Sierra Club’s Post

Spring is nearly upon us. Time for the bloom of wildflowers and the hum of pollinators. Now is the time to ensure that #pollinators emerge into a world that supports them, not poison them. 🌻 Colorado is rich in opportunity, thanks in part to its diverse landscapes. Vast agricultural areas give way to the Rocky Mountains, where natural environments and recreation take precedence. Municipal managers need the freedom to navigate these landscapes, which often have diverse and sometimes competing requirements. Policies effective in agricultural regions may not always suit mountainous areas, and vice versa. 📣 This is a significant reason why we, at WILD, are supporting HB1178. Colorado is not a one-size-fits-all state, and neither are its citizens. To achieve policy balance that safeguards both our farms and wild areas, city managers must have the flexibility to adapt. Learn more about HB1178: https://lnkd.in/gqKUW65V Join us in urging these representatives to vote yes on HB1178: Eliza Hamrick: eliza.hamrick.house@coleg.gov William Lindstedt: william.lindstedt.house@coleg.gov Bob Marshall: bob.marshall.house@coleg.gov Brianna Titone: brianna.titone.house@coleg.gov #fothewild

From a predominantly agency-led practice to a statewide grassroots movement, prescribed fire has transformed significantly in California. Over the last few decades, there has been a massive shift to “reclaim fire as a tool for normal people,” according to Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Fire Network Director for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR). Her recent webinar on “California’s Prescribed Fire (R)evolution,” hosted by the California Fire Science Consortium, addresses the prescribed fire evolution/revolution in California and paths forward. Landowners, farmers, ranchers, and other community members are working together to conduct prescribed burns across the state. These informal, community-led movements have proved highly effective in changing how we think about and implement prescribed fire in California. Communities are demanding something different, and we shouldn’t underestimate the broader cultural and ecological implications of this local work. “That’s the cultural change that we need to allow for anything else to happen at a landscape level,” as Quinn-Davidson sees it. Visit the link below to view the full webinar: https://lnkd.in/gMZgwg6A #climateandwildfire #prescribedfire #firescience #firepractitioners #fireresilience #grassrootsmovement #communityengagement #communityorganizing #californiawildfire

Tomorrow, over one hundred NPCA staffers and dedicated volunteers are heading to Capitol Hill to push Congress to protect — and fund — our national parks. While NPCA meets with members of Congress and the administration regularly about challenges impacting our national parks, our annual lobby day gives park advocates from across the country the opportunity to collectively speak up for the future of their national parks and communities. National parks are reaching a critical breaking point from declining budgets and staff, skyrocketing visitation, cumulating maintenance needs and worsening climate disasters. The good news: There are solutions available for lawmakers to act on right now. We're focused on four key actions this Park Advocacy Week: 1. Increase park funding by at least $250 million to help bring back thousands of park staff 2. Extend the Great American Outdoors Act to help #FixOurParks 3. Preserve our history by enacting the Cultural Resource Challenge 4. Tell the story of all Americans by supporting individual bills that expand our National Park System, including the Big Bend National Park Boundary Adjustment Act, Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act and Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act. Learn more on our blog! #ParkAdvocacy #FundOurParks #ParkProtection #LobbyDay #HillDay #NationalParks #ParkAdvocate

Geauga County Ohio

It's spring & that means it's time for "spring clean-ups". As discussed in this article from @StrongTowns, neighborhood clean-ups strengthen community & perform a useful service at the same time. Learn what goes into a successful clean-up event here: https://zurl.co/vJeH

🚨 Community Spotlight: The Unsung Heroes of Ashland, Maine 🚨 In small towns like Ashland, Maine, individuals like Lendell Tarr play a vital role in keeping the community thriving. At 65, Lendell takes on numerous responsibilities such as being a recreation director, chauffeuring for the Little League, cleaning the town office, being a senior companion, looking after the cemetery grounds, and occasionally driving an ambulance and a school bus. However, with his growing attraction to fishing, the town is preparing for his eventual retirement. Town manager Cyr Martin emphasizes the challenge ahead: "He simply can’t retire. Finding someone else to do the lawn care and bus driving like Lendell does would be nearly impossible." Ashland is not the only town facing this issue. Small towns across the U.S. encounter a critical workforce challenge, relying heavily on multitasking heroes. For example, Jessica Jimmo manages roles as a deputy clerk, assistant librarian, and volunteer firefighter. Similarly, David Milligan serves as a police officer and town code enforcer. The struggle to retain and attract talent is not unique to Ashland. Rural communities everywhere grapple with the dual issues of aging populations and the difficulty of offering competitive salaries. This labor shortage puts essential services at risk, from local police to financial management, highlighting the need for innovative solutions. As we look to the future, it’s evident that we must find ways to support and retain the next generation of workers in our small towns. Let's celebrate and support these everyday heroes who keep our communities running. #CommunityHeroes #SmallTownUSA #WorkforceChallenges #LocalGovernments #PublicService

This issue of Louisa County's newsletter, The Informed Citizen, offers updates from departments including Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Community Development, General Services/the Animal Shelter, and Administration. It also features updates from the Louisa County Sheriff's Office, the Assessor's Office, and partners like the Louisa Arts Center, the Louisa County Historical Society, the Commission on Aging, JABA, the Louisa County Library, the Virginia Cooperative Extension, Firefly, and FFA. Each issue aims to communicate to citizens how their local government is working for them and provides useful partner resources. Featured in this issue: * Louisa County Photo Contest * Upcoming Events * Firefly Fiber Broadband's Progress in Numbers * Household Hazardous Waste Day * Community, Staff and Board Spotlights * What to Do If You Find a Lost Animal * Board of Supervisors Updates ... and more See past issues at https://lnkd.in/er3FMvju. Hard copies are available in the County Office Building (1 Woolfolk Ave, Louisa). See past issues at https://lnkd.in/er3FMvju. Sign up at https://lnkd.in/gjydJjZR to receive email or text notifications of new issues.

Register now for FORVIS’ webinar to gain an understanding of the Community Reinvestment Act final rule update as well as where it can be applied. See the agenda for more.

How will agencies define and measure performance standards for CRA regulations? There's talk of financial inclusion efforts with Minority Depository Institutions and Community Development Financial Institutions and in Native Land Areas, persistent poverty areas, and other high-need areas, but I'm very curious to see how this unfolds. #affordablehousing

Are you prepared for the latest shifts in the Community Reinvestment Act? Check out our latest blog, which unpacks the updated rule’s scope, key tenets, and the critical steps you'll need to take to stay compliant.