Beyond the headlines: The power of solutions journalism
By Martha Cecilia Ovadia, Senior Program Associate, Equity and Communications
The Intermountain West Funder Network recently convened in Santa Fe, N.M. for its annual meeting. This year’s event focused on forward-looking strategies that would help funders increase the impact of their grantmaking to create more resilient, sustainable and equitable communities in the Intermountain West region. The meeting focused on exploring Santa Fe to learn first-hand about sustainable development issues in and around the city, learning about the protection of diverse cultural heritages and sacred places in New Mexico and learning from local strategies about how to foster land and water resilience and encourage food justice in the region.
Another area of focus: The importance of journalism and the powerful role philanthropy can play in ensuring local storytelling and investigative reporting remain robust — especially in underserved “media deserts.”
Leah Todd, the Mountain West manager for newsrooms at Solutions Journalism Network, was the keynote speaker at the opening night reception in Santa Fe, sharing insight on effective communications and storytelling through the lens of solutions journalism in the region. Since 2016, Solutions Journalism Network has collaborated with 140 news organizations on solutions-oriented projects. One of those projects included State of Change, a year-long investigation with a group of New Mexico news organizations that looked at the challenges to building resilient rural communities, and found a lack of high-speed internet holds communities back. It was just one example of the type of issues brought to light during this project. The reporters not only looked at the barriers to launching internet connections in rural areas, but also highlighted tribes, towns and schools whose efforts were successful. The New Mexico project was led by the Solutions Journalism Network in partnership with High Country News, and with funding from the LOR Foundation — a supporter of the Intermountain West Funders Network and a TFN member. (Other TFN members that support Solutions Journalism Network include the Ford Foundation, the Knight Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation.)
Below are five key takeaways from her presentation, which can be found in its entirety here.
- What is solutions journalism?
Solutions journalism is rigorous, evidence-based reporting on responses to social problems. This form of journalism explains in meaningful detail what worked in a situation, but also looks for limitations and unintended consequences.
- How can we identify solutions journalism imposters?
Always look for overpromising and generalizations. When you see a headline that promises a perfect solution—walk away! Solutions journalism knows that there are no perfect solutions and good solutions journalism takes the time to point out any limitations of a response and to also point the readers in the direction of effective change happening right now.
For effective solutions journalism, Todd encourages journalists to apply these shifts to re-focus their writing:
- Instead of hero worship: focus on systemic change
When writing about someone doing good and making a difference, the focus of the story can sometimes become the individual, taking away from delving deeper into whatever initiative or response they are furthering. While stories that focus on individual successes (or failures) have their place in journalism, solutions journalism works through a broader, more solutions focused lens.
- Instead of a silver bullet: tone down the rhetoric and show downsides too
Keep an eye out for journalistic pieces that overclaim. You will usually see words like “lifesaver” and “breakthrough” attached to this type of writing. Instead, look for pieces that take the time to tell the narrative of what is working, what is not working, and that looks to other communities to find potential parallels in place-based work that could be applied locally.
- Instead of a think piece: show what is working now
This refers to journalism that proposes things that do not exist yet. Solutions journalism speaks to what is happening now, not predictions or recommendations for the future.
- Instead of an afterthought: weave solutions throughout the story
Solutions should be an integral part of the storytelling—not an afterthought at the end of a story. Solutions must be considered seriously and presented with care. This challenges us to embrace the possibilities at hand
- What is solutions journalism’s “Theory of Change”?
Journalists must act as responsible and informed whistleblowers and work to expose wrongdoing. By pointing out social problems, journalist can help in spurring reform and highlighting solutions. But this is not all that should be done. Journalist must also cover information on how to respond to those problems, offering examples and narratives needed for self-correction.
- How does solutions journalism increase accountability?
With responsible journalism that focuses on solutions, problems that were once seen as unavoidable become problems that are seen as unacceptable. The ability to view a problem as unacceptable comes from journalism that presents solutions and deconstructs the cultural narrative of “this is how it has always been.”
- Can solutions journalism also function as a form of societal and self-care?
