SSDN‘s Green Minds

In this episode of Green Minds, Shaleen Miller dives into the realities of landing—and thriving—in sustainability jobs, especially in local government.

From breaking into the field to stepping into leadership roles like Chief Sustainability Officer, our guests Abena Ojetayo with the City of Tallahassee and Shelby Buso, formerly with the City of Atlanta and now with the City of San Diego, CA, share their personal career journeys, the skills that matter most, and the advice they wish they’d had starting out. We also get real about burnout, balance, and staying grounded over the long haul.

Tune in to hear practical tips, candid stories, and inspiration for building a purposeful career in sustainability.

In this episode, we are joined by Michelle Midanier (Atlanta, Georgia) and Leif Olson (Fayetteville, Arkansas) to talk climate action planning.  The conversation built from where were we in the late 2010's to now, what has been added, how to integrate climate action plans with other strategic plans, and how about funding?  These great guests cover that and more in this episode of GreenMinds.  Enjoy!  

Fayetteville, Arkansas Sustainability 

Atlanta's Mayor's Office of Sustainability and Resilience

In this episode, Dr. Shaleen Miller with Winston Salem and I tackle what we love about SSDN member and talk with Rebecca Coplin, Beautification Project Manager for the City of High Point NC, who is considering SSDN membership.  We talk about the traditional and non-traditional benefits of SSDN, gush about our relationship building and connections, talk about grant support, and more.  If you are not a member of SSDN, consider listening to all the benefits and let's sing you up :).  For those of us who are members or know someone who isn't sure about membership, may not have a sustainability position, etc., please share this one wide as we celebrate this great organization.  

As always, please send topic ideas to robyn.byers@charlottenc.gov.  Have a great one! 

This episode is a longer one - I just couldn't cut it down any more than just shy of an hour.  Settle in and get ready for a packed episode where co-host Jessica Reid (Sustainability Analyst, City of Raleigh, NC and author of Planet Now) and I chat with Anthony Flaccavento (Rural Urban Bridge Initiative - RUBI) on how we can better communicate about sustainability.  Enjoy this candid episode full of tips!

As always, please send topic ideas to robyn.byers@charlottenc.gov.  Have a great one! 

Rural Urban Bridge Initiative

This episode is a dose of laughter straight from our members.  Welcome special co-host for this episode, Dr. Shaleen Miller, and I as we talk about funny moments we've had, and invite two members to share their funniest moments.  Takeaways from this episode, check what other groups have the acronym you're hoping to use before you confirm committee names, search for context clues when talking to someone you don't recognize, Always have a re-usable cup and/or bag on you just in case, and have lemons on hand if you tangle with worms.   

Enjoy!

As always, please send topic ideas to robyn.byers@charlottenc.gov.  Have a great one! 

This episode is a short primer for the fall season of the SSDN Green Minds podcast.  We start with host Robyn Byers sharing a quick recap from the SSDN Annual Conference, held in Charlotte last May.  We even reveal who was "A Spy" for the Charlotte trivia game ;).  There's a short review of what's coming up for the fall episodes and we close out with quotes from you, our network, captured from the conference of your favorite bits.  

Enjoy jumping back in this fall and we can't wait to continue sharing.  

Email any topic ideas to robyn.byers@charlottenc.gov.  

Thank you!  

 

Related Links: 

Innovation Barn: https://www.envisioncharlotte.com/innovation-barn/

Join us for this half hour dedicated to trees and urban heat in an urban setting.  We are joined by Dr. Vivek Shandas with Portland State University, Victoria Aguilar - Asst. City Arborist for the City of Charlotte, and Erin Oliverio - Division Manager with the City of Charlotte's Landscape Management team.  

Thank you!

Related Links:

Charlotte's Renew Brew

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story

In this short episode, we share the responses we received from SSDN members on what gives them hope to continue working in sustainability. Through our philosophical musings, we come to suggest a "word of the year" for 2024. 

Is your organization struggling to access federal funding? Michael Dexter and Nick Deffley with the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network present the Inflation Reduction Act and the assistance services provided by the Local Infrastructure Hub. 

 

Links mentioned in this episode

SSDN's Grant Opportunity Database: https://www.southeastsdn.org/programs/ssdns-federal-programs/southeast-sustainable-recovery-center-ssrc/

SSDN's Local Infrastructure Hub: https://www.southeastsdn.org/programs/ssdns-federal-programs/local-infrastructure-hub-cohorts/ 

LIH Factsheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wqpwul1xK-7Uo9LI1KYQbCdiRR-wY9H-/view?usp=sharing 

SSDN's Green Minds rebooted! We welcome a new co-host, Dr. Robyn Byers (Sustainability and Resilience Manager, Charlotte, NC), and we are slightly changing the format of the podcast to be more engaging.

In this conversation, we speak with Laura Thomas, Director of the Office of Sustainability for Richmond, VA, about the recently adopted Climate Equity Action Plan 2030.

Also mentioned in this episode: Charlotte's Strategic Energy Action Plan