Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN)

Hey #hefn2024 — on whose shoulders do you stand in your work toward environmental health and justice? Ancestors, allies, elders? For many in this work, both in North Carolina and across the country, that person is Naeema Muhammad, advisor and organizing co-director for the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (NCEJN). Together with her family, colleagues and mentees, we were deeply honored to present Naeema with the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award for Environmental Health & Justice. The award celebrates her role in birthing the EJ movement as we know it and her many decades of making good trouble on behalf of Black, Brown, working class people and neighborhoods standing tall against polluting and exploitative giants. "I did the work because it was what I believed in and what I enjoyed doing," Naeema reflects. "I believe people have a right to clean air, clean water, protection of their property values, and a quality of life. They shouldn't have to negotiate for these things."

🛠 “There isn’t one path to winning. We need everything everywhere all at once.” #hefn2024 Day one of the Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN) Annual Meeting, together with Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders (SAFSF), brought attendees to Sampson County, NC, to witness up close how industrial-scale animal feeding operations and corporate monopolies conspire against the health and agency of communities at every turn. The bigger story? Here in the birthplace of environmental justice, local EJ and farmer justice groups, faith leaders, and sustainable Black food businesses weave together legal action, research, and public outreach to fight back...and win.

Happy Children's Environmental Health Day from HEFN! Children's Environmental Health Day (CEH Day) is a rallying point for education, for celebration, and for individuals and organizations to take action on behalf of children’s environmental health. October 10th, 2024 will be the 9th annual CEH Day. The children’s environmental health community champions access to clean air and water, safer food and products, and healthy environments for all children to thrive. While significant strides have been made in the protection of children from the effects of environmental health hazards over the past several decades, there are still troubling lapses in our ability to provide every child with safe environments within which to live, learn, and play. The climate crisis is a threat multiplier for children, exacerbating current environmental health hazards and inequities and impacting their mental health. A recognized barrier to acting on children’s environmental health issues is oftentimes a lack of awareness and understanding of children’s environmental health. The recognition of CEH Day is a stepping stone towards further actions to: reduce children’s exposure to environmental hazards, educate parents and others charged with safeguarding a child’s welfare, and generate the momentum necessary to keep children at the center of all decision-making. Together, we can safeguard the health, safety, and well-being of our most precious resource: children Learn more about CEH Day here: https://ow.ly/4KXc50TIhFC

Curious about the upcoming 2024 elections' impact on health, environment and climate? 🤔 Join us for an interactive 90-minute workshop on Oct. 7 at 12:30 p.m. ET! We’ll discuss what’s at stake in the upcoming elections and explore how funders can engage post-election to amplify their values and priorities in ways that advance just outcomes for health, environment, climate and community 🌍 We welcome funders of all experience levels — come prepared to learn, reflect and exchange ideas with fellow philanthropic colleagues 🤝 This workshop is offered by the Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN) and co-sponsored by Neighborhood Funders Group, The Funders Network and Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders (SAFSF). 👉 Register now and learn more: https://bit.ly/3Y0v07g #philanthropy

Thanks, Katy Love for highlighting all the juicy bits of this Philanthropy New York webinar on participatory philanthropy, featuring Sabrina Hargrave from Brooklyn Org and Eileen Farbman from Kolibri Foundation sharing their experiences. https://lnkd.in/enMsPgTR Jonathan Brack, Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN), Philanthropy Massachusetts, Philanthropy West Virginia, Wisconsin Philanthropy Network #ParticipatoryGrantmaking #FunderListening

