Events
Thursday, May 21, 2020 - 10:00am
Join us at location XYZ to talk about lowering barriers to participation.
Saturday, February 24, 2018 - 10:00am
The New England Grassroots Environment Fund and its partners are hosting an interactive discussion to engage a broad range of perspectives in generating creative climate change solutions that address local social and environmental issues in Maine. Whether you are involved in agriculture, housing, local economies, energy, or another community issue we invite you to share with us what you see happening in your community and to co-create ideas for sustainable and inclusive community efforts.
Thursday, November 30, 2017 - 12:00pm to Saturday, December 2, 2017 - 3:00pm
Join fellow community organizers, nonprofit leaders, Grassroots Fund grantees, and passionate students on November 30 - December 2 at Radisson Hotel in Manchester, NH for the annual RootSkills Conference, as part of the Grassroots Fund's 2017 RootSkills Training Series. This year's series theme is "Building Resilient Communities". We welcome you to learn, share, & work together to develop actionable, holistic strategies that create more inclusive communities & programs. At this event, we’ll be grappling with tough questions, sharing inspiring solutions, and looking to hear from YOU!
Thursday, June 15, 2017 - 4:00pm to 6:00pm
YardScaping inspires property owners to create and maintain healthy landscapes that minimize reliance on water, fertilizer, and pesticides. A diverse team of volunteers from Maine public, private, profit and non-profit organizations created this educational project to showcase the possibilities for attractive, low-input, and low-impact gardening. The landscape is a series of linked gardens, from a small, pocket urban garden, to a free-flowing wild garden. Read more and register.
Saturday, April 22, 2017 - 10:00am to 3:00pm
All Welcome!. Join your neighbors, NGOS, scientists, and businesses
committed to protecting the planet and the principles of science
and those of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle... Restore, Repair, Replenish!
Follwed by, in solidarity with the March for Science in DC, & in observance of Earth Day, let’s demonstrate our shared commitment to a healthy and temperate planet Earth.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm
During this webinar, participants will learn step-by-step where to look for major donors, how to get a meeting, and how to make a compelling pitch to build money for your movement.
Thursday, April 27, 2017 - 7:30am to Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 4:30am
Island Energy Conference: Charting Transitions will bring together 150 island leaders and energy experts from New England and beyond to discuss common energy challenges and the resources available to address them.
This year’s event will highlight how islands are charting the course toward a sustainable energy future, mapping out their transitions to clean energy systems that strengthen local communities and economies. Join us to connect with the leaders of these places and experts from the field at the region’s premier forum on community-based energy solutions.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017 - 12:00pm
As the Northeast coordinates to build a regional food system, a central focus is on racial equity. In communities all across the region, groups are working on food justice. In this webinar, we will hear from 2 organizers: Isa Mujahid (CTCORE-Organize Now!, Bridgeport CT) and Heather Foran (Portland ME). Through their grassroots efforts in their communities, Heather and Isa both are actively transforming the New England food system and raising and reflecting on struggles, challenges and questions to guide future work. This webinar creates space to share some of the questions and reflections.
Sunday, March 5, 2017 - 8:00am to 6:00pm
where activists from across the state can gather to:
- Strategize about the future, particularly on how to build a movement across lines of race, class, and gender
- Learn basic skills (like working with the media and conducting direct actions)
- Cohere around a vision of what we can be for (not just against)
- Make sure our movements impact upcoming elections
We are inviting over 100 organizations and key individuals with large networks in Maine to attend (see next page for the list—growing hourly!). Due to space limitations, we must cap registration at 1,000. Lunch, interpreter services, childcare will be available. The registration fee is on a sliding scale; while we must raise money to cover the basic costs, no one will be turned away for financial reasons.
We are inviting your organization to become an official Partner for this summit. Partner organizations will have the opportunity to share with the broader activist community the work they are currently doing, and explain how people can get involved with their organization/network. We will conduct at least a dozen breakout trainings, and have many opportunities for organizations to contribute their expertise throughout the day, if you are interested. There is no fee for being listed as a partner, although we do appreciate donations, as this event will likely cost over $25,000 to convene. All Partners will be featured in a program book distributed in everyone’s packets. On a sliding scale, you may purchase a table to display organizational materials during registration and lunch.
Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 2:00pm to 6:30pm
Join fellow nonprofit leaders, Grassroots Fund grantees, and passionate students on April 29, 2017 at the University of Southern Maine (Portland, ME) for the second RootSkills In-Person Training, as part of the Grassroots Fund's 2017 RootSkills Training Series. This year's series theme is "Building Resilient Communities". We welcome you to learn, share, & work together to develop actionable, holistic strategies that create more inclusive communities and programs. At this event, we’ll be grappling with tough questions, sharing inspiring solutions, and looking to hear from YOU!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm
RESIST WEBINAR -- This presentation will be a brief journey looking at how our current system of government and law have evolved to protect wealth and privilege over community self-government; we'll look at how corporations have received more rights and protections than those of you living in your community; and we'll look at how communities have pushed back against these oppressive structures to reclaim democratic self-government in the their communities.
Friday, March 31, 2017 - 9:00am to 4:00pm
For 35 years Andy Robinson has worked with a variety of nonprofits as a fundraiser, facilitator, trainer, and community organizer. Andy has provided support to thousands of nonprofit staff and volunteer leaders in 47 U.S. states and Canada, and specialized in the needs of those working for human rights, social justice, artistic expression, environmental conservation, and community development.
Topics to be covered in this day-long workshop include:
* Memberships/donations
* Getting board members involved in fundraising
* Grants
* Events
* Larger gifts
* Making money with income-generating activities
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Are you a nonprofit or volunteer group who is interested in taking a more holistic approach to your community-based work? Or someone who is interested in receiving financial support for your community event, tool, or program? The New England Grassroots Environment Fund invites you to join our Executive Director, Julia Dundorf, on January 9, 2018, to learn about our Guiding Principles for strong community organizing that increases your impact and revenue. Julia will be joined by Program Director, Nakia Navarro and Program Manager, Ally Philip, who will share available opportunities for support from the Grassroots Fund, from grants to stipends to sponsorship.
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 - 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Come hear several Maine solar energy experts discuss how solar panels work, what makes a good site, how much solar systems typically cost, how solar owners are compensated for the power they generate, what financing options and incentives are available, and what the future of solar looks like.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Agenda Items:
Energy Benchmarking Project
BioEnergy Potential
Plans for the next Community Solar Farm
Solarize MDI
Tuesday, January 17, 2017 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm
RESIST WEBINAR -- During this webinar, participants will learn how grassroots groups can use online organizing tactics to boost their campaign and build community power. We’ll learn how to think about online organizing as a simple extension of what you already do on the ground, and walk through which tools and tactics to use in different campaign scenarios. Toxics Action Center’s Communications Directorm Katelyn Parady, and 350NH Interim Coordinator, Griffin Sinclair-Wingate, will lead this webinar using recent examples from community groups organizing to create safer and more sustainable communities in New England.
Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 8:15am
The 2017 New England Farm to Institution Summit will bring together more than 500 people who are leveraging the power of schools, colleges and hospitals to transform our food system.
Monday, October 17, 2016 - 8:00am to Wednesday, October 19, 2016 - 2:30pm
The Greater Boston Region (Massachusetts, USA) has been selected as the host for ReuseConex 2016, the fourth International Reuse Conference and Expo. The event, taking place October 17-19, 2016 at the Holiday Inn Boston-Bunker Hill, will feature professional training opportunities with experts from the reuse industry as well reuse-based exhibitors, a reuse documentary film screening, and tours of local reuse organizations. This year’s conference theme is Leveraging REUSE in a Circular Economy, which will focus on bringing real-world reuse practices to life.
Thursday, October 6, 2016 - 9:30am to 4:00pm
This Third Sector New England session will offer participants a Communications Strategy and Timeline, a draft of an Editorial Calendar for content creation and promotion, and multiple real-world examples from nonprofits kicking butt in their communications and marketing.
