Institute for Sustainability Engagement | EFC Region 2

Thank you to the South Ward Environmental Alliance (SWEA) for hosting us in #Newark, NJ, and partnering with us on a "Climate Action Planning 101 Community Workshop" on Saturday, November 9th. It was inspiring to collaborate with residents from Dayton Street, Weequahic, and Clinton Hill to discuss climate priorities and resilience strategies for their neighborhoods. We’re excited to continue our partnership with SWEA and the South Ward community to turn these conversations into actionable, neighborhood-level climate plans. A special thanks to SWEA Founder & Executive Director, Kim Gaddy, for reaching out to partner with us on this important work, and to the SWEA and SU-EFC teams for organizing and facilitating a successful event! Asada Rashidi, Tiarra Lee, Francisco Guzmán-Alvarado,?Calista Albring, Tess Clark, Averi Davis Learn more about SWEA by visiting: https://lnkd.in/eMa2_3Vv #ClimateAction #CommunityEngagement #Collaboration #SouthWard #NewJersey #NJ #SWEA #Resilience #DaytonStreet #Weequahic #ClintonHill

The NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation (NYSEFC) announced draft eligibility guidelines for a new Resilient Watersheds Grant Program with funding from the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. This new grant program will support projects for #vulnerable, at-risk communities on how to best reduce flooding and ice jam hazards that threaten public #health and #safety. ? ? Eligible project components include, but are not limited to: - Floodplain restoration, creation, and/or reconnection to stream? - Wetland creation and/or restoration? - Berm removal? - Dam removal? - Stream culvert replacement and right-sizing? - Culvert, bridges, and appurtenant structures (e.g., legacy abutments, approaches and/or piers, etc.) removal? - Streambank, stream channel, or shoreline restoration and/or stabilization and establishment of riparian buffers? - Stream daylighting? - Acquisition of land (i.e., fee title and/or conservation easement), including structures from willing sellers and their removal, which are necessary to complete eligible flood mitigation projects? ? Public comments on eligibility guidelines are open until December 13, 2024 at 5:00 PM Eastern. Send your comments in writing to Thomas Snow at [email protected].? ? For more information on draft eligibility guidelines, visit the link below: ? https://lnkd.in/gqMkejxV? ?? #NYS #ResilientNY #FloodProtection #EnvironmentalBondAct #WaterQuality #CommunityResilience #flooding #funding ?

Ever wonder what happens to the water that goes down your drain? Join us for an #ASMR exploration of the Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant! This video highlights the unsung heroes of wastewater treatment and the vital services they provide to our communities. ? ?? Created by: Cristen Crew and Mya Bonney? Special Thanks to: Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection? ? For more water and wastewater related content, visit the Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) multimedia library: https://lnkd.in/g_mWiiWM ? ??? #WastewaterTreatment #ASMR #Sustainability #CommunityHeroes #EnvironmentalProtection #ISE #wastewater #water?

The EFCN Water Leadership Program (WLP) is excited to announce the launch of our NEW On-Demand Learning Module! Perfect for busy water professionals, this flexible resource allows you to explore foundational leadership topics and build confidence at your own pace.?? ? Dive into curated materials and select recordings from our expert-led sessions. Module topics include:? ? ???? Navigating Workplace Dynamics: Working with Staff, Diversity, and Conflict Resolution?? ???? Strategic Communication for Water Sector Leaders? ???? Leading with Social and Emotional Intelligence? ???? Environmental Justice Perspectives in the Water Sector? ???? 3-Part Career Self-Assessment? ???? And more!? ? Whether you’re looking to build skills on your own time or catch up on program highlights, this module will help you grow your leadership skills in water utility management.?? ? Access Resources Here: https://lnkd.in/dcQWB_kg? ? #WaterLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #UtilityManagement #EFCN #LeadershipSkills #OnDemandLearning #Leadership #WaterisLife #SEI?

Did you know over 3.5 billion people worldwide live without access to safely managed sanitation, impacting public health, dignity, and the environment? In the US alone,1.4 million people lack access to indoor plumbing (hot and cold running water, a sink, a shower/bath, or a flushing toilet).? ? This World Toilet Day, we’re highlighting the critical need for sustainable sanitation solutions. From climate change to conflict, disasters, and neglect, sanitation systems around the world are vulnerable. It’s time to prioritize equitable infrastructure investments, innovative solutions, and equal access to ensure that every community can depend on #safe and #resilient sanitation infrastructure.? ? Learn more about World Toilet Day 2024 here: https://lnkd.in/g7BG-esC ? ? #WorldToiletDay #WorldToiletDay2024 #ToiletDay #Sanitation #SanitationAwareness #UNWater #EFCN #climatechange?

