Superintendent Network’s Post

We work with businesses across the food value chain, from growers to restaurateurs. We look for businesses making a significant, positive impact in their communities. What does this look like? It's businesses that provide fair-wage jobs and opportunities for advancement. 💪 Businesses committed to local sourcing and supporting fellow Michigan farmers and businesses. 🚜 Businesses advancing racial and social equity. 🤝 Businesses committed to environmental resilience, minimizing waste and caring for our lands. If you’re ready to get the funding your business needs while also making a positive local impact, let’s get started. Learn more about who we support: https://lnkd.in/gXK57yG3

 🔋 Deadline Extended for Bias Bounty 3! Now January 24, 2025, at 11:59:59 PM ET.  💻 Join us for a Power Hour Q&A session! We’ll be hosting a live virtual session to answer your questions and dive deeper into the challenge next Tuesday, January 14th, from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM EST. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect and get insights! Take on the challenge of "Ensuring Fair, Biophysically Informed, and Community-Driven Tree Planting Site Recommendations" and compete for $10,000 in prizes! Whether you're an individual or part of a team, this is your chance to: - Develop innovative tree planting site solutions. - Mitigate bias in decision-making processes. - Respect local livelihoods while promoting fairness. With three levels—Thought Leadership, Beginner Technical, and Intermediate Technical—there’s a path for everyone to contribute meaningfully.   👉 Sign up today and help shape the future of reforestation efforts!   🔗 Find the link in the comments to learn more, register, and mark your calendar for the Q&A session.

What does it take to transform a downtown community? Collaboration, vision, and dedication. Learn how Menomonie Market Food Co-op is setting the standard for regional cooperation. Explore their impact: https://lnkd.in/eWWDSMAs

Want to know more about why human-wildlife conflict is a complicated issue, and how simple technical fixes may not work as well as expected? Then join this webinar on Tuesday, 21st May hosted by ShareScreen Africa. Register here: https://lnkd.in/dTKV5NXe

Great to be part of a diverse panel at yesterday's letsrecycle.com national conference discussing priorities for the next government for the waste and resources strategy. To summarise my thoughts:- 1) Avoid backsliding with recycling performance - Let's protect good performance where it exists already so we don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. Aluminium packaging is already achieving great recycling rates and beverage cans are at 82% recycling rate; let's not jeopardise that! 2) Injecting some speed, not haste – difficult to support EPR more than conceptually right now, as we don’t know some very important information (like how it’s going to be governed and how much it’s going to cost!). We need detail to be published ASAP so it can be examined, debated and the feedback used to improve things. With a DRS, we need to get on with that urgently, pending my final point… 3) Inspire confidence, set the tone – the Scottish DRS collapse had severe ramifications in the value chain, knocking confidence and undermining trust in these producer responsibility schemes despite industry buy-in. The next government must set their tone and priorities early to de-risk the process for producers and retailers, by working with devolved administrations to clarify the rules and most importantly stick to them so businesses can get on and invest in delivery and making the most of the opportunities. Other members of the panel Anna Willetts John Coates MCIWM Surabhin Chackiath and Peter Jones had some fascinating inputs of their own from their areas of expertise, ably chaired by Hattie Parke FCIWM. Thanks for sharing this picture John Coates MCIWM!

Watch as Chad Leman of the Illinois Pork Producers Association shares his journey from uncertainty to fully embracing NPPC's Strategic Investment Program (SIP). "At first, I wasn’t sure about SIP, but as I got more involved, it became clear how vital it is. As hog producers, we simply don’t have the time to go to the capitols and lobby for ourselves. We need NPPC staff building those relationships and advocating on our behalf," Chad explains. The SIP plays a crucial role in strengthening advocacy efforts and addressing policy threats that impact hog farmers across the nation. As Chad says, 'What you invest in SIP will bring great value to your farm today and, hopefully, to the next generation tomorrow.' Learn more about how SIP is making a difference for pork producers: https://bit.ly/NPPC-SIP

Thank you to the Environmental Funders Network for inviting me to talk on this critical panel. 🚨 Only 0.76% of climate funding goes to youth-led organisations and movements. 🚨 And yet, young people are the best placed to understand the needs and solutions to the climate crisis. We are disproportionally affected, and most at risk. And we hold the most energy, dynamism and empathy when it comes to creating a new world. We are better connected than any generation, and have a strong call for climate justice and equitable solutions, that needs to be embedded within all decision-making. So here is what I think needs to change: 🌎 funders need to re-consider their strategic priorities to fund youth-led movements. This means reconsidering their willingness to take risk. As I said during this panel, ‘I am an expert on how to inspire and empower young people to take climate action, but I do not have 10+ years in HR, finance, governance or accounting. Often, I find myself having to be something I am not just to convince funders that I am worth investing in.’ Young leaders should be trusted and funded to do what they are best at, not to waste half their time making strong financial forecasts or convincing funders that they know what they are doing. We often don’t have strong and tested organisational structure and processes, or Finance Managers, but we still get the job done and make disproportionate impact. 🌎 make application and reporting processes easier to navigate as a young person, especially from diverse backgrounds. Flexible reporting and applications, such as video formats, can often reflect our personalities and knowledge much better than a 10 page application form. When it comes to reporting and project funding, accepting that our dynamism and flexibility is part of our strength is critical. Funders should trust that we can make the best decisions as to how money can be spent, or how we can develop projects to have the most impact reactively over time. 🌎 youth need to be paid for their insights, time and opinions if they are truly going to be valued. In order to make the environment sector more diverse, then we must be remunerating young people for their time. Funders need to pay amounts that reflect this and not expect us to rely on volunteer time. To invite us to speak on panels or join advisory councils pro bono is taking advantage of our expertise and passion. Looking back on my teenage climate activism, I am appalled by how much I gave and sacrificed to impart knowledge and ideas that were then incorporated into organisations who never paid for my time or travel. At the time, I didn’t mind because I wanted to do good, but looking back, the adults in the room should have recognised that I deserved to be valued not just through words. 🌎more of the good stuff that some foundations are pioneering- youth boards and funds, open reporting, giving advice and not just money. Change is happening; it’s time to embrace it widely!

Join our CEO Kurt Rhea and Chad Hyslop at SAME's Federal Small Business Conference in New Orleans, where federal agencies meet innovative environmental service providers. Why this conference matters: 1) Direct access to key federal agencies including USACE, NAVFAC, DOE, and EPA 2) One-on-one appointments with government agencies and large businesses 3) Business opportunity sessions for upcoming federal contracts 4) Valuable networking with potential teaming partners 5) Latest updates on federal environmental service requirements As licensed experts in radiation safety, waste management, and environmental services, we're excited to explore how we can support federal agencies' environmental challenges. Want to schedule a meeting with Kurt or Chad during the conference? Looking to discuss potential teaming opportunities? Let us know down below!

Did you know there are different agencies, in the different nations responsible for caring, protecting and promoting our natural environment? In todays episode of Mind your Policy Language, our director Dewi gives you the rundown on who, what and where when it comes to caring for our natural environment.