River Voices: January 2025
Happy new year and welcome to the January 2025 edition of River Voices! This month, we’re looking at how to improve access to federal funding opportunities and sharing successes from groups who have been through the process. Plus our newest learning series launches next week!
Equitable and enduring solutions start with community – created with, by, and for the people most impacted. Across the US, there are communities facing air pollution, lack of access to clean drinking water, and extreme heat. At the same time, historic amounts of federal funding—in the billions—were made available to those communities, including for water infrastructure in a way that hadn’t been done before. Despite this influx of funding, many of the traditional barriers to accessing that money remained in place.
River Network has been directing national dollars to local communities for 25 years, through many federal programs; this month, learn about our most recent efforts to ensure these dollars are accessible for communities, making those equitable and enduring solutions possible.
“This isn’t just a funding program. It provides funding and capacity building. We have made a promise to support [applicants] throughout the implementation and execution of their projects, whether it is with technical aspects of their project or administrative needs of abiding by the agreements of the grant.”
–Diana Toledo, Senior Director of River Programs
“The people closest to an issue are often the people with the best perspective on how to fix it, while also caring for themselves.
We can’t discount the importance of lived experience with environmental issues, Indigenous ecological knowledge, and the grassroots.
We need to be pouring resources into these communities and following their lead to solve environmental issues from holistic perspectives.”
Campbell Simmons, one of this month’s At the Water Table hosts, is River Network’s Resilient Communities and Policy Associate.
Next week we are thrilled to launch our fourth trainings series on our Online Learning Platform – the Building Blocks of Trust.
Curious about what positive, progressive partnerships between these two parties may look like?
In this new series, developed in partnership with WaterNow Alliance, we dive into the specifics related to building these relationships sustainably and fairly and cover the foundations of building trust-based relationships between communities and water utilities.
Learn more about the Building Blocks of Trust training series.
Have you been curious about new federal funding opportunities, but worry that your organization can’t take on the administrative challenges? Here, Jerry Calderon at the Tataviam Land Conservancy (TLC) and Amanda Zeidner at the Council for Watershed Health (CWH) share their experiences securing federal funding, the challenges faced by community-based organizations, and the importance of diversifying funding sources for organizational sustainability. Hosted by River Network’s Renée Mazurek and Campbell Simmons, this conversation emphasizes the need for community engagement and equitable funding practices.
A Message from CEO Raj Shukla
This month marks a change in federal power. That does nothing to change the importance of people power.
We remain committed to strongly advocating for clean, safe, and accessible rivers and drinking water. We also stand ready to build bridges across distance and difference as opportunities arise. River Network has served as your partner over six administrations, and is ready to enter into a seventh with the local water leaders who play a critical role for rivers, streams, and the drinking water they gift us.
Our partnership remains steady despite shifting winds and currents, and we are grateful for the chance to continue our work for clean rivers and waters for all.
Federal Funding Toolbox: Funding Pathfinder Tool
In December, Accelerator for America and their partners at the Drexel University Nowak Metro Finance Lab launched the Funding Pathfinder through the Local Infrastructure Hub.
The Funding Pathfinder is a brief, interactive survey that uses local infrastructure project data to curate a bespoke collection of eligible federal funding programs for pursuit, as well as a wide array of published resources to aid grant preparation and research. The tool will be regularly updated with the latest data on included federal programs, and additional resources and programmatic information as they are developed.
Community-Centered Solutions for Green Gentrification and Displacement
January 9, 10a PT/1p ET
This webinar will review “Community-Centered Solutions for Green Gentrification and Displacement, An Equitable Development Toolkit.” Speakers will outline historical context, common barriers, and suggested practices for incorporating equity and equitable development into urban waters work.
Community Led Solutions in Floodplain Management
January 16, 12p PT/3p ET
Join the Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance’s (NFFA) second webinar. Hear from NFFA members who have worked directly with frontline communities most affected by flood risk. From the South Chicago suburbs to Carson City, Nevada, learn about best practices for centering communities when developing flooding solutions.
Register for Community Led Solutions in Floodplain Management.
Working at the Speed of Trust for Equitable Engagement (Part 1 of 2)
January 22, 9a PT/12p ET
How can environmental organizations build relationships that lead to authentic storytelling and engagement? In Part 1 of this two-part series, we’ll discuss practical tools and strategies to help you be a researcher of your own context. Learn how to create authentic engagement as a way to create programs that support change.
Register for Working at the Speed of Trust for Equitable Engagement.
Equitable Engagement in Practice (Part 2 of 2)
February 5, 9a PT/12p ET
In the final part of this equitable engagement series, we’ll practice centering environmental justice in an example organization. Participants will reflect on their current engagement strategies, priorities, and capacity. You’ll leave with a plan of action for building authentic relationships and creating impactful narratives that amplify community voices.
Rooting Justice: Funding for Community Forestry Projects
Justice Outside is excited to announce Rooting Justice, a new grant opportunity offering $50,000-$100,000 in funding for two-year urban forestry projects. Grants will range from $50,000 to $100,000, funding two-year projects with no matching fund requirement.
Hydro20 Nominations Are Now Open
Hydro20 is a new annual celebration of 20 individuals who are driving change, disrupting norms, and doing good for water sustainability across the United States. Now you can nominate an extraordinary person who has done exceptional work in any aspect of water.
Partners for Places Grant Application Now Open
Partners for Places aims to enhance local capacity to build equitable and sustainable communities in the United States and Canada. These matching awards support the planning and implementing of urban sustainability and green stormwater infrastructure projects.
American Rivers is Hiring: Northern Rockies Dam Removal Specialist
American Rivers is hiring a dam removal specialist to help launch a dam removal program in the Northern Rockies region. The position can be based in their Bozeman, MT office or in a home office anywhere in Montana, Idaho, or Wyoming.
Learn more and apply for the Dam Removal Specialist position.
What We’re Reading
- 🗞️ “A River in Washington State Now Has Enforceable Legal Rights” – this article from Inside Climate News details how voters in the city of Everett chose to grant the Snohomish River watershed rights to exist, regenerate and flourish as part of a November 2024 ballot initiative.
- 📖 The Serviceberry – Robin Wall Kimmerer’s latest book explores the gift economy and how we can orient our lives and work around reciprocity, gratitude, and community. Some of our staff were fortunate to hear her speak in conversation with Camille Dungy in December in Boulder, and highly recommend the book for the entire network!
- 📖 Something in the Woods Loves You – Jarod K. Anderson’s inspiring blend of nature writing and memoir that explores nature’s crucial role in our emotional and mental health, a great way to start off your new year!
