Summer's here!

June 2021

Ready to get outside again? As coronavirus (COVID-19)-related capacity restrictions are ending, more places are reopen. This edition of the Sustainable DC newsletter is packed with information on opportunities to get outside, classes on gardening, and ways to help connect kids to outdoor experiences. #BackToSummer is the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation’s (DPR) rallying call to encourage District residents to embrace the long-awaited summer of 2021 and rediscover the place where fun happens!

DC is home to hundreds of local parks and miles of pedestrian trails designed to accommodate all residents and provide a nurturing environment to explore the outdoors. As the school year winds down and the summer weather is upon us, get outside this summer and experience all that the District offers.

opportunities

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

DC Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency

Please join us at our quarterly meetings where we review, discuss, and explore the District of Columbia’s work to greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. The next quarterly meeting will be held on June 10, 2021 at 3:00 pm. The meeting link is provided under the meetings tab on this website.  

Notice of Public Comment Period – District of Columbia’s Annual Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan for 2022

The Clean Air Act mandates that ambient air quality surveillance systems in state and local jurisdictions, including the District, meet requirements specified in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Part 58.  Regulations require state and local monitoring agencies to conduct a periodic assessment of ambient air monitoring networks and propose any changes in an annual ambient air monitoring network plan. The District of Columbia’s Draft Annual Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan for 2022 is available for review. The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) is committed to considering the public’s comments while finalizing this plan. All comments must be submitted and received by 5:00 pm on Thursday, June 17, 2021.  To read the District of Columbia’s Draft Annual Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan for 2022, please visit the DOEE website.

GRANTS & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Notice of Funding Availability – Nature Near Schools Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience – 2021

DOEE is seeking eligible entities to submit an application to provide Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences to elementary and middle school students, ideally in third through fifth grade, enrolled in DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools. The project will follow COVID-19 protocols. The Nature Near Schools program intends to offer District students the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time learning about their local watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay while immersed in their local, school-based environment. This hands-on outdoor program will also provide professional development for teachers, advance the integration of environmental literacy into classroom curriculum, and help prepare District students to be competitive in the green economy. The deadline for application submissions is June 14, 2021

For further questions,  2021NNSMWEE.grant@dc.gov or visit the DOEE website.

ADVANCED TRAINING APPLICATION

Training

Movement Matters is excited to announce the Fall 2021 Advanced Trainings: Transforming Vision, Power, and Leadership: Advanced Popular Education©, and Our Stories, Our Meaning: Advanced Community Media Studio©. Movement Matters is committed to the use of a values-based approach to organizing and movement building that is intersectional, anti-oppression, anti-colonial, and anti-racist. 

Advanced Trainings engage seasoned organizers, community leaders, community workers, and advocates. Anchored in Movement Matters' organizing framework, these three-day, two-day, and one-day learning and planning sessions move beyond fundamentals to provide an instructive and challenging space that deepens each participant’s vision, skills, and capacity. Each advanced training also provides dedicated opportunities for integration and alignment to participants’ current programmatic goals and/or campaign strategies. Applications open July 2021 for the Advanced Popular Education and Advanced Community Media Studio training sessions.

The Advanced Trainings fill up quickly so apply early. For more information, visit: movementmatters.net/advanced-training-series.html.

JOBS

DOEE Environmental Protection Specialist

Apply to join DOEE’s Natural Resources Administration’s Regulatory Review Division. The Environmental Protection Specialist position will contribute to DOEE’s ongoing implementation of the Stormwater Retention Credit Trading Program, RiverSmart Rewards program, and related programs, and also contribute to efforts to develop and improve business processes within DOEE’s Surface and Groundwater System. 

Apply by June 11, 2021 at the DC Careers Page using Job ID # 13156.

DOEE Program Analyst

Apply to join DOEE’s Energy Administration working on a wide range of Information Technology (IT) management activities. Located in DOEE’s Operations Services Administration, IT Division, the program analyst will develop complex routines and detailed sequences of internal program logic by coding, testing, and debugging. The analyst will also develop test data and appropriate testing procedures, as well as analyze and evaluate the results.

Apply by June 19, 2021 at the DC Careers Page using Job ID # 13079.

EPA Reduction of Food Waste Fellowship

The United States has set an ambitious goal to halve food waste by 2030. More than one-third of the food produced in the United States is never eaten; wasting the energy and water used to produce it, filling landfills, and leading to methane emissions from landfills and water impacts from pesticide and fertilizer use. In collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Science Advisor, Policy, and Engagement, the research participant will conduct research to help the United States meet its food waste reduction goal in the most environmentally beneficial way.  

To read more about the position and to apply, visit the webpage. If you have additional questions about the application process, please email ORISE.EPA.ORD@orau.org.

Outdoor Learning Technical Assistance: Applications Open The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) has contracted with a vendor to provide technical assistance to District schools to establish outdoor learning spaces to maximize the number of students engaged in outdoor learning. Technical assistance will include professional development, a site assessment and individualized recommendations for schools. To access the application form, please click here. For more information, please visit OSSE’s outdoor learning resources page.

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Come out and volunteer on Saturday, June 26, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm to participate in a variety of park stewardship activities, including invasive plant removal, litter collection, flower bed weeding, trail maintenance and more. Some activities involve working in shallow ponds. This event will occur rain or shine—please dress accordingly and plan to work outside! All tools and supplies will be provided.

To register for this event, please visit the Eventbrite page. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, registration is required.

