SEPTEMBER 2020

“Growing up in a Mexican household, I learned to build an intimate relationship with Mother Nature. Any Mexican person can tell you about being welcomed by hundreds of little plants every time they go to visit their grandma’s house, or protecting the Monarch butterflies that come to take refuge every winter in the mountains of Michoacán. We don’t learn to call ourselves environmentalists because being sustainable is already so embedded into our culture. It's just our way of life; things that we are taught by our mothers who learned from their mothers. Sharing the Sustainable DC 2.0 Plan with my family and community has allowed us to turn our lived connection to the Earth into actionable steps to protecting her.”  -- Brenda Perez Amador, Green Fellow

This month we're celebrating Hispanic culture, and so much more! The 2020 Progress Reports for Sustainable DC and our sister plans of Clean Energy DC and Climate Ready DC are now live: you can read about our progress and more on our new website! We're also celebrating sustainable business at the virtual District Sustainability Awards with a special address from Rev. Lennox Yearwood, President of the Hip Hop Caucus, and Mayor Muriel Bowser. Winners include local nonprofit organizations, individuals, and private sector businesses. The Awards also feature a "People's Choice" Award, so pick your favorite and vote! There are other ways to make sure that your voice is heard this month: provide your input to the Department of Parks and Recreation Ready 2 Play 20-year plan, Carbon Neutral 2050, and the Extreme Heat survey. We want to make sure all residents can help build a more sustainable and resilient DC.

GRANTS

RiverSmart Schools

RiverSmart Schools grants provide public, public charter, or parochial schools serving grades K to 12 with a fully-funded installation of a schoolyard green space that improves water quality and serves as an outdoor learning tool for teachers to provide hands-on learning. Applications are due at the end of October, 2020.

Learn more 

Ward 7 & 8 2021 Microbusiness Dream Grants

The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that they will be soliciting applications for the Ward 7 and 8 2021 Microbusiness Dream Grants. The grants are to provide business development support to the growth of microbusinesses in Wards 7 and 8. These microbusinesses must be appropriately licensed, have fewer than five (5) employees, the business must be located in Ward 7 or 8, and Ward 7 or 8 residents must have ownership of 51% or more of the of the business. DSLBD intends to award between 20 and 25 grants, of up to $10,000 each, from the $200,000 in total available funding for 2021. The final deadline is September 30, 2020, at 2 pm.

Learn more

Great Streets Retail Small Business Grant

The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) is soliciting grant applications from qualified small business owners who wish to improve their place of business.    The purpose of the Great Streets Retail Small Business Grant is to support existing small businesses, attract new businesses, increase the District’s tax base, create new job opportunities for District residents, and transform designated emerging commercial corridors into thriving and inviting neighborhood centers. Submission Deadline: September 28, 2020 at 4:00 pm.

Learn more

JOBS

Americorps with Rock Creek Conservancy, Equity VISTA

The Equity VISTA will support justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) efforts at the Rock Creek Conservancy, enhancing the Conservancy’s ability to reach marginalized communities, particularly those most vulnerable to climate change and environmental racism. The VISTA will organize virtual learning, field trips, STEM classroom integration, and other educational efforts with local schools and young people residing on the East side of the park, who have historically lacked access to the park. They will also be researching the history of race equity in DC and throughout the Rock Creek watershed, to support the development of programming around the Racial History of DC, an educational project done in partnership with the National Park Service. Find more information and apply here.

Arabella Advisors, Multiple Positions

Arabella Advisors is a philanthropic consulting firm that helps clients understand complex problems, develop and implement innovative solutions, and achieve social and environmental impact at scale. Arabella is hiring for multiple job openings with Arabella Advisors' DC office (currently all remote due to COVID). Those positions include Compliance Associate, Program Associate, Revenue Analyst, and Staff Accountant, Accounts Payable.

Find more information and apply here.

Casey Trees, Multiple Positions

Casey Trees is a DC-based nonprofit committed to restoring, enhancing and protecting the tree canopy of the nation’s capital. Casey Trees is hiring for Tree Planting Crew positions, an Urban Forester, the Urban Forestry Crew Chief, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, all of which are based in DC, as well as two positions at their nearby tree farm in Virginia. Find more about all of their positions and apply here.

EVENTS

DISTRICT SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS 2020 Tuesday, September 29, 6pm - 7:30pm Join DOEE Director Tommy Wells to honor this year’s District Sustainability Award winners, with a special address from Mayor Muriel Bowser and Reverend Lennox Yearwood, Founder and President of the Hip Hop Caucus. Winners are those organizations that have focused on building a more sustainable and equitable city, addressing our community’s social and environmental challenges. They include local nonprofits, educational organizations, and private sector businesses—and an award for "People's Choice" that you can choose. RSVP HERE If you have any questions, require a sign language interpreter, or ADA accessibility assistance, contact Mary Lynn Wilhere at (202) 535-1939 or marylynn.wilhere@dc.gov.

September Virtual Bridge Park Events Every Tuesday in September, 6:00 – 7:00 pm, Facebook Live Stay connected throughout September, while learning to make healthy, family-friendly recipes, through our virtual cooking class series with Vita the Vegan Chef (@vitatheveganchef on Instagram). Vita will be leading classes every Tuesday in September, starting September 8, from 6 to 7pm. Ingredient lists will be shared on social media in advance each week - tune in to cook with us via Bridge Park's Facebook Live (Remaining dates: 9/22, 9/29).  Visit 11th Street Bridge Park’s Facebook Live for more info!

COVID-19 and Building Readiness: Hear from the Experts September 29, 10:30-11:30 am (DOEE Webinar) Join DOEE, Cushman & Wakefield, and Setty, Inc. for this webinar on COVID-19 and building readiness.  During this webinar, the speakers will discuss how to maximize ventilation, purging your building, the importance of commissioning, balancing, and validating, and sharing the Safe Six Checklist of operations for COVID 19. This webinar is intended for building engineers and facility managers. We invite building engineers, facility managers, maintenance staff, developers, contractors, and stakeholders interested in the latest thinking to reduce risks from COVID-19 and building readiness. The event is free and registration is required. Register here.

DC Art All Night 2020 September 13 – 26,  7:00 am to 11:30 pm, Virtual  Stream from home to support local artists and businesses for two weeks in September. Friday and Saturday night Showcase Series featuring musical, visual, and movement artists Hundreds of diverse artists and businesses Themed promotions and fun for the whole family on Sunday-Thursday Don’t miss out on promotions from restaurants and businesses across the District! From visual, performing, and movement artists to culinary favorites and DC’s eclectic retail corridors—any labor of love is an artform: DC is art! Visit DCArtAllNight.org for more info!

DC Retail Summit September 15 – 24, 9:00 am – 12:15 pm, Virtual  Every Tuesday and Thursday September 15 through the 24, you can join the Washington DC Economic Partnership’s Retail Summit. Our Recovery will bring together local retail & restaurant businesses, thought leaders from the private & public sectors, and community stakeholders. Discussions will provide practical and solutions-based advice and resources to help entrepreneurs and local businesses adapt during COVID-19 and identify market opportunities in a changing economic landscape. Visit 2020 DC Retail Summit for more info!

National Hispanic Heritage Month: Advocates Past and Present

Running Towards Justice

Throughline’s Reframing History: The Litter Myth 

Wildfires and Climate Change

How Climate Migration Will Reshape America

Get Ready for the Great Urban Comeback