News fatigue has created a sense of learned helplessness in those consuming the news. When negative reporting is played over and over and over again, it creates a desire to tune out. However, evidence suggests that when people think something can be done about a problem, they are more receptive and attentive to the information. And while negative messages spread faster than positive ones, positive messaging focusing on solutions reach larger audiences. Solutions journalism is a healthier, more effective approach to journalism.
Additional Resources:
- The Solutions Journalism Network’s Solutions Story Tracker lets you search for stories by geography, topic area and success factors, among other categories.
- Check out two case studies presented during the Intermountain West Funders Network annual meeting for a look at solutions journalism in action:
- State of Change: Building Resilience in New Mexico
- The Montana Gap
- Listen to How Investing in Media Can Drive Positive Community Change, a TFN webinar featuring LaMonte Guillory of the LOR Foundation, Keith H. Hammonds of Solutions Journalism Network, Kate Schimel of High Country News and Johs Stearns of the Democracy Fund.
- For more information on the Intermountain West Funders Network working group, click here or contact Amy Swiatek at amy@www.fundersnetwork.org.
About the Author
Martha Cecilia Ovadia is TFN's senior program associate for equity and communications. Contact her at marci@www.fundersnetwork.org.
Do you have a great strategy or story to share? Submit a session proposal for #TFNMiami
ByTFN Staff
The Funders’ Network (TFN) 2019 Annual Conference marks the network’s 20th anniversary. We’ll be coming back to Miami, the site of TFN’s first annual conference, providing the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past, explore the present and look forward to the future.
We’re looking for dynamic, interesting and informative proposals for sessions and speakers, particularly those that advance TFN’s goals of creating communities that are equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically prosperous.
How are communities grappling with climate change, natural disasters and other environmental threats? Addressing social, racial and economic injustices? Fostering opportunities for success and well-being for all, not just some?
About #TFNMiami
I need a minute — and you probably do, too: Why champions for justice need to practice self care
By Bina M. Patel, TFN PLACES Coach & Facilitator
Resiliency, Justice, and Equity (& a blessing 'For One Who is Exhausted')
I have been on the road almost every week for the last 6 months. My time is full of facilitating and coaching people looking to advance the collective good through racial and gender equity, building community power, and strategizing about redesigning the status quo. Together we tackle deeply intimate, personal, organizational, and fraught issues. Sometimes, as much as they intend to advance, they resist. My work is to support breaking through the noise, anger, othering, and dehumanizing to reach the other side - love.
Honestly, I am exhausted. I am grateful to be of service, and also acknowledge that this is often heartbreaking, defeating and soul challenging work. Then add personal life things, TSA screenings, late flights, and time zone chaos. You can imagine. I am tired in all the ways.
I often get asked: How do you do it? How do you hold that space? Facilitate this really hard stuff with so much calmness? How do you do this every day?
A few thoughts, and a blessing from John O'Donahue to my fellow champions of justice and peace.
1. Know your purpose. I am deeply rooted in my purpose to the collective good and draw on that every day in order to be of service and keep on doing the work. Reflection: What am I called to do in service of the collective good? What do I need to let go of to so? Then, start letting go.
2. Set an intention. I set an intention for how I will show up for each session, workshop, meeting, and even flights. Peace, grace, love, compassion. Reflection: what will make me proud of my leadership today? What can I give to the betterment of this space, this community, this organization? Then, practice making it real and observable.
3. Sleep and recharge. Honestly acknowledge when you are tired, heartbroken, and need a break. Then, follow through. Why? We need you. Our collective betterment needs each of us to come back tomorrow, and the next day, and again. That is resiliency. Invest in the space that helps you heal, so that your servant leadership can be realized in its fullest. Nature, body movement, sleep, quiet and reflection, music, art - all and any of the things that allow you to continue on your purpose-full path. Reflection: What do I need to come back tomorrow? Then, take steps to design that experience.
Lastly, here is that blessing I mentioned from John O'Donahue, For One Who Is Exhausted:
In peace and service.
About the Author
Next up in 'Inside Policy': Can Opportunity Zones create equitable impact?
