Greg Lawson’s Post

Session 2 of Urban Resilience Series is tomorrow! If you haven't already done so, be sure to sign up for tomorrow's session in our Urban Resilience Series! David Nash, Head of Adapting to Climate Change for the Z Zurich Foundation, will join the panel to discuss climate resilience from a broad, global perspective, setting the context for community resilience: what it is; why it is urgent, and how to build the right partnerships to drive resilience forward. Tune in to learn more!

Washington, D.C.-based #USGBC will actively partner with #USGBCCalifornia to help support the rapid decarbonization of the California economy and improve the health, resilience, environmental quality, and social equity of California communities by improving the design, construction, and operation of buildings. They will also work together to grow a thriving, diverse coalition of organizations and professionals committed to improving the California built environment and positively influencing state and local policy outcomes. Cheers to the advancement ahead for the entire state of California! U.S. Green Building Council U.S. Green Building Council - U.S. Market Insights

If you haven't already done so, sign up for the third session in this inaugural series to learn more about the critical role that third-party funders play in building community resilience!

Congratulations to the City of Akron, Ohio, City of Cincinnati, City of Columbus, City of Cleveland - City Hall, and City of Dayton on being named a Bloomberg Philanthropies American Sustainable City, a three-year initiative to turbocharge 25 U.S. cities’ efforts to leverage historic levels of federal funding to proactively build low-carbon, resilient, and economically thriving communities. Ohio communities represent 20% of the cities selected nationally - including SOPEC member communities Dayton and Cleveland. We are looking forward to the acceleration and impact this investment will make towards a clean and more sustainable future for Ohio! https://lnkd.in/eu5pQj6P

I am flying back from Chicago, where I attended an innovative conference sponsored by Council on Foundations, called #BuildingTogether. The meeting explored how to address toxic polarization at a moment when it is on the rise. Powerfully, I thought, the conference (which our partner, Mosaic, helped sponsor) focused on more than just skills and academics. Rather, it helped diverse attendees “develop the heartset, mindset, and skillset to lead collaboratively across difference.” Bridging difference, which is a component of effective #movement building, has to be approached with integrity and authenticity. It can’t occur if those engaged don’t fundamentally agree on the each other’s shared humanity, as The Greater Good Science Center emphasized. But the possibilities are significant when done well, with an open heart, mind, and the skills to engage with those who see things differently. This was the lesson of a panel on building a more powerful #climate movement I moderated with an exceptional group of leaders, Jacqueline Patterson, Susan Hendershot, Ariana Gonzalez, and Katie Robinson, who bring a range of skills and perspectives to the work. Without exception, they shared stories where bridging efforts generated impact and results by finding important zones of common ground, ranging from broad coalitions that helped ensure passage of the #IRA, to various new #environmental policies, to the expansion of efforts to advance #environmentaljustice in communities across the country. Katie Robinson, Mosaic’s director, said it well in the opening plenary in describing the bridging work that Mosaic’s Governance Assembly accomplished in recent years in making nearly $30 million in grants to build the shared capacity of environmental advocates. About this group, who are in many ways a fractal of the broader #climate movement, Katie said, “over the past several years these leaders have done the hard work to build the trust necessary to advance our collective capacity to solve climate challenges. They have moved from wariness to relationship.” I would add that this means they, and the groups they lead, share something that is both powerful and rare: each other’s insight. Given the pace and scale of the challenges we all face, that is no small thing. Check out the The Chronicle of Philanthropy story (with quotes from Katie, Kathleen Enright, Monica Guzman, The New York Times columnist David Brooks, Tracy Cutler, Paul Bachleitner, Allison K. Ralph, Ph.D., Eric Ward). https://lnkd.in/gFG9XtFz

In a digital world cluttered with uncertainty, mis/disinformation, and noise, we need media organizations that can cut through the chaos to focus on what works – real people creating real change in their communities. Please join me in supporting Next City this #GivingTuesday (and beyond), so we can help craft a new urban future where economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, and racial equity aren’t just ideals, but daily realities.

In an op-ed for Smart Cities Dive, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) CEO Michael T. Pugh and Enterprise Community Partners CEO Shaun Donovan weigh in on how climate and community development are fundamentally part of the same whole. This is the premise of our new book, What’s Possible: Investing NOW for Prosperous, Sustainable Neighborhoods, which was co-published by our two organizations along with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. For investments in green community development to be successful, they argue, the work must be guided by strategies that prioritize community input and involvement. Read more at the link below: https://lnkd.in/g6usKbYp

The field of community development is experiencing a period of unprecedented growth in both overall activity and capacity to deliver sustainable results in low-income and BIPOC communities across America. For over half a century, Grow America has envisioned a future where all our work included and supported sustainable green goals. Now, with funding through EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund - CCIA initiative, we can deliver more resources and include more solution partners in the process than ever before. This innovative collaboration led by Appalachian Community Capital is creating a framework with resources where committed partners are working create meaningful change, achieve greater impact, and support the needs of historically underserved rural communities like never before. Read more about our commitment to a green future: https://lnkd.in/eAahgcG9

Cities invited to join largest ever Mayors Challenge. Innovating for a better urban future 🌆✨ Cities across the world are being called to action to join the largest ever Mayors Challenge, a global competition designed to spark innovation and creative solutions to tackle pressing urban challenges. With cities facing issues like climate change, inequality, and public health crises, the challenge aims to empower local leaders to find groundbreaking ideas that will transform urban living for the better. -- The challenge is open to cities of all sizes, encouraging participation from urban centers globally 🌍. -- Winning cities will receive significant funding and support to implement their innovative ideas 💡💸. -- This initiative fosters collaboration, encouraging cities to share best practices and work together to address common challenges 🤝. -- Solutions focus on climate resilience, public health, economic recovery, and building equitable and inclusive cities 🌱🏙️. As cities continue to grow and urban populations rise, this challenge serves as a powerful reminder of the need for forward-thinking leadership and collaboration. It's an exciting opportunity for cities to think outside the box, addressing the needs of their citizens while contributing to global sustainability efforts. Through innovative solutions, cities can become more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive, setting an example for the world. By joining the Mayors Challenge, urban leaders can help pave the way toward a brighter, smarter future for all 🌟🌍. #UrbanInnovation #MayorsChallenge #SustainableCities #ClimateResilience #SmartCities https://lnkd.in/eBWpX2sW en ingles

Great news for cities across #Georgia and #Tennessee! The Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative is offering a historic opportunity to leverage federal funding for climate action.   What does this mean for GA & TN? Atlanta, Savannah, Chattanooga, Memphis, and Nashville are among the 25 selected cities! These cities will receive: *Expert support: A Bloomberg Philanthropies innovation team to help drive progress on climate change and ensure equitable outcomes. *Multi-year assistance: Customized policy and technical help to mobilize public, private, and philanthropic investments for local projects. *Focus on disadvantaged communities: Projects will prioritize areas disproportionately impacted by pollution. Potential projects include: *Affordable energy-efficient housing *Increased access to clean energy *Investments in electric vehicles and infrastructure #Memphis #Nashville #Chattanooga #Atlanta #Savannah #USGBC #Sustainability #ClimateAction https://lnkd.in/eCgq3rkr AIA Memphis, Urban Green Lab, green|spaces, Southface Institute, U.S. Green Building Council - U.S. Market Insights