GREEN & UWF 2022 Virtual Convening
An escalating climate crisis. An ongoing pandemic. Frequent flooding events. Decades of disinvestment and systemic inequities that create barriers to opportunity.
These intersecting catastrophes are causing disproportionate harm to Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other communities of color.
What role can funders play in deploying resources and supporting community-led solutions that move us closer to justice?
Save the date for TFN’s GREEN and Urban Water Funders 2022 Virtual Convening: Building Power for Community-led Solutions. We’ll come together Feb. 16-17 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET to learn, share and strategize ways philanthropy is — and can be — stepping up in this unprecedented moment.
We’ll explore the challenges as well as reasons for hope, including the extraordinary efforts by frontline communities and grassroots advocates who continue to coordinate mutual aid and push elected officials to take actions protecting people and the planet.
We’ll look at government and multi-sector partnerships to mitigate climate emissions and protect water resources, potentially transformational federal and state investments in equitable and resilient water and energy systems, and increased efforts to prioritize spending in communities focused on environmental justice.
As climate-induced disasters barrel forward, destroying livelihoods and making it even tougher for vulnerable populations to bounce back, we know our time is now to move forward with urgency and purpose.
Our virtual meeting will offer funders an opportunity to:
- Get an inside take from members of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council on how advocates are working to influence and leverage a commitment to racial justice with federal climate and water investments.
- Explore Hawaii’s innovative water, energy and climate work, and how lessons learned by these funders can inform and inspire your own grantmaking.
- Reflect on ways we can better implement racial equity in our grantmaking practices and organizational cultures.
- Network and connect with fellow funders and partners committed to creating sustainable, prosperous and equitable communities and regions.
We hope you’ll save the date for this funder-only virtual meeting February 16-17, 2022.
Check out our preliminary agenda here.
Registration
Individual Rates:
TFN Members: $199
Non-members: $299
Flat Group Rate:
Foundations with three or more registrations are eligible for a discounted flat group rate.
TFN Members (Group): $399
Non-members (Group): $499
We recognize that organizations are facing challenges during these uncertain times, so if cost is a barrier to participating in this event, please reach out to Ashley Quintana at ashley@fundersnetwork.org.
Stay tuned for speaker and session updates!
Agenda Highlights
Day 1 | Learning from Outside Experts
Wednesday, Feb. 16 | 1:00-5:00 PM
We’ll kick off our first day with an inside look from White House leaders discussing community power and on-the-ground organizing, including breakout sessions where funders can dive deeper with guest speakers to share their work.
Featured Speakers:
Opening Plenary | Wisdom from the Inside/Outside: EJ Leaders on the Opportunities and Challenges for Climate and Water Equity | 1:40 PM ET
In this session we will hear from national environmental justice leaders who sit on the White House’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC). These leaders are very active with on-the-ground advocacy and grassroots organizing to build community power and resources, while also having an “inside seat” and a direct line of influence to the Administration.
Joining us in conversation (pictured above from left):
Nicky Sheats, Director, Center for the Urban Environment, Kean University
Kyle Whyte, Professor, University of Michigan and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation
Beverly Wright, Executive Director, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
Shamar Bibbins, Senior Program Officer — Environment, The Kresge Foundation (Moderator)
Learning from Place – Highlighting Hawaii/Honolulu | 3:30 PM ET
In this session, funders will take a virtual visit across the Pacific to learn how Hawaii and Honolulu are implementing big ideas to protect water resources, sustainably manage storm water, and advance climate action.
Joining us in conversation (pictured above from left):
Alex Yee, Coastal & Water Program Manager, Office of Climate, Sustainability and Resiliency for the City/County of Honolulu
Roger Babcock, Director, Environmental Services for the City/County of Honolulu
Pauline Sato, Executive & Program Director, Mālama Learning Center
Dana Okano, Program Director, Hawaii Community Foundation (Moderator)
Day 2 | Funder-to-Funder Sharing
Thursday, Feb. 17 | 1:00-5:00 PM
Funder Connections and Small Group Breakouts
Our second day together will give funders a chance to gather in small breakout sessions to deepen connections, and share ideas and practices in common areas of interest. Topics and funder co-facilitators:
Inclusive Workforce Development
– Diane Ives, Fund Advisor, Kendeda Fund
– Maggie Rwakazina, Program Officer, Spring Point Partners
Equitable Climate Adaptation
– Kalila Barnett, Senior Program Officer, Barr Foundation
– Alex Paxton, Program Officer, Water Foundation
Innovative Financing
– Krista Egger, VP Initiatives, Enterprise Community Partners
– John Mitterholzer, Program Director, George Gund Foundation
Building Our Racial Equity Muscles: Funders Share Equitable Strategies & Practice | 3:00 PM ET
This session will feature colleagues sharing how their institutional and grantmaking practices have changed as their foundations have embraced a commitment to racial equity, inclusion and justice, and how this work continues to evolve. Funders on the panel represent a variety of foundation types, diverse geographies and grantmaking programs, and sit at different stages along their equity journeys. The session will speak to the unique inequities historically associated with grantmaking on climate and water issues.
Joining us in conversation (pictured above from left):
Jen Patrick, Senior Program Officer, The JPB Foundation
Yianice Hernandez, Senior Program Officer, The JPB Foundation
Emily Warren Armitano, Land Conservation and Water Program Officer, The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation
Jill Fuglister, Program Director, Meyer Memorial Trust
Mary Rose Navarro, Program Officer, Meyer Memorial Trust
Mariella Puerto, Director of Climate, Barr Foundation (Moderator)
Visit our agenda for full descriptions, and stay tuned for additional speaker updates!