By TFN StaffKeeping abreast of federal policy can be daunting — especially given the daily churn of a 24/7 news cycle and rapidly shifting Washington landscape. Join us for the second installment of our Inside Policy briefings that explore emerging policy trends and their potential impacts on people and communities. Register for our next Inside Policy briefing, Can Opportunity Zones Create Equitable Impact?, July 23 from 3 to 4 p.m. ET. The webinar will featureinsight from Katie Kramer, vice president at the Council of Development Finance Agencies, and moderated by Aaron Seybert, social investment officer at The Kresge Foundation. (And be sure to check out additional briefings in this series.) |
|
Created as part of the Trump Administration's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Opportunity Zones are a new federal economic development tool aiming to improve the outcomes of distressed communities around the country. But how can advocates and stakeholders harness its power and ensure positive impact on equitable, community-based neighborhood restoration? Join this session to learn more about the Opportunity Zones program, its potential as a development tool and the roles funders can play in emerging local implementation. |
Upcoming Inside Policy Briefings:Balance of Power: How Courts and States are Impacting PolicySept. 24 | 1-2 p.m. ET |
|
|
States and the courts have emerged as high-profile players amid swiftly changing federal policy, stepping in with key actions related to immigration, climate change, civil liberties and other areas. Whether they question or affirm, impede or support proposed federal policy decisions, State’s Attorneys General are a significant element. Join this session to hear from James E. Tierney, the former attorney general of Maine, learn more about the role of states and the courts in the current federal agenda, and explore the consequent impact on inclusive growth, sustainability, and equitable government systems. Register here. Speakers James E. Tierney, Director, StateAG.org, and Lecturer, Harvard Law School |
|
|
Previous 'Inside Policy' BriefingsDid you miss out on a recent Inside Policy briefing? No worries. Contact Lesmarie Nicholson to request a link to our audio recording. Fair Housing in a Shifting Federal EnvironmentJune 25 |
As federal policy direction shifts, the federal commitment to fair housing is under intense pressure with high-stakes impact on both people and places. Growing distance between anti-discrimination goals, federal priorities and regulatory guidance worries advocates of equity and inclusion. Join this session to hear from a leading national fair housing voice about the status of fair housing, how communities are responding and how funders can rethink both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Speakers Lisa Rice, President and CEO, National Fair Housing Alliance |
|
The Inside Policy series is intended for a funder-only audience. Registrants will receive a link to the webinar via email in advance of the briefing session. |
Speaking Out: Reaffirming our values in the face of intolerance
By Patricia Smith, TFN President and CEO, and Tom Woiwode, Chair, TFN Board of Directors
In recent weeks, we have witnessed an escalation of hard-line immigration policies that have resulted in the separation of children from parents, widespread confusion over how these families are to be reunited, and concerns over whether immigrants and asylum-seekers will be afforded due process guaranteed to them under the law.
This so-called “zero-tolerance” approach creates immediate and lasting harm to the thousands of families forcibly separated at our borders, the effects of which cannot be understated. It also presents a clear and present danger to the fundamental values we uphold as a nation that has historically provided safe harbor for those seeking security, freedom, and the opportunity to create a better life for themselves and their children.
As a network of more than 170 foundations across the U.S. and Canada, the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN) works in support of efforts to create communities that are sustainable, prosperous, resilient — and above all, equitable and inclusive.
The increased vitriol directed at immigrant communities, as well as migrants seeking refuge at our borders, undermines these important efforts. We have heard disturbing reports from across our network of the chilling effect these inhumane actions and attitudes have already had in further isolating a vulnerable population — including a sharp decline in reports of sexual assaults and other serious crimes against immigrants and refugees because victims are distrustful of local authorities; a hesitancy to evacuate to shelters amid natural disasters because of fears of being turned over to immigration officials; and a general reluctance to participate in civic matters because of fears of engaging with government officials. All of these are signs of how pervasive distrust can erode the fabric of a community.
TFN recognizes the important contributions that immigrants have made and continue to make to the social, economic and cultural vibrancy of our communities. And we state unequivocally that for communities to truly thrive, those communities must fully embrace and engage immigrants — as well as other people who have been historically marginalized because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or cultural background.