🌍 NC Environmental Justice Win 🌍 We’re excited to share that a major agreement has been reached between EJCAN and GFL, ensuring that North Carolina’s largest landfill will cease pollution and take steps to address environmental injustice! This milestone is a powerful example of the environmental justice work happening in NC. 💪 Landfills contribute to 14% of U.S. methane emissions and can severely impact water and soil quality in nearby communities. After decades of advocacy, the Environmental Justice Community Action Network (EJCAN) and its partners have achieved a significant victory at the Sampson County landfill, one of the largest in the nation. On September 3, they secured major commitments from the operator for enhanced pollution monitoring, prevention, clean-up efforts, and reparations for the affected community. Join us next month at the Annual Meeting to hear from leaders like Sherri White-Williamson, Executive Director of EJCAN, as they discuss this recent win and ongoing EJ campaigns across the state. You won’t want to miss it! https://ow.ly/pvgj50TAgF4 #EnvironmentalJustice #EJNC #AnnualMeeting #EJWins

WEBINAR REMINDER 🔊🌍✊ As the upcoming elections approach, are you wondering how we can build lasting political power for communities fighting for environmental health and climate justice? Join us tomorrow for a powerful conversation with leaders from Coming Clean and the Environmental Justice Health Alliance as they share lessons from decades of grassroots organizing and policy advocacy across four federal administrations. 📅 Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how these networks are working strategically to shape a stronger climate and chemical safety future—and how funders can support grassroots power-building in a way that’s collaborative and impactful. Register here: https://ow.ly/E7h550TuAn4 #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateJustice #PowerBuilding #GrassrootsLeadership #Funders#ClimateAction

New Webinar Alert 🔊🌍✊ As the upcoming elections approach, are you wondering how we can build lasting political power for communities fighting for environmental health and climate justice? Join a powerful conversation with leaders from Coming Clean and the Environmental Justice Health Alliance as they share lessons from decades of grassroots organizing and policy advocacy across four federal administrations. 📅 Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how these networks are working strategically to shape a stronger climate and chemical safety future—and how funders can support grassroots power-building in a way that’s collaborative and impactful. Register here: https://ow.ly/E7h550TuAn4 #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateJustice #PowerBuilding #GrassrootsLeadership #Funders #ClimateAction

Let's talk about the power of inter-generational transitions. Because of longstanding inequities, many of our most beloved elders in the fight for #environmentalhealth and #environmentaljustice are struggling to step away from their work with ease—with dire consequences for the movement. How did we get here? What can philanthropy do to strengthen the lineage of leadership and give back to those who've given so much? Read Ansje Miller's latest:

🚀 **Dive Deep into Environmental Justice & Sustainable Agriculture!** 🌿 Join us on Monday, October 28th, for an insightful day of in-person programming before the Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN) Annual Meeting in Durham, NC. Co-sponsored by the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) this event promises a rich exploration into the intersections of Environmental Justice and Sustainable Agriculture. 📍 **Location:** Sampson County, NC 🗓️ **Date:** October 28, 2024 Discover firsthand the impacts of hog and poultry CAFOs on communities and the environment, delve into corporate consolidation issues, and evaluate the effectiveness of so-called renewable biogas. Learn how these factors influence sustainable food systems and the importance of supporting regenerative agriculture on a smaller scale. 🌱 **Why Attend?** Whether you're coming from an Environmental Health, Environmental Justice, or Food Systems perspective, this visit will offer valuable insights into how communities are striving for resilience amidst complex challenges. 🔗 **Space is Limited – Register Now!** Secure your spot for this engaging program before the Annual Meeting. If the event reaches full capacity, a waitlist will be available. https://ow.ly/Na5550ToFCu For more information or to add this pre-meeting visit to your registration, please reach out to HEFN’s Director of Programs, Kalila Booker-Cassano, at kbc@hefn.org. Not able to attend the pre-meeting visit? No worries – we look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting! Explore the topics covered with these resources: - [Align RNG breaks ground on North Carolina's largest biogas project] (https://lnkd.in/evjYeKXF) - [Hog farming has a massive poop problem] (https://lnkd.in/e3JZQ8Ma) #EnvironmentalJustice #SustainableAgriculture #FoodSystems #HEFN2024 #SAFSF #CommunityResilience