Monday, July 18, 2016 - 12:15pm
Join people from across the Northeast and beyond for a three-day celebration of the grassroots organic movement. Here learning is a community action – with amazing farmers, presenters, seminars, workshops, food and fun. Immerse yourself with like-minded practitioners and curious learners eager to share their inspiration and ideas for organic food, farming, health, activism, and beyond.
For more information, visit www.nofasummerconference.org
Saturday, April 9, 2016 - 12:30pm to Sunday, January 8, 2017 - 12:30pm
Cooperative Design Lab (CDL) is 9-month cooperative development program serving cooperative projects in any stage of formation. Originally a collaborative between the Resilience Hub, Cooperative Fermentation, and Cooperative Development Institute, Design Lab is now in its second year running and is the only program of its kind offered in the Northeast.
In CDL, participants will gain the knowledge, skills and capacity to start, operate, lead, and enliven a cooperative project. Through the course, participants will:
- Go through a step-by-step process to make a cooperative project happen
- Discern appropriate organizational structures for their project
- Learn tools for cooperative leadership and management
- Connect to mentors, coaching and technical assistance
- Explore the role of cooperatives in building a resilient economy
Friday, May 6, 2016 - 7:00pm to Saturday, May 7, 2016 - 4:30pm
Join fellow community volunteers, farmers, fisherpeople, teachers, and interested individuals for a day of trainings, designed especially for communtiy groups! Join us on May 7th for our Keynote Speaker, Leah Penniman, three food-focused workshops, and an afternoon of volunteering and connecting at Galego Community Farm.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 - 12:00am to Monday, April 25, 2016 - 12:00am
It is with great excitement that we invite you to apply for the second annual Northeast Jam - a five day gathering of 30 dynamic and diverse changemakers for deep listening, learing, storytelling, systemic inquiry, and community building.
Sunday, March 13, 2016 - 12:00am
Local Environmental Action 2016 is a great opportunity to join community leaders, environmental advocates and activists from across New England for an exciting day of skills training, networking, and inspiration. Whether you have been to every conference or are attending for the first time, be sure not to miss this amazing opportunity to connect and grow our grassroots movement.
Thursday, January 28, 2016 - 12:00pm to 1:15pm
“What could an inclusive community garden, food forest, or permaculture project look like?"
“How can we attract and retain members from different class, race, and gender backgrounds?”
“Why should we focus on creating a more just, equitable food system?”
This webinar is targeted towards community groups across New England that have asked themselves one or more of these questions. Facilitated by Shane Lloyd of Class Action, this webinar will help groups address the above questions, identify barriers that diminish their work and offer tools to build alliances for social change. We will also hear from groups working on the ground and learn from their first-hand experiences in this movement.
This webinar is brought to you in partnership with our friends at the Vermont Community Garden Network.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016 - 12:00pm
You can't manage what you don't measure! The first step to a community energy efficiency plan is benchmarking current energy use. Sign up for this webinar for an update on ENERGY STAR's free benchmarking software, Portfolio Manager, now easier to use and more fun than ever!
Sunday, January 24, 2016 - 3:00pm
A Climate to Thrive (ACT) aims to build Mount Desert Island's local economy and make the island a leader in carbon reduction practices and policies. Hosted by the MDI Climate Solution's group, ACT will move the island towards energy independence and adressing the issue of climate change to benefit the land, improve public helathy, and strengthen the community.
Be part of the conversation, the action and the solution! Join the launch event on Sunday, January 24 from 3:00pm-6:00pm at the Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor. This event will include a keynote by Venu Rao of the Hollis (NH) Energy Committee, food, live music, and much more!
Monday, October 26, 2015 - 2:00pm
In this webinar we’ll explore strategies to connect and integrate cooperative economics with grassroots political power-building for a more just and sustainable economy. The panelists explore connections between community organizing and building models for the future that meet our own needs.
