Trainings & Events

Join the Yale School of the Environment for a day of dialogue on how public art can drive climate action and help us reimagine our urban spaces. This interdisciplinary gathering will bring together artists, planners, and environmental leaders to examine the power of creative expression in shaping more inclusive and climate-resilient communities. The morning workshop will feature a presentations on inspiring mural projects, followed by a panel of experts in urban design, climate science, and public art. The afternoon will include a downtown mural tour and close with an exhibition + reception at 63 Audubon Street. Come ready to connect, learn, and collaborate!
 

Join Third Act Connecticut for a "big tent" Sun Day gathering in central CT with speakers, music, the arts, activities for all ages, exhibitors, an EV demonstration and a great hopeful spirit. Participants will gather both outdoors and indoors to celebrate the many towns and cities that came together with Sun Day events across CT the day before!

SunDay is a global day of action on September 21st, 2025, celebrating the unstoppable rise of clean energy. We’ll come together to showcase the power of the sun and wind, the energy sources that can power our world without pollution.
 

Join Clean Transportation Communities of Southern Connecticut at The Learning Corridor on The Farmington Canal on Sunday, September 21st, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, for a free electric vehicle and e-bike ride-and-drive event. Test drive a variety of EV models, take an e-bike for a spin, learn about new affordable and convenient ride/bike share programs, and chat with EV owners and experts about what it’s like to go electric.

Enjoy free food and family-friendly activities, enter raffles for a chance to win great prizes (including an e-bike!) , and connect with the community.

Come celebrate Sun Day and discover how fun and easy clean transportation can be!
 

As nonprofits face funding cuts and rising expenses, it is more crucial than ever to have access to accurate data that helps us manage our resources and meet the growing needs in our communities. As the availability and reliability of federal data becomes unpredictable, nonprofit and public sector professionals must think creatively about how to navigate this changing landscape and find partnerships that can help us maximize the resources available.

Join CTData for a 90-minute in-person event designed to foster connections, share resources, and highlight reliable state data.

During this event, you will hear from state agency leaders about the data they are working to make available, including updates on ongoing projects and information about data sources you may not have considered. We will also discuss changes at the federal level and how they may affect data availability in the future. Then, participate in small group discussions to share challenges and brainstorm solutions for filling data gaps in your community. We’ll conclude with dedicated networking time to build relationships and strengthen our data community.

Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, data professional, or simply passionate about evidence-based social change, you’ll gain new insights, valuable resources, and stronger connections. Let’s create a more resilient, informed, and connected data ecosystem.

Speakers:

• Scott Gaul, Connecticut Chief Data Offier, Office of Policy and Management
• Tabitha Sookdeo, Executive Director of CT Students for a Dream
• Michelle Riordan-Nold, Executive Director of CTData Collaborative

This is an electric vehicle ride and drive event in the parking lot of the zero-emission Hotel Marcel in the Long Wharf area of New Haven. Multiple makes of vehicles will be available to test drive. Food will be available for sale. Last year's event attracted over 200 people. EV Club leadership will be present to discuss the latest in EV developments.

The following manufacturers or dealerships are bringing vehicles.

• Lucid
• Kia
• Vinfast
• Tesla
• Hyundai

Placemaking goes beyond beautification —it is a process that fosters connection and community activation. Join us in New Haven on Wednesday, October 8th for a dynamic summit that explores how placemaking can reflect a community’s unique geography, cultural identity, and history—while driving pride, investment, and growth.

Why Attend?

• Hear from Fred Kent, founder of the global placemaking movement, as he shares his insights and actionable strategies for transforming main streets into vibrant, people-centered places.


• Explore real-world case studies from downtowns across Connecticut that demonstrate how municipalities and stakeholders are successfully implementing community-led placemaking.


• Engage with New Haven leaders in a live panel discussion showcasing impactful local initiatives and lessons learned.


• Connect with decision makers and doers— main street professionals, planners, city officials, economic developers, arts & culture professionals, and entrepreneurs—who are shaping the future of Connecticut’s downtowns.

Whether you’re looking to spark reinvestment, strengthen local identity, or activate underused public spaces, you will leave this summit with the inspiration and practical tools to make it happen!
 

Please join Rebekah Fraser’s Trash to Fashion programming. Learn from her ongoing dedication to using less, reusing more with concrete and accessible ways to achieve it.