TFN joins with dozens of other leaders in philanthropy and philanthropy-serving organizations who have co-signed a statement from Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees denouncing unjust family separation and detention policies. Please take a look at the full statement here, as well as this round-up of responses from philanthropy and other resources for funders.
We encourage our members to continue to speak out against intolerance, stand up for the less fortunate, and ensure that we serve our communities in ways that are compassionate and just.
In solidarity,
Patricia L. Smith, President and CEO, Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities
Tom Woiwode, Chair, Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities Board of Directors
How philanthropy is responding to forcible separation of families — and what you can do
By TFN Staff
Update: Read the statement to our members from TFN's Interim President & CEO Maureen Lawless: "Silence is not an Option"
Condemnation of the federal government's forcible separation of children from their parents at the southern border has prompted outrage from all quarters in recent days, with civic, political and religious leaders decrying the zero-tolerance policy as cruel and inhumane.
Leaders in philanthropy have also voiced their disgust and dismay with a situation that has resulted in more than 2,300 children, some as young as infants, being held in makeshift detention facilities and other shelters. Despite an executive order signed Wednesday that ostensibly would end family separations at the border, federal agencies offered competing and contradictory explanations of what will happen with immigrant families detained by immigration officials, and leaving it unclear when — or if — parents would be reunited with their children.
Join Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) at 1 p.m. ET June 27 for "Where are the Children?" — a webinar that will offer expert insight on this unfolding situation, explore the impact of these policies on families and children, and learn about GCIR’s recommendations on how philanthropy can respond. TFN is proud to sign on as a co-sponsor of this event, along with the Council on Foundations, the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, Hispanics in Philanthropy, Philanthropy California, Philanthropy New York, United Philanthropy Forum, and others. (Register here.)
Below are additional responses from leaders in philanthropy, including TFN members and other philanthropy-supporting organizations, as well as resources for funders.
Philanthropy Responds:
Ana Marie Argilagos, president and CEO of Hispanics in Philanthropy
Five Ways You Can Stand up for Immigrant Children and Families Today: “Despite President Trump’s executive order ending his administration’s policy of separating immigrant children from their parents, the government will continue to treat all immigrants as criminals and to lock families in cages along the U.S.-Mexico border. Make no mistake: this executive order does not fix the damage inflicted on children or their families. Nor does it prevent future trauma. The Trump administration’s zero-tolerance immigration policy is intended to inflict pain, fear, and suffering on children and their parents.”
Dave Biemesderfer, President & CEO of the United Philanthropy Forum
Stop Separating Families at the Border. Now: I am speaking out against our federal government’s cruel and inhumane actions because, well, what is the alternative? Staying silent is simply not an option. This is not a political issue, as demonstrated by the growing calls to end this despicable policy by people from across the political spectrum. This is not about enforcing laws, which needs to be done. This is about treating people humanely. This is a philanthropic issue. Philanthropy is about loving and caring for all people, particularly those who are less fortunate than ourselves. It’s about treating others as we would want to be treated."
Fred Blackwell, CEO, The San Francisco Foundation
Restore Our Humanity: “We have been profoundly disturbed by these actions. For more than 30 years, we have been an active partner that has supported immigrants and their families. What is happening in our country is not simply an immigrant rights issue. It is a civil rights issue. It is a human rights issue. And while it has been politicized, it should be a nonpartisan issue.”
Maureen Lawless, Interim President & CEO, Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities
Silence is Not an Option: "I’ll repeat what we shared last summer, in the wake of the Charlottesville protests: Hatred is not a point of view, or a difference of opinion. There should not — and can never — be any moral equivocation when it comes to denouncing hateful philosophies and inhumane policies. As an organization that represents a broad diversity of funders from across the U.S. and Canada, and as an organization with a diverse staff — many of whom are immigrants or the children of immigrants — I want to reaffirm once more the values of equity and inclusion that inform the work we do, the work we support and the outcomes we seek to achieve."
