Ben Dziobek’s Post

We are excited to highlight our ongoing collaboration with Elizabeth Schuster and Sustainable Economies Consulting, LLC! For a decade, we’ve worked together to push boundaries in environmental impact, combining Elizabeth’s expertise in environmental economics and strategic planning with LCS’ focus on DEIJ and community assessments.   From our transformative project with Healthy Ocean Coalition to our current initiatives, we’re proving that integrating diverse perspectives, economic insights, and strong DEIJ principles creates lasting positive change for nature and communities. Here are some example outcomes you can get out of our collaboration: - Better understanding of how to integrate trust-building into your strategic plan - A diverse Board that better represents the communities your organization serves - Governance structures that center equity - An inclusive approach to advocacy that raises the number of people advocating for your critical issues   Together, we’re revolutionizing strategic planning and creating more inclusive, impactful solutions for conservation practitioners. Here’s to many more years of successful partnership!   #Collaboration #SustainableEconomics #DEIJ #Strategic Planning #Conservation Planning 

We are excited to highlight our ongoing collaboration with Elizabeth Schuster and Sustainable Economies Consulting, LLC! For a decade, we’ve worked together to push boundaries in environmental impact, combining Elizabeth’s expertise in environmental economics and strategic planning with LCS’ focus on DEIJ and community assessments. From our transformative project with Healthy Ocean Coalition to our current initiatives, we’re proving that integrating diverse perspectives, economic insights, and strong DEIJ principles creates lasting positive change for nature and communities. Here are some example outcomes you can get out of our collaboration: - Better understanding of how to integrate trust-building into your strategic plan - A diverse Board that better represents the communities your organization serves - Governance structures that center equity - An inclusive approach to advocacy that raises the number of people advocating for your critical issues Together, we’re revolutionizing strategic planning and creating more inclusive, impactful solutions for conservation practitioners. Here’s to many more years of successful partnership! #Collaboration #SustainableEconomics #DEIJ #Strategic Planning #Conservation Planning

🌿 A major new funding opportunity for climate and environmental justice work opens on Monday! 🌿 👀 New England Thriving Communities Grants for Climate and Environmental Justice Initiatives Applications are due February 14, 2025. Funding tiers include: ***Seed Funds for up to $75,000 for efforts to support community-based organizations with limited capacities (defined as those having an equivalent of 4 or less paid, full-time staff members at the time of application, among other criteria).  ***Tier 1 assessment projects will be granted up to $150,000 for one year. Projects in this tier should begin to assess a local community’s environmental justice landscape. ***Tier 2 planning projects will be granted up to $250,000 for up to two years. Projects in this tier should include plan formulation and partnership development activities to address identified environmental justice concerns. ***Tier 3 implementation projects will be granted up to $350,000 for up to two years. Projects in this tier should support implementation projects informed by community planning and research. Projects may have educational and outreach components but must focus on developing tangible community assets or providing defined community benefits. Environmental Justice for New England (EJforNE) is offering a webinar for potential applicants on December 12th from 10am-11:30am.  Link to EJforNE website: https://lnkd.in/eXsRFj-m

In Arkansas and interested to learn more about sustainability? Check out the 9th Annual Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit! See you there!

🚨 Exciting Update! 🚨 I had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Gdak from Montrose Environmental Group for Environment+Energy Leader's Industry Voices Program➡️ State of the Union: The Past, Present, & Future of EPA Brownfields & Environmental Justice Grants Our conversation revolved around key topics shaping the environmental landscape, including: ✅ 2024 Funding Cycle Review: A deep dive into success stories, challenges, and the lessons learned. ✅ 2025 Anticipated Shifts: Insights on how new priorities could influence brownfield projects and environmental justice initiatives. ✅ Impact on Communities: Exploring how changes in funding are poised to support—or complicate—efforts in advancing environmental justice. Chris shared compelling perspectives on aligning industry actions with community needs and addressing the hurdles ahead. Watch Here: https://lnkd.in/drzRyy4a Read More: https://lnkd.in/d24qT-u8 What questions or thoughts do you have about these topics?

