Trainings & Events

The Yale School of the Environment Hixon Center for Urban Sustainability will host a webinar to explore impactful tree planting strategies to mitigate heat inequalities in Connecticut on Tuesday, June 25, from 1-2 p.m.

A NASA-funded research team at Yale has produced high resolution maps of tree canopies and land surface temperatures over 30 years for Connecticut’s ten largest cities. Dr. Shijuan Chen will discuss the relationship of tree cover to land temperatures and how it is changing in our state. Colleen Murphy-Dunning, director of the Hixon Center, will share how New Haven is applying Dr. Chen’s data to prioritize tree planting and address environmental inequities to achieve the greatest impact. The New Haven framework identifies both areas for planting to achieve the greatest impact as well as ease of implementation. This helpful framework can be replicated in other Connecticut cities and beyond.

This webinar is free and open to the public. It's co-convened with the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG), and Sustainable CT.
 

The newly designated Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve encompasses ~52,000 acres of upland, marsh, sandy beach, rocky shoreline and open water habitats in Southeastern CT. One of our first efforts in habitat mapping aimed to quantify the spatial distribution and variety of invasive plants in our upland properties and initiate planning for an ongoing program of invasives removal and habitat restoration. With the support of a GIS specialist and experienced botanist, students and staff new to plant identification utilized a FREE mobile mapping app to record data and photographs in the field. This rapid assessment approach effectively sampled over 150 sites across two State Parks over two months. Results reveal patterns of invasion and inform priorities for future eradication or control, with an eye toward the broader use of the approach as a rapid survey protocol of terrestrial invasive plants. Also, a great example for those charged with stewardship of natural areas.
 

Drawdown's Neighborhood, presented by the global nonprofit climate solutions resource Project Drawdown, is a climate solutions short documentary series "passing the mic" to underrepresented climate heroes from city-to-city. Not only has the series centered voices of underrepresented communities–Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, immigrants, women, etc; it's also included "unlikely" conversations about climate, touching on unexpected topics like race, gender, family, history, mental health, barriers, opportunities, resilience, and real-world superpowers. To-date the series has amplified 50+ folks from nearly 10 locations, identifying voices that have been overlooked by the broader climate dialogue. Join this session to hear from the series host and creator, Project Drawdown's director of storytelling and engagement Matt Scott, to learn about the theory of change behind this series, and lessons from the featured climate heroes and why their stories matter and ways the status quo within media can evolve to center their stories.
 

The Residential Retrofits for Energy Equity (R2E2) Playbook is a tool for community-based organizations, state and local governments, and others seeking to establish, improve, or expand energy upgrade programs for low- and moderate-income housing in their communities.

By highlighting dozens of strategies and examples across the country, the Playbook will help administrators establish programs that are community-led, easy-to-use, and that achieve benefits like healthier and more affordable housing, reduced energy burdens, new economic opportunities for workers and small business owners, and reduced pollution. This one-hour webinar will feature guest speakers from some of the over 90 programs highlighted in the Playbook.

R2E2 is a partnership of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Elevate, Emerald Cities Collaborative, and HR&A Advisors.
 

The Partnership for Strong Communities is featuring advocates, policy experts and leaders in other sectors across Connecticut who aim to promote intersectional solutions to help address the critical need for diverse, accessible and affordable housing in our state.

This session will focus on the intersection of Affordable Housing and Civic Engagement. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear remarks from Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, Courtney Cooperman, Project Manager for the Our Homes, Our Votes Campaign of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition and Elaine Mintz, Vice President of Strategy, Learning and External Relations with the Fairfield County's Community Foundation as they explore the impact that voting, and community engagement practices have on the landscape of affordable housing.
 

As part of its ongoing work to advance racial equity throughout the region, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is offering free community access to The Groundwater Approach, a racial equity workshop that builds an understanding of systemic racism and racial disparities through data and historical analysis.

The Groundwater metaphor is designed to help people internalize the reality that we live in a racially-structured society, and that that is what causes racial inequity. The metaphor is based on three observations:

• racial inequity looks the same across systems,
• socio-economic difference does not explain the racial inequity; and,
• inequities are caused by systems, regardless of people’s culture or behavior.

The workshop is provided by the Racial Equity Institute, a national alliance of trainers, organizers and institutional leaders devoted to creating racially equitable organizations and systems.
Note: Workshop sessions are NOT recorded.
 

Sustainable CT is pleased to partner with Eversource Energy, United Illuminating, and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology’s SmartBuildings CT program to provide energy benchmarking and tracking support to registered Sustainable CT communities within the utility company service territories. Learn more about the SmartBuildings CT program and how it might help your municipality with earning points towards actions 7.1 Benchmark and Track Energy Use, 7.2 Reduce Energy Use Across All Municipal Buildings, and/or 7.4 Increase Use of Renewable Energy in Municipal Buildings.