Shane Murphy Goldsmith, President/CEO, Liberty Hill Foundation
Liberty Hill Statement on Family Separation: “Like many other people across the nation, I went home every night this last week to hug my children a little tighter, feeling extreme sorrow for those families who were denied the same opportunity by our government.”
Grant Oliphant, President, The Heinz Endowments
We Are What We Do: "Still left in place are the official lies about the nature and magnitude of that threat. The verifiable truth—that most refugees are fleeing violence not agents of it, that even according to ICE almost all report as required for hearings when given their freedom, that immigrants create far more jobs than they fill—is lost in fear-mongering rhetoric crawling with bias and falsehoods. "
Philanthropy California, an alliance of California grantmakers
(Signed by Christine Essel, President & CEO, Southern California Grantmakers; Nancy Jamison, President & CEO, San Diego Grantmakers; Ellen LaPointe, President & CEO, Northern California Grantmakers)
A Statement from Philanthropy California: “Our nation has long been a place of promise of safety and respite from harm. Today, for thousands of children and their families, that promise has been replaced with peril. Separating children from their parents inflicts unnecessary trauma on children that can cause lasting harm. (See the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2017 policy statement regarding child health impact of separation). The current practices at the border are an affront to the shared values of decency, humanity, and compassion that underpin our work in philanthropy, and that we believe to be fundamental to a civil society.”
Robert K. Ross, M.D., President and CEO, The California Endowment
A Father's Day Outrage: “As a pediatrician, a father, and a human being, I cannot be silent in the face of such cruelty. There is no excuse and there is no justification for this atrocity. It is wrong, it is unnecessary, and it is deeply traumatic to tear innocent children away from their parents. Struggling parents who risked their lives in the belief that the United States was still the only place in this world where some measure of safety and justice could still be gained are devastated. And all of us are forced to endure this abomination in our name.”
Additional Resources:
ACLU Foundation is a national organization that has defended the civil rights of individuals for nearly a century. Its Immigrant Rights Project is a unit within the ACLU that defends the rights of immigrants and is currently litigating family separation issues.
Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS)* is a national organization that protects the fundamental human rights of refugee women, children, LGBT individuals, and others who flee persecution in their home countries. CGRS is taking the lead in responding to the administration’s attempts to dismantle asylum protections for victims of domestic violence.
Central American Resource Center of Northern California (CARECEN) responds to the needs, rights, and aspirations of immigrant families in the Bay Area through direct services, community development, and advocacy. CARECEN leads efforts to protect and provide services to unaccompanied immigrant children.
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a national organization that engages in policy advocacy. With offices in ten cities, including San Francisco and Washington D.C., KIND trains pro bono lawyers to represent unaccompanied immigrant children in removal proceedings.
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR): Philanthropic Strategies to Support Refugees and Asylum SeekersHispanics in Philanthropy: Learn about HIP's fund to strengthen a safety net of lasting support and services for the families detained at the border.
Legal Services for Children is a Bay Area nonprofit organization that provides free representation, mental health, and case management services to children and youth to stabilize their lives and realize their full potential. They represent detained children and those in removal proceedings.
Liberty Hill Foundation: Rapid Response Fund for Young Immigrant Children.
Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) is a nonprofit organization that provides free and low-cost legal services to underserved immigrant children, families and refugees in Central and South Texas. They have been raising funds to get parents out of detention so that they can be reunited with their children.
*Slate Magazine also has a growing list of local and national groups that work or are taking action on immigrant issues.
Has your foundation issued a response or call-to-action, or do you have a relevant resource to share? Please contact Tere Figueras Negrete, TFN's communications director, at tere@www.fundersnetwork.org.
'Hey mayors, focus on transportation': A call to action for local leaders
By TFN Staff
Mary Skelton Roberts, co-director of climate at the Barr Foundation and a member of the TFN Board of Directors, recently wrote an opinion piece in Commonwealth Magazine. The piece was timed to coincide with the International Mayors Climate Summit, which took place in Barr's home city of Boston.
"Today, global and national mayors will convene in Boston to advance shared solutions around climate change. By 2030, more than 60 percent of the world’s population will live in cities. Mayors will increasingly have more opportunity – and a deeper responsibility – to lead on climate change," she writes.