Fraser (artist, writer, activist and educator) has spent years creating wearable garments and accessories out of items such as plastic wrappers, torn ‘beyond use’ clothing, and even glass (seen as a decorative element in her skirt to the left.)

If you want to help make our environment safe but don’t know where to start, learn how to upcycle with flair to refashion our environment at the Trash to Fashion Workshop, led by Fraser and other fashion designers. Whether wild, ridiculous, or glamorous, wear your creation at the Trash to Fashion Ball immediately following the workshop.
 

Save the Date!

We'll be honoring all of our 2025 certified towns and a brand new cohort of Climate Leaders at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam on Tuesday, October 28, from 4-7 p.m.

The Goodspeed opened its doors as a professional musical theatre in 1963 in an historic building on the banks of the Connecticut River in East Haddam. This exceptional venue has hosted over 250 musicals, including over 70 world premieres, and has exported 21 productions to Broadway.

Please do save the date to hit the high notes with us. Better yet, REGISTER EARLY because - you guessed it - space is limited. Your hard work and continuing support are of vital importance to us, so we hope to see you on October 28th!

Sponsorship Opportunities are Available!

Join us in working for a better Connecticut. By sponsoring our 2025 Awards Celebration, you'll be aligned with our reputation as a trusted and valuable support program for municipal leaders and an innovative thought-leader in building thriving, sustainable communities. Don't wait: contact Jessica LeClair, 860-259-4767, to discuss options and details.
 

Join the UConn College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources for an exciting day of presentations featuring current science-based research and information on supporting pollinators in managed landscapes. Learn how native plants support pollinator health throughout the year!

This program is designed for growers and other green industry professionals, landscape service providers, landscape architects and designers, town commissions, municipalities, and home gardeners.

Session topics:

Who are Connecticut’s Specialist Bees: Tracy Zarillo MS., Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Come learn about Connecticut’s specialist bees and the plants they need, as well as other common bees to watch for in the yard. 

Soil Microbial Allies in Managed Systems: Mia Maltz, PhD., Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut
This presentation will highlight suburban soil ecology and how it impacts native plant and pollinator health. 

Knockout Natives: Sam Hoadley, Mt. Cuba Center Botanic Garden
Top performers and favorites of Phlox, Echinacea, wild hydrangea, Carex, Amsonia, and Vernonia from Mt. Cuba Center’s research trials will be discussed.

Seeing Nature: Andrew Brand, MS., Coastal Maine Botanical Garden
Draw gardening inspiration from images of plant and pollinator interactions captured beautifully and like you’ve never seen before.

Native Landscape Plants with Local Roots: Jessica Lubell-Brand, PhD., Professor, University of Connecticut
Native shrub selections that were discovered in and originate from New England will be covered

REGISTRATION AND MORE INFORMATION: s.uconn.edu/nppc2025

• Early Registration (by October 15): $70
• Regular Registration (after October 15): $80
• College/University Matriculated Students: $25

The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation is hosting a one-day conference at the Branford House at UConn Avery Point in Groton. Please join to work toward a more Resilient Connecticut! Register for the event HERE, registration closes November 3. Agenda to follow.
 

Connecticut’s data community faces new challenges and opportunities as access to critical information grows more complex and essential to our work. This year’s sudden loss of federal datasets (which were ultimately restored) underscored the urgent need for a strong and connected data ecosystem in Connecticut.

For this year's conference, CTData will focus on the theme of Data for Democracy. Bringing together more than 250 nonprofit and public sector leaders, data professionals, and advocates, we will strengthen our collective ability to use data for good.

Join CTData on December 3rd at the Hartford Marriott Downtown for a day of expert insights, hands-on learning, and networking with peers who share your commitment to ethical, transparent, and impactful data use.

This year’s event comes at a pivotal moment for our state and features keynote speaker Dr. Ismar Volić, Director of the Institute for Mathematics and Democracy, and author of “Making Democracy Count: How Mathematics Improves Voting, Electoral Maps, and Representation.” As an attendee you will:

• Gain practical skills through sessions such as Data Tools 101 and 202.

• Explore participatory strategies to authentically engage people with lived experience.

• Learn actionable frameworks like “before action reviews” and “in action reviews.”

• Connect with a vibrant professional community committed to advancing ethical data practices.

• Share solutions and advocate for the data that drives our missions and supports strong communities.

This is a paid in-person event.