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

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 13, July 11, and August 1. Content will be geared to help Sustainability Teams integrate equity considerations into their Sustainable CT initiatives. Who should attend? Sustainability Team members (elected officials, municipal staff, commissioners, volunteers) in registered Sustainable CT communities. Attendance is capped at 35. This will be a live training and will not be recorded. Please only sign up if you intend to participate for the duration of each session.

Attendees will participate in three different workshops:

Be READI© Leadership: Championing Equity at the Forefront (June 13): This workshop is tailored for those who are ready to lead by example in the realm of equity and inclusion. Building upon the principles and strategies discussed in previous equity training series, this workshop aims to cultivate leaders who not only understand the Be READI© framework but can also effectively champion these values within their municipalities. Participants will explore advanced leadership techniques, including how to influence organizational culture, inspire teams, and lead equitable change initiatives that yield measurable results.

Measuring What Matters: Assessing DEI Impact in Municipalities (July 11): This workshop focuses on the importance of tracking progress and evaluating the impact of DEI initiatives. This hands-on workshop guides participants through the creation of effective assessment tools and indicators that align with the Be READI© framework. Municipal leaders will learn how to collect and analyze data, report on findings, and use insights to drive continuous improvement and accountability in DEI efforts.

Sustainable Change: Institutionalizing Be READI© Practices (August 1): This workshop is designed to ensure the longevity and resilience of DEI efforts. This session will help participants identify and implement policies and practices that embed the principles of Belonging, relevant equity, access, accountability diversity, and inclusion into the DNA of municipal operations. Leaders will be equipped with strategies for policy development, stakeholder engagement, and the creation of a municipal infrastructure that supports lasting DEI integration.
 

The Coffee Hour is on hiatus for the month of June. Be assured it will be back - tanned, rested and full o' the beans - in July to discuss all things certification. Yes, before you know it, the fall certification deadline (August 20) will be upon us, so please plan to join our July Coffee Hour when we'll be answering any and all questions about the certification process.

AND please note that the Coffee Hour will be moving from Friday to Thursday as of July. "Third Thursday" just sounds so much better!

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.
 

Authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over five years to replace school buses with low- and zero-emission school buses. Additionally, NREL’s $5 million Clean Bus Planning Awards Program provides free technical assistance to create comprehensive and customized bus electrification plans for fleets. This webinar series co-hosted with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation will cover the following technical assistance topics related to clean school buses: 

• June 18 @ 1 PM ET – Differences Between ESBs and ICE Buses, ESB Maintenance, and Bus RFP Best Practices
• July 24 @ 1 PM ET – Battery Overview, Recycling/End-of-Life Options, and Warranties
• August 28 @ 1 PM ET – Building a Case For ESBs in your Fleet including Benefits, Total Cost Of Ownership (TCO), and Emissions Calculators
• September 25 @ 1 PM ET – Electrification Process including a Step-by-Step Guide for New Adopters

For more information on the EPA Clean School Bus Program, please visit: epa.gov/cleanschoolbus

For more information on the NREL Clean School Bus Planning Awards Program, please visit: driveelectric.gov/clean-bus-planning-awards

If you have any programmatic questions or feedback, please email: [email protected]

If you have any technical assistance programs, please email: [email protected]
 

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.
 

AgeWellFest is a first-of-its-kind, in-person experiential learning opportunity for every Connecticut community.

A festival of the Connecticut Age Well Collaborative, we’re celebrating every ability and every age. For the vibe, think First Night (but in the daytime) meets conference (but without the slide decks). Municipal leaders, staff, commission members, community stakeholders, policymakers, nonprofits, and anyone else interested in fostering more aging, dementia, and disability-inclusive communities are invited to a day of connection, engaging education, and fun.

WHEN IS IT?

Thursday, September 12, 9:30am – 3:00pm
Rain date to be announced. In the event of extreme weather on both dates, AgeWellFest will be rescheduled for a date in the spring.

WHERE IS IT?

The Meriden Green
Plus surrounding downtown locations!

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

• Interactive learning sessions (many eligible for continuing education credits)
• Choose-your-own food truck lunch and entertainment
• Presentation of our annual Wellspring Awards
• Modeling best practices for inclusive, accessible events

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.
 

As data people, our role is often one of making connections across organizations or across geographies to better understand progress or challenges in the social sector. During the conference, participants will learn about the pivotal role data has played in making connections, improving systems, and measuring outcomes through data integration, data infrastructure development, data strategy building, and more.

The conference will take place at the beautiful Heritage Hotel in Southbury, CT. With many beautiful indoor-outdoor gathering spaces, you will have many opportunities to develop new connections, share ideas, and start new partnerships.
 

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.