"Luckily, transportation is one of the areas in which a mayor can have the greatest influence."
She notes that Boston has made strides in "planning for a future that will most certainly include higher tides, hotter days, and more extreme weather." Her call-to-action to the world's mayors include four lessons gleaned from the work being done in Boston that can help them shape mobility-focused perspectives that can impact climate today:
"Reprioritize city streets. Streets are one of the largest land assets cities own, but many mayors cede this precious space almost entirely to private car use. Car-centric street design sends the message that driving alone to work, school, and appointments is a city’s preferred transportation option for residents. Many cities are seeing major upticks in traffic congestion as a result.
Cities can make simple fixes like adding dedicated bus lanes during peak commuting hours to greatly improve transit reliability and enable more people to choose the bus over their car. Everett, here in Massachusetts, has been a pioneer around street priority, setting up a now-permanent “pop-up” dedicated bus lane on one of their main commuting throughways. Boston followed with a dedicated lane pilot in the Roslindale neighborhood, and the Barr Foundation is proud to be partnering with Everett, Arlington, Cambridge, and Watertown on other projects promoting better buses. The goal is to move the region closer to designing true bus rapid transit routes—the gold standard in moving people efficiently and effectively on local roads.
Create better linkages between open spaces. Parks are a tried-and-true public health tool and will play an important role in resilience by reducing the “heat island effect” and mitigating climate change-induced flooding. Creating better linkages between park spaces takes driving out of the recreation equation. For example, Boston’s Green Links program is a city-wide plan to connect people in every neighborhood to Boston’s greenway network by installing new walking and bike paths, and safer road crossings. Programs like this encourage people to walk and bike more (the original low- and no-carbon modes of transportation). Green spaces are also a key part of making cities more resilient in the face of extreme weather related to climate change.
Promote greater density near transit. People in cities want to live near where they work and play. In Boston, we’ve heard this again and again from the major employers – including GE, Amazon, and Reebok – moving into our urban core. Mayors can attract new talent and new businesses by taking a close look at zoning policy near transit stations. Updating zoning can be a politically tough road, but building denser near transit encourages a city lifestyle that doesn’t require driving
Accelerate regional mobility solutions. As we’ve seen with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative around clean energy, states acting together are a force to be reckoned with. This multi-state effort has generated roughly $4 billion in net benefits to the region over nine years of implementation while reducing harmful emissions from power plants. Currently, 11 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states (including Massachusetts) and the District of Columbia are working together on the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) — a regional collaboration that seeks to improve transportation, develop the clean energy economy, and reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector. Mayors in these states can and should show strong support for this effort to move forward — and regions across the country can learn from this collaborative and bi-partisan model."
Read the full piece in Commonwealth Magazine here.
About the Author
Mary Skelton Roberts is co-director for climate at the Barr Foundation, focusing on transportation and land use—two critical levers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Her portfolio aims to modernize our transit systems and to help communities transform themselves into more walkable, connected places where all residents have attractive alternatives to driving and spend far less time and money traveling by car. Mary is a member of the TFN Board of Directors and an alumni of TFN's PLACES Fellowship, a year-long learning experience focused on embedding equity and inclusion in philanthropic work.