Kenilworth

Volunteer at H. St. Farms

Join us every Saturday from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at H. St. Farms (the rooftop garden on top of W.S. Jenks Hardware). It is a unique rooftop growing area that utilizes DC's unused space. With three greenhouses and many plants, we encourage you to come to get involved and have a try at a green thumb! Sign up today!

For more information check out their website, or email hstfarms@cultivatethecity.com.

farms

EVENTS

Crowdfunding Loans with DSLBD’s DC Kiva Hub

Join Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD)’s Innovation & Equitable Development (Inno.ED) team to learn about Kiva Crowdfunding Loans available through DSLBD’s DC Kiva Hub! Access 0% interest, $0 fee loans for your DC business using funds crowdsourced through DSLBD’s DC Kiva Hub.

Crowdfunding

DSLBD’s DC Kiva Hub loans and this Money Monday series — June 7, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm; and July 12, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm — are part of DSLBD's District Capitalized program that supports financing the creation, operation, and growth of DC businesses, and the partners who help them.

To register for either event, or for more information, visit the Eventbrite page or email Inno.eD@dc.gov.

eCYCLE Collection Events

By recycling used electronics, individuals can help recover valuable resources and properly manage potentially hazardous materials. eCYCLE DC, through manufacturers’ collection and recycling plans, is bringing District residents more options for recycling their electronics.

ecycle

The following items are banned from the trash and are collected at the eCYCLE DC collection events: computers and monitors, tablet, e-readers, mice, keyboards, DVD or VCR players, printers, televisions, game consoles and portable music players. For more information, check out this fact sheet.

  • Saturday, June 5, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, 1400 41st St SE (near Fort Davis Recreation Center)
  • Saturday, June 12, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, 115 Atlantic St SW (near William O. Lockridge Bellevue Library)
  • Saturday, June 19, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, 1230 Sumner Rd SE (near Barry Farm Recreation Center)
  • Saturday, June 19, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, 2301 L St NW (near West End Library)
  • Saturday, June 26, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, 3160 16th St NW (near Mt Pleasant Library)

Flooding in the District Lunch & Learn Series

The DC Silver Jackets team invites built environment, sustainability, and resilience professionals with planning, regulatory, or operations responsibilities in DC, regional, and federal agencies to a weekly series of “lunch & learn” sessions in June to learn about flood-related topics and how stakeholders can take action to reduce the risk in the District.

FLood

Visit the Eventbrite page to register for one of the following dates:

  • Wednesday, June 9, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm, How to Find a Buildings Flood Risk
  • Wednesday, June 16, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm, What Can You Do to Prepare Facilities and Residences for a Flood?
  • Wednesday, June 23, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm, Roles and Responsibilities for Floodplain Regulation and Preparedness in DC

For questions regarding the lunch and learn series, contact Joshua Schnitzlein at joshua.schnitzlein@dc.gov or Martin Koch at martin.koch@dc.gov.

DPR Advanced Urban Grower Series

DPR has created a FREE Advanced Urban Grower Webinar Series for residents and gardeners in the District every Wednesday from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. This series includes more than 20 free webinars taught by more than a dozen local experts on a variety of advanced gardening techniques and skills. Participants need to register for each event. For more information visit the DPR advanced grower website.

Parks
  • Wednesday, June 2, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Connecting with Plants in a Climate of Disconnection, with Little Red Bird Botanicals Holly Poole-Kavana
  • Friday, June 4, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Overview of Food Recovery in DCwith DC Food Recovery Working Group member Josh Singer
  • Wednesday, June 9, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Foraging Mushroomswith Hobby Foragers Drew Drozynski and Tara Geiger
  • Friday, June 11, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Intro to Canning and Food Preservationwith Food Recovery Network Executive Director Regina Anderson
Environment expo

3rd Annual Mount Vernon District Environment Expo: Get Outdoors! Learn and Do!

Supervisor Dan Storck invites you to participate in the 3rd Annual Mount Vernon District Environment Expo: Get Outdoors! Learn and Do! on Saturday, June 26, 2021, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at Fort Hunt Park, 8999 Fort Hunt Road. We are excited to announce that this year’s event will be held in partnership with the National Park Service.

This FREE family friendly event will include: exhibitors, workshops, live music, live reptile and owl programs, electric vehicles, nature walks, junior ranger program, touch-a-truck recycling, history tours, purple glass monster (bring your glass recycling for drop off!), food trucks and more!

This event will adhere to COVID-19 restrictions and protocols. For more event information, please visit the registration page.

what we're reading

Bloom and Grow: How to Manage Deer, Squirrels, Chipmunks, Moles, Voles and Other Animals in Your Garden with Brie the Plant Lady: The top requests for outdoor gardeners was how to manage pesky animals getting into your gardens! This podcast walks us through a comprehensive list of practices and solutions for managing pests and other critters in the garden.

GardenDC: Sustainable Gardening: A chat with Kit Gage, a Chesapeake Bay landscape professional, about the recent Green Matters Symposium, the novel “The Overstory,” and the “Nature’s Best Hope” by Doug Tallamy. Our Plant Profile in this podcast episode is on the cool-season annual Sweet Alyssum.

Washington DC Biophilic Cities: Washington DC is known for its many parks and trees, as well as its monuments. Biophilic DC aims to work closely with District agencies and nonprofit partners to make the city ever more nature-full, where people and other species thrive.

LET'S GET CONNECTED!

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