Justfields: Elevate your Land Reuse Initiatives with New Environmental Justice Funding Webinar Date: Thursday, March 7 | 11 a.m. PST EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) Program, created under the Inflation Reduction Act, will infuse a historic $3B investment into communities facing environmental justice concerns. The funding will help underserved and overburdened communities take action and implement initiatives that support the health, well-being, and resilience of their neighborhoods. Each of the new funding opportunities includes eligible activities that support land reuse and brownfields redevelopment. Join this important conversation where speakers will articulate the intersections between brownfields funding and ECJ funding. Attendees will learn how to effectively leverage ECJ funding to support their communities’ revitalization initiatives and mitigate past environmental injustices. Speakers from EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) and the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) will: Outline available and upcoming ECJ funding, including the Community Change Grants and Thriving Communities EJ Subgrants; Spotlight eligible activities that are particularly relevant to land reuse; Identify CERCLA 104(k) and 128(a) limitations that can potentially be addressed with ECJ funding; And consider financial layering opportunities that maximize the potential of redevelopment initiatives and support project momentum. Meet the moment with CCLR! This level of investment doesn’t come around every day. Join them on March 7th to learn more about this invaluable opportunity! Register today: https://lnkd.in/gTejXkjQ!

#AEGChicago News: "ILLINOIS INTERNATIONAL PORT DISTRICT (IIPD) and Advanced Energy Group announced their grant submission for an estimated $85 million project, funded primarily by Clean Port Program funding available through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)." The estimated $85 million project, funded through an EPA grant, aligns with Port plans for sustainability and improving quality of life for Chicago residents. This submission of this funding application was inspired by the #AEGChicago 23Q4 Mobility & Clean Transportation Task Force, formed in December 2023. This task force is focused on solving for the obstacle presented by Colleen Wright, VP, Corporate Strategy, Constellation: "Regarding mobility and clean transportation, to achieve Chicgoland's climate, health and equity goals, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is: To support the development of the grant application and letters of support for the IIPD to secure government funding to decarbonize port transportation and revitalize the local community." The Task Force has achieved their 90-day goal (a "Partners of the Port" concept Stakeholder Dinner at Burns & McDonnell + agree on a letter of support) and has already begun tackling their 12-month goal to "Provide key support for IIPD Clean Port grant application." The next step is to use this approach as a template to decarbonize all Chicago ports. Clean Ports Program Task Force Volunteers: - Zac Adelman, LAKE MICHIGAN AIR DIRECTORS' CONSORTIUM - Chris Townsend, CJT Energy Law, LLC - Colleen Wright, Constellation - Deb Dynako, Slipstream - Erik Varela, IIPD - Gregorio Salinas, Burns & McDonnell - H.G. Chissell, Advanced Energy Group - Indraneel Bhandari, University of Illinois Chicago - Ivan Williamson, Burns & McDonnell - Jack Jordan, Invenergy - Jakob Reinke, Northwestern University - Jeff Voss, EIT, WSP in the U.S. - Leif Saveraid, CPKC - Matt Sweers, Argonne National Laboratory - Michael Thuis, Advanced Energy Group/Northwestern - Marcy Rood, Argonne National Laboratory - Pete Kelly - Robyn Wheeler Grange, Argonne National Laboratory - Renée A. Skeete, PhD, Argonne National Laboratory - Steven Hall, Burns & McDonnell - Tim Condon, JLL - Antonio M. Lopez Krulas, Crowley Read more in the press release below! #energy #equity #resilience #climate #health #chicagoland U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) #mobility #cleantransportation

🌿 Embrace Environmental Justice (EJ) strategies to propel your project forward! 🚀 EJ considerations are essential for large scale projects seeking funding from the Department of Energy. However, securing funding is just the beginning – incorporating EJ into their strategies also helps businesses promote fair treatment and meaningful involvement of disadvantaged communities. 🤝 This not only strengthens the businesses’ reputation but also amplifies their contribution to societal progress. Learn more about the why and how in our latest article by Mark Romanelli. 👇 #environmentaljustice #socialsustainability #sustainablechange

Check out Part One of this episode of The Equity Lens as ECO-Action CSAW Program Manager Madison Cobb interviews CSAW Fellow and West End Community Organizer Milton Simmons to learn more about his experience as a CSAW Fellow and an environmental justice advocate.  Simmons shares about some of the most pressing issues in the West End Community. #theequitylens #ecoactionga #eco #environmentaljustice #ecojustice