Featured image: Photo credit Boston Magazine
Inside Policy Series: What funders need to know about federal policy
By: TFN StaffKeeping abreast of federal policy can be daunting — especially given the daily churn of a 24/7 news cycle and rapidly shifting Washington landscape. Join us for the second installment of our Inside Policy briefings that explore emerging policy trends and their potential impacts on people and communities. Topics include the state of fair housing, whether tax incentives for low-income neighborhoods can create equitable development, and the increasingly important role states are playing in challenging federal policy. Register today for one or all of our three-part series — and be sure to check out our TFN calendar of events for other learning opportunities. |
 |
Fair Housing in a Shifting Federal EnvironmentJune 25 | 1-2 p.m. ET |
|
|
As federal policy direction shifts, the federal commitment to fair housing is under intense pressure with high-stakes impact on both people and places. Growing distance between anti-discrimination goals, federal priorities and regulatory guidance worries advocates of equity and inclusion. Join this session to hear from a leading national fair housing voice about the status of fair housing, how communities are responding and how funders can rethink both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. SpeakersLisa Rice, President and CEO, National Fair Housing Alliance Register for this webinar here. |
|
|
Can Opportunity Zones Create Equitable Impact?July 23 | 3-4 p.m. ET |
|
|
Created as part of the Trump Administration's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Opportunity Zones are a new federal economic development tool aiming to improve the outcomes of distressed communities around the country. But how can advocates and stakeholders harness its power and ensure positive impact on equitable, community-based neighborhood restoration? Join this session to learn more about the Opportunity Zones program, its potential as a development tool and the roles funders can play in emerging local implementation. SpeakersKatie Kramer, Vice President, Council of Development Finance Agencies Register for this webinar here. |
|
|
Balance of Power: How Courts and States are Impacting PolicySept. 24 | 1-2 p.m. ET |
States and the courts have emerged as high-profile players amid swiftly changing federal policy, stepping in with key actions related to immigration, climate change, civil liberties and other areas. Whether they question or affirm, impede or support proposed federal policy decisions, State’s Attorneys General are a significant element. Join this session to hear from James E. Tierney, the former attorney general of Maine, learn more about the role of states and the courts in the current federal agenda, and explore the consequent impact on inclusive growth, sustainability, and equitable government systems. SpeakersJames E. Tierney, Director, StateAG.org, and Lecturer, Harvard Law School Register for this webinar here. |
|
|
|
The Inside Policy series is intended for a funder-only audience. Registrants will receive a link to the webinar via email in advance of the briefing session. |
New grant opportunity for sustainability efforts : Partners for Places' latest RFP released!
By Ann Fowler Wallace, TFN Director of ProgramsIn partnership with the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities (TFN) is pleased to announce the opening of Round 13 of the Partners for Places grant program. Partners for Places is a successful matching grant program that improves U.S. and Canadian communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability leaders and place-based foundations. National funders invest in local projects developed through these partnerships to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy and well-being for all residents. Through these investments, Partners for Places fosters long-term relationships that make our communities more prosperous, livable and vibrant. In addition to the general grant program, Round 13 also includes dedicated funding to support green stormwater infrastructure projects that advance water-related sustainability goals. The grant program provides partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000 for one year projects, or $50,000 and $150,000 for two year projects, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundations. To date, Partners for Places has awarded nearly $6 million across North America in this successful matching grant program, leading to nearly $12 million in investments. |
Creating a Successful ProposalPartners for Places now accepts proposals for the creation of a community-focused sustainability, climate action, adaptation/resilience, or comprehensive plan that specifically addresses sustainability or addresses an area identified for performance improvement or implementation for Certified STAR Communities. If your proposal requests funding for the creation of one of these plans, please closely review our Planning Process Guide linked here before preparing your proposal. In addition, all proposals are scored on the extent to which projects include meaningful involvement of priority audiences/stakeholders in program development and implementation. To review our guidance document on meaningful engagement, click here. The application deadline for Round 13 is July 31, 2018 (by 11:59 p.m., any time zone). Please visit the Partners for Places webpage for more information. Here you can view our promotional video, download the Request for Proposals (RFP), and access our Proposal Form and Budget Form. You may also consult our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Round 13 document. |
Additional ResourcesInfo WebinarsTFN and USDN will host a series of Partners for Places Round 13 Info Webinars. (Partners for Places will also be featured in our June TFN Learning Network Webinar.) Please visit here for the full schedule of upcoming learning opportunities. In the NewsPartners for Places was the subject of a recent feature by Inside Philanthropy: The Latest Push for Cities That Are Both More Sustainable and Equitable. |
Funder InvestorsPartners for Places general grant program is supported by The JPB Foundation, Kendeda Fund, New York Community Trust, The Summit Foundation, and Surdna Foundation. Support for the dedicated stormwater matching grant funding is provided by The JPB Foundation,The Kresge Foundation and the Pisces Foundation. Selection ProcessA selection committee comprised of foundation representatives and urban sustainability directors makes grant selection decisions on behalf of Partners for Places. Awards will be announced on Nov. 8, 2018. Any Questions?If the RFP and FAQ documents don’t answer all your questions, please contact Ashley Quintana at ashley@www.fundersnetwork.orgor Ann Wallace at ann@www.fundersnetwork.org for more information. |
What can this once-thriving mill town teach us about sustainability? Join our deep-dive on Biddeford, Maine, at NEFN's annual meeting
By: TFN Staff
Are you a funder working in the Northeast — and looking to build relationships with other foundations, local partners and others working in the same area?
