a beginner’s guide to Portfolio Manager and provide you with all the essential “how-to” information you need to start benchmarking and reporting your building data to your local or state government. Topics will include understanding how state and local jurisdictions use EPA’s Portfolio Manager tool to facilitate reporting and how to set up your Portfolio Manager account and properties, enter energy data, and report or share data with your jurisdiction. 

NOTE: Each jurisdiction has different requirements for compliance. This webinar will not address requirements specific to any one local or state government but will present general information on how to use Portfolio Manager and report data in the ways most commonly required under these laws.

Topics include:

• How to prepare for compliance with a U.S.-based state or local benchmarking ordinance
• Getting started with Portfolio Manager
• Requesting energy and water data from your utility 
• Getting assistance from an ENERGY STAR service and product provider partner
• Responding to a data request
• Sharing your property with a local jurisdiction for reporting

Through the Resilient Connecticut project, CIRCA is partnering with municipalities, COGs, state agencies, technical planning teams, and community stakeholders to develop innovative solutions to local and regional climate challenges. With funding from CT DEEP, we invite you to join us for a workshop to:

• Understand the concept and importance of resilience hubs
• Learn from experts and case studies on starting and operating resilience hubs
• Foster networking and partnership-building among participants
• Collaboratively design resilience hub strategies adapted to local needs

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays 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.
 

Relevant Building Sectors: All commercial buildings and industrial plants

Recommended For: Anyone responsible for benchmarking to comply with mandatory requirements (i.e., building owners, manager, and/or service providers)

Level: Beginner

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Now that you’ve benchmarked, what’s next? Join ENERGY STAR to understand how to interpret your results and your building’s performance. Learn how you can take things to the next level with more insights into your building’s performance metrics and use your data to identify actionable energy and cost saving opportunities!

NOTE: This session will focus on U.S. benchmarking ordinances only.

Topics include understanding building performance metrics such as:

• The 1-to-100 ENERGY STAR score
• Energy use intensity
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• How to check your building and energy data for errors
• Using benchmarking data to develop an energy management plan

This free, three-part, virtual equity workshop series provides a comprehensive framework of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. Attendance at all three sessions is required.

Sessions run 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on: June 17, July 22, and August 26. Content will be geared to help Sustainability Teams integrate equity considerations into their Sustainable CT initiatives. Anyone is welcome to register and participate.

Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live, interactive training and will NOT be recorded. Please only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.

Attendees will actively participate in three different workshops:

June 17: Be READI© Leadership - Championing Equity at the Forefront - "Be READI© Leadership: Championing Equity at the Forefront" is a workshop for those ready to lead by example in equity and inclusion. Participants will explore leadership techniques, including influencing organizational culture, inspiring teams, and leading equitable change initiatives that yield measurable results.

July 22: Measuring What Matters - Assessing DEI Impact in Municipalities -  "Measuring What Matters: Assessing DEI Impact in Municipalities" focuses on tracking progress and evaluating the impact of DEI initiatives. Municipal leaders will learn to collect and analyze data, report on findings, and use insights to drive continuous improvement and accountability in DEI efforts.

August 26: Sustainable Change - Institutionalizing Be READI© Practices - "Sustainable Change: Institutionalizing Be READI© Practices" is designed to ensure the longevity and resilience of DEI efforts. Leaders will be equipped with strategies for policy development, stakeholder engagement, and creating a municipal infrastructure that supports lasting DEI integration.

This webinar is eligible for Certified Connecticut Municipal Official (CCMO) professional development credit from the CT Conference of Municipalities.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays 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.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays 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.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays 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.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays 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.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays 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.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays 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.
 

Join Sustainable CT for virtual, informal, discussions most third Thursdays 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.