California Strategic Growth Council

? What a week! The final day of the 2024 National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC), hosted by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, is nearly complete and what an experience! On the last day of NTICC, attendees wore the color red to honor the Day 4 theme of highlighting Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR). The MMIR movement brings awareness to Indigenous relatives who have gone missing or were murdered – and supports more resources and investments to focus on analyzing and solving their open cases. The color red symbolizes the call for justice and the urgency to address the violence that disproportionately affects Indigenous communities. With such a powerful theme, today’s conference taught our staff about a connection between #ClimateJustice and violence on Indigenous communities. All while analyzing ongoing land stewardship practices that may damage the planet’s biodiversity, rather than conserve it. Organizers shared resources on ways to educate ourselves on these issues, and challenged attendees to learn about them, and do better. The California Strategic Growth Council and Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (formally Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR)) are so honored to have participated in the NTICC the past four days, and are proud to elevate the work of our Regional Climate Collaboratives program, the Agricultural Land Equity Initiative, LCI’s Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications’ California Indian Manpower Consortium, and the Fifth Climate Assessment’s Tribal Research Program and Tribal Advisory Group. Our five team members are eager to debrief with our entire office and partners - and hope to truly elevate the lessons learned in this space. Thank you, NTICC and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals for this amazing opportunity! See you next year!

?? Happening Today! ?? Construction will start on Sacramento's first community resilience center! ?? The California Strategic Growth Council, Office of the Governor - California, California Department of Food and Agriculture, partners from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), City of Sacramento, County of Sacramento, and community leaders from across the area will celebrate the groundbreaking of the first ever #ClimateResiliency center in the Capital City! The La Familia Counseling Center, Inc. will break ground at the site of its future Opportunity Center/Resilience Hub on the corner of 37th Avenue and Franklin Boulevard in South Sacramento. Once constructed, the new building is set to serve as a cooling center during #ExtremeHeat events, while also providing supportive resources like career training, parenting workshops, and healthcare services to residents year-round. “From federal grants to local support, every layer of government has come together to ensure South Sacramento has the resources it needs to thrive in the face of climate challenges. Biggest thanks to La Familia’s Executive Director, Rachel Ríos, and her staff for having the vision and fortitude to tackle income inequality, opportunity, and climate change all at once. #Together, we are building a resilient and empowered Sacramento for generations to come." - Sacramento Mayor, Darrell Steinberg La Familia has received support from county, state, and federal leaders to expand services at the Opportunity Center/Resilience Hub and surrounding neighborhood – this includes $5 million from a CDFA grant, $2 million from the California Department of Public Health, $750,000 from U.S. Housing and Urban Development, and $1 million from the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. They are also part of the first wave of community projects to receive grant writing assistance for their EPA grant from SGC’s Connecting Communities Initiative, a program announced in November 2023 to help local partners statewide access historic federal funding made available through the Inflation Reduction Act. ?? Congrats, La Familia!

?? Day 3 of the 2024 National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC), hosted by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, was one for the books! Today the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) (formally Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR)) participated in thoughtful and productive conversations around how we incorporate, elevate, and advocate for different knowledge systems in #ClimateResilience. Key take aways from the day are: ?? Angutekaraq Estelle Thomson, President of the Traditional Council and Head of Grants & Tribal Development at the Native Village of Paimiut (NVP), emphasized that Indigenous knowledge is scientific knowledge. (Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) or Indigenous Intellectual Knowledge). Indigenous people are practical scientists. Angutekaraq also emphasized, that we must recognize the indispensable role of youth. "They are leaders and will be the elders in years to come." ?? From a presentation on "Assessing Language to Establish Maternalistic Role of Fire by Jade Haumann (Haudenosaunee)" - In TEK, fire can be a necessary tool for soil health, buffalo management, travel, and sharing the land. Dominant society takes an aggressive antagonist stance to “fight fire,” seeing fire as an enemy. Being conscious of the language we use is a way to integrate TEK into our lives. ?? Finally, our teams discussed the importance of #collaboration and #partnership structures during a presentation on "Cultivating Collaborations - Building Bridges: An Intergenerational Collaborative Climate Resilience Project with Oakland Youth," led by Jacy Bowles (Xicans/Diné). Learning that enhancing partnerships with youth and understanding their challenges without dismissal or undermining is paramount in the future climate conversation. What a day for learning and collaborating! ?? Follow along tomorrow for Day 4 highlights!? #ClimateJustice #ClimateResilience

?? Our Health and #Equity Program is #hiring a Program Manager!? ? This position oversees the work of the Health and Equity Program, provides subject matter expertise to California state agencies, advances implementation of strategies that promote #racialequity at SGC, and partners with the California Department of Public Health and Public Health Institute to facilitate California’s?Health in All Policies?Task Force.? ? Apply by 9/27? https://lnkd.in/gCdqbaEG? The Strategic Growth Council is a Cabinet-level state organization that coordinates and works collaboratively across state government and with public agencies, communities, and stakeholders to achieve sustainability, equity, economic prosperity, and quality of life for all Californians. SGC programs include Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities, Community Resilience Centers, Sustainable Agriculture Lands Conservation, Transformative Climate Communities, Climate Change Research, Community Assistance for Climate Equity, and Health and Equity Program – which is part of a multi-agency Health in All Policies Initiative. SGC is a fast-paced, creative work environment that encourages staff to have strong collaboration skills, an ability to quickly respond to changing policy needs, and a positive attitude.? ?