TFN’s Northeast Funders’ Network will hold its annual meeting, in partnership with the Orton Family Foundation, during a two-day event that will span two Maine cities June 18-19: Biddeford and Kennebunkport.
Join us as we delve into a range of topics of keen interest to Northeast funders, deepen learning from place and share best practices and strategies with peers. The meeting will focus on innovation and key trends affecting small towns, rural communities and older legacy cities.
The meeting kicks off Monday, June 18, at the Pepperell Mill Complex in Biddeford, where we’ll hear a powerful story of how civic leaders, residents, business interests and local institutions are coming together to pursue a more sustainable and vibrant future for this once-thriving mill town. Biddeford is making a transition from dependence on a single waste-to-energy incinerator toward a future built on diverse and robust smaller ventures.
In 2012, the Biddeford’s leaders decided to buy the waste facility for $ 6.5 million and close it, losing 80 jobs as well as the largest contributor to the city’s tax base. Since then, more than 90 new businesses have moved into the redeveloped Pepperell Mill complex creating 500 jobs, with the space is only half built out. Today, Biddeford has a growing economy and stable, stronger tax base. But revitalization has brought new worries about gentrification and other issues.
During a deep-dive session moderated by Gabrielle Smith, senior associate for strategic partnerships at the Orton Family Foundation, we’ll hear from Biddeford Mayor Alan Casavant and others about how Biddeford is taking steps to address these challenges.
Our first day will also include a walking tour of Downtown Biddeford with Delilah Poupore, executive director of Heart of Biddeford, and Pete Lamontagne, head tour guide at the Biddeford Mills Museum.
Our second day of the NEFN meeting will take us to nearby Kennebunkport, where we’ll explore clean energy opportunities in the region, innovations in rural development and the potential of investing in local media.
Take a look at our agenda highlights below, or view full agenda and list of speakers here. For registration information on the NEFN Annual Meeting visit us here.
Agenda OverviewMonday, June 18 2:00-4:00 p.m. | NEFN Meeting at Pepperell Mill Campus Speakers: · Gabrielle Smith, Senior Associate for Strategic Partnerships, Orton Family Foundation (Moderator) · Alan Casavant, Mayor, Biddeford · Tammy Ackerman, Executive Director, Engine & Program Director, Maine FabLab · Delilah Poupore, Executive Director, Heart of Biddeford · James Bennett, City Manager · Doug Sanford, Developer · Mathew Eddy, Economic Development Director 4:00-5:30 p.m. | Walking Tour of Downtown Biddeford Joining us on the tour: · Pete Lamontagne , Head Tour Guide, Biddeford Mills Museum · Delilah Poupore, Executive Director, Heart of Biddeford 6:30 p.m. | Networking Reception and Dinner Tuesday, June 19 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | NEFN Meeting at Colony Hotel, Kennebunkport • Advancing Clean Energy Opportunities in the Region Speakers: · Meredith Hatfield, Climate Program Officer, Barr Foundation (Moderator) · Christine Donovan, Vermont Energy Investment Corp, Brooks Winner, Island Institute, Maine · Jared Duval, Energy Action Network (EAN), Vermont • Rural Development Innovations in the Northeast and Beyond Speaker: · Rob Riley, President, Northern Forest Center • The Potential of Investing in Local Media Speakers: · Gaye Symington, High Meadows Fund (Moderator) · Daniel Dinsmore, Executive Director, Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting · Anne Galloway, founder and Editor of Vermont Digger · Mark Simpson, News Director, Maine Public Radio |