Last month, SU-EFC?presented at the New Jersey Water Association 2024 Management and Technical Conference in Atlantic City, NJ, alongside the NJWA #Apprenticeship Program. This conference brought together water and wastewater industry professionals to learn about the latest services in the industry as well as to increase awareness of regulatory, operational, managerial and legislative issues through training sessions.? ? SU-EFC Program Manager Averi Davis, in partnership with Sarah Diefendorf, Executive Director of The Capacity Collaborative, presented a session titled “Recruiting and Strengthening the Water Workforce: Effective Communication, Succession Planning, and Retention.” A huge thank you to Matt Maffei, NJWA Apprenticeship Program Coordinator, for inviting us to take part in a session on such an important topic! Stay tuned for more water workforce sessions from us in #2025.? ? #Water #Wastewater #NJWA #Conference #WaterWorkforce #WorkinWater #WaterisLife?

What a successful gathering of leaders in recycling, reuse, and other sustainability fields at?“Rethinking Resource Use, Regional Perspectives,” a conference held at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), hosted by Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) and the Center for Sustainable Materials Management, and in collaboration with our team at the Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE). ? Keynote speaker Garry Cooper Jr., CEO and Co-founder of Rheaply, kicked the event off with a focus on topics often revisited by panelists, moderators, and attendees throughout the 3-day conference, such as the importance of a circular economy, the social transactions of reuse, and the power of data. These ideas and more represent influential takeaways from “Rethinking Resource Use, Regional Perspectives”?and the importance of coming together to exchange ideas. It was an honor also to unveil our new identity as the Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE) to the public in person. Shout out to?our team members who shared their expertise and experience on stage in areas of SMM, reuse, and organics: Lindsay Eberhart, Carly Stone, Morgan Ingraham as well as our moderators for the occasion: Melissa Young, Jesse Kerns, and Lisa Ruggero. We are proud and appreciate all that you do! Special thanks to NY Senator Rachel May for her attendance and remarks along with SUNY ESF President Joanie Mahoney. To learn more about the event and to view available speaker’s presentations, visit:?https://lnkd.in/gGup8bcK

??Applications are now open for the 2025 NYWEA InFLOW STEMPath program!?? Join us at NYWEA’s 97th Annual Meeting in New York City (February 3-5, 2025) and be part of a program dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion in the water workforce. ?? InFLOW STEMPath invites college and university students from historically underrepresented groups pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) to participate in this invaluable experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with water quality professionals from across the state! Can’t make it to the Annual Meeting? No worries—there are other ways to get involved in InFLOW! ??Apply now and secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/gXgQMbrj #InFLOW2025 #STEMPath #NYWEA #WaterCareers #DiversityInSTEM

Last Week, ISE team members spent two days learning about important issues facing the Upper Delaware Watershed at the FRIENDS OF THE UPPER DELAWARE RIVER (FUDR) annual conference, the Upper Delaware River Rendezvous in Callicoon, NY. The team also hosted nine federal, state and local funding agencies for a municipal infrastructure Funding Roundtable, joined by NYSDEC, NYS EFC, NYS DOH, USDA Rural Development, CDBG, NYS DOH and more.? The team was able to catch up with several partners, including Candace Balmer from RCAP Solutions, Inc., as well as take part in a fly-fishing adventure with Colleen Carahar and Kimberly Wildman from USDA Rural Development. A special thanks to FRIENDS OF THE UPPER DELAWARE RIVER for helping host a successful event!? #Conference #Catskills #Sustainability #Water #WaterInfrastructure #UpperDelawareRiver

Today, the Center for Sustainable Community Solutions (CSCS) is thrilled to announce our rebranding at Syracuse University (SU) as the Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE). This transformation reflects our?organization’s continued and growing commitment to meeting communities where they are to help them implement sustainability initiatives through transdisciplinary collaboration.? As a sustainability engagement institute, ISE aims to broaden our reach and impact by connecting communities with university resources and seeking new funding opportunities to support community development initiatives in capacity-building, communications, policy, and infrastructure. Our institute will continue to house the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center (SU-EFC). In addition, this shift to ISE strengthens important and long-standing inter-university ties between SU and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) through a collaborative agreement that will serve to leverage resources across campuses.??? “At the Institute for Sustainability Engagement, we co-create solutions with communities to achieve locally informed sustainable strategies. This is done by connecting local insights with academic expertise, building strong relationships between researchers, policymakers, and community members, and, at our core, engaging with others — meeting people where they are to get them where they want to go,” shares ISE Director, Melissa Young.? She continues, “The need for sustainability engagement is undeniable —and exponential— in our world’s ever-evolving climate crisis. Together, with our dedicated team and partners, we will continue to innovate and expand our impact, working to create a more sustainable and resilient future for all.” As we transition into this new identity, our Facebook Page may remain “Syracuse University CSCS / Environmental Finance Center” for a short period while we begin to refer to ourselves as ISE on our LinkedIn and other media going forward. Click below to read the full press release, and while you’re there, check out our new website, https://lnkd.in/gTwdr2QA, to learn more about the Institute for Sustainability Engagement! https://lnkd.in/gvcDJDty #sustainability #newbeginnings?