Twenty-three years ago, today. 102 minutes, on a Tuesday morning - forever changed our lives. Today, and every day, we commemorate all those who lost their lives from the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and honor the bravery of the first responders and ordinary individuals who stepped-up to help others. "Over the last 23 years, what was destroyed, we have repaired. What was threatened, we have fortified. What was attacked -- the indomitable American spirit -- prevailed. That is who we are. That is the soul of our Nation. There is nothing we cannot accomplish when we defend with all our hearts that which makes us unique in the world: our democracy. That is what the heroes and patriots of 9/11 did. And that is what we must all continue to do today." - President Joe Biden #Remembering

?? Day 2 of the 2024 National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC), hosted by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, was an inspiring one! ?? Not only did the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) (formally Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR)) participate in a tabling discussion to inform attendees on the various Tribal work both SGC and LCI do, but they got to express their individuality and support the Day 2 theme of, “Expressing Your Culture and Creativity,” by wearing t-shirts that highlight Native graphic designs. (See photo highlights for some staff favorites from the day) Our teams spent the day collaborating with partners from across the U.S. and educating them on programs such as SGC’s Regional Climate Collaboratives, the Agricultural Land Equity Initiative, and LCI’s @Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications partnership with the California Indian Manpower Consortium, Inc., and Fifth Climate Assessment’s Tribal Research Program and Tribal Advisory Group. All five of our staff are having a great time listening to learn in this space and are excited for the next two days of collaboration! Tune in tomorrow for Day 3 highlights!?

Day 2 of the 2024 National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC), hosted by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals is underway in Anchorage, Alaska! After all the fun of Day 1, our staff from the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (formally Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR)) are eager to participate in today’s discussions around how we incorporate, elevate, and advocate for different knowledge systems in the #ClimateResilience conversation. Specifically, how we can engage and collaborate with Tribal partners and learn how to improve our processes to include more frequent Tribal input. Today will consist of breakout rooms, practicing movement as medicine, and a social night at the Alaska Native Heritage Center! As we await photos and updates from Day 2, we leave you with more looks at yesterday’s field trips! Staff were able to visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center, a living cultural center in Anchorage that celebrates the traditions of Native peoples. The center is located on the traditional territory of the Native Village of Eklutna. They also visited the Community Gardens, stewarded by the Alaska Community Action on Toxics, an organization dedicated to protecting communities from environmental pollution. The group shared insights into their efforts to reduce toxic exposures and support Indigenous rights, offering a closer look at #EnvironmentalJustice in Alaska. Follow along here, throughout the week for more highlights of the 2024 NTICC!

?? Meet the California Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) Administrative Associate, Lisa Duong! In her role, Lisa provides administrative and logistical support to the SGC Leadership Team and Executive Director. She also facilitates many aspects of SGC’s work, including collaborating with the SGC Council, the Executive Director, and SGC Deputy Directors. Lisa joined SGC in December 2023, and prior to that was with the State Controller’s Office, where she supported the Executive Team across two administrations (Yee and Cohen). Infact, she has provided administrative support to 11 Deputy Controllers across both administrations. Before that, she supported admin staff at one of the largest Amazon Fulfillment Centers and implemented procedures and protocols to support the outbound pack/sort department. Later, she also served as a Process Guide where she coordinated training materials for utilizing the company's machinery and facilitated workflow management for a team of 25 staff members. Lisa is currently pursuing an accounting degree at CSU Sacramento. (Stingers Up!) ? Say hello to Lisa in the comments and click through our #TeammateTuesday photos to learn fun facts about her!

? How did Day 1 of the 2024 National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC) go for the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI)? Let us recap! On Day 1 of NTICC - SGC & LCI staff (formally Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR)) had the opportunity to participate in organized field trips to explore the cultural, historical, and environmental richness of Alaska. These trips allow a unique chance to engage with the natural landscape, heritage, and #conservation efforts of the region. ?? Field Trip 1: The Alaska Native Heritage Center, a living cultural center in Anchorage that celebrates the traditions of Native peoples. The center is located on the traditional territory of the Native Village of Eklutna. Honoring the communities that have inhabited this land for generations is an important step toward creating more collaborative, accountable, continuous, and respectful relationships with Indigenous nations and communities. ? ?? Field Trip 2: The Portage Glacier, located on the Kenai Peninsula in the Chugach National Forest once extended over the entire 14-mile stretch of Portage Valley but has receded greatly within the last century. While still massive in size, this glacier reminds us of how the landscape has changed over the years and urges us to consider how it will continue to change. ?? Staff also visited Community Gardens stewarded by Alaska Community Action on Toxics, an organization dedicated to protecting communities from environmental pollution. The group shared insights into their efforts to reduce toxic exposures and support Indigenous rights, offering a closer look at #EnvironmentalJustice in Alaska. Five staff representing various SGC and LCI programs will spend the next week collaborating with other national and Tribal partners at the NTICC on ways to advance #ClimateResiliency in Indigenous communities across the U.S. Check back tomorrow for a Day 2 rundown of NTICC events and highlights throughout the day!

?? Follow along with our staff as they travel to Anchorage, Alaska for the 2024 National Tribal & Indigenous Climate Conference (NTICC), hosted by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals. Five staff representing various California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR)’s programs will spend the next four days collaborating with other national and Tribal partners on ways to advance #ClimateResiliency in Indigenous communities. SGC and the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (formally OPR) will be highlighting the NTICC event all week on social media. Tune in and see our teams elevate daily conference themes, go on fieldtrips to explore Traditional and Indigenous Knowledges, lead discussions around California’s Tribal Capacity Building Program, and present information during a World Café: Climate Conversation! Stay tuned for future posts on today’s NTICC theme of “Wear Orange Day.” A time to recognize how the residential school system impacted the lives and well-being of Indigenous children everywhere. ?? https://lnkd.in/ga97hvfX