Thursday, September 24, 2015 - 12:00pm
In Co-ops 101 we’ll hear stories from two inspiring worker-owned co-ops, CERO and Toxic Soil Busters, and a resident-owned housing co-op, RAISE-Op about their work, background and reasons for forming a co-op. Facilitator Jonathan Rosenthal, Executive Director of the New Economy Coalition and Co-founder of Equal Exchange will lead a discussion about the basic principles of cooperative ownership—what it entails and how it works, as well as an overview of different cooperative models, such as worker, consumer, and housing co-ops.
Thursday, September 17, 2015 - 12:00am to Monday, September 21, 2015 - 12:00am
Join us on the Northeast Climate Ride and help us raise funds for grassroots sustainability initiatives throughout New England! From September 17th - 21st we'll be riding 390 miles along the beautiful North Atlantic coastline from Bar Harbor, ME to Boston, MA.
Saturday, September 12, 2015 - 9:30am to 4:00pm
"Does your group struggle with recruiting and retaining members from different class & race backgrounds?"
Co-sponsors: New England Resilience & Transition (NERT) network, Vital Communities, VT Community Garden Network
This workshop builds on insights from the groundbreaking new book, "Missing Class: Strengthening Social Movement Groups by Seeing Class Cultures," this highly participatory workshops, created by activists for activists, enables participants to look through a class lens at their own community work, and offers tools to build alliances for change across race and class.
Through this process, activists and community organizers can learn how to address class barriers that hamper their effectiveness and come together to win more gains. Participants will leave knowing how to:
Identify activist class culture differences;
Gain cultural competence to draw from the strengths of all class cultures;
Create an organizational culture that is fully welcoming and respectful of all race and class backgrounds;
Amplify the voices of people of color, working-class and poor activists to build stronger a stronger movement.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015 - 12:00pm
Solarize Upper Valley has helped residents in 24 towns go solar - over 300 residents to date and over 450 expected by the end of the year. What's the secret to their success? Join us to find out. We'll hear from Vital Communities, the nonprofit responsible for coordinating Solarize Upper Valley, as well as the volunteer-installer team who brought Solarize to Randolph, Brookfield, and Braintree last winter. Many communities are launching Solarize campaigns across the Northeast, yours could be next.
Presenters:
Sarah Simonds, Vital Communities
Kevin McCollister, Catamount Solar
Pete Thoenen, Randolph Energy Committee
Friday, June 26, 2015 - 12:00pm
Climate change. Superstorms. Power outages. Toxic spills. Fire. Our communities face ever-worsening disasters. Most towns have emergency response and hazard mitigation plans, but it’s impossible to anticipate everything. The best solution is to build resilience – the ability for community members to come together and solve whatever problems come their way. That involves work projects to lessen the impact of disasters, while also building self-reliance and stronger community connections.
Community Resilience Organizations (CROs) are local teams, appointed by the town legislative body, that engage residents and town leaders in tasks aimed to lessen losses via climate adaptation, disaster preparedness and hazard mitigation, while strengthening local collaboration and social cohesion. CROs build connections between the silos of passionate volunteers in conservation, emergency response and social services, bringing them together to build collaborative projects. By leveraging resources and gaining wider community participation, the impact is magnified. Through an annual Day for CROing, teams engage youth and the broader community to collaborate on critical projects that will make the town stronger and safer, while simultaneously including celebration to add fun and build community.
Join us to learn about this Vermont pilot project begun in six towns this year, and how it's working across a range of very different communities.
Saturday, October 31, 2015 - 12:00am
Co-sponsor: New England Resilience & Transition (NERT) network
Join fellow community innovators & activists for a day of skills-sharpening, designed especially for the grassroots! Come celebrate community action, share stories, learn and reflect on different skills that make us successful. The RootSkills Networking & Training retreat is intended to re-invigorate us all, gives us a chance to reflect on our work, and work on the skills we need to be successful. It is also a great chance to connect with other community leaders, share ideas, and relax.
Friday, November 13, 2015 - 12:00am to Saturday, November 14, 2015 - 12:00am
The North-East Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG)'s annual It Takes a Region Conference takes on the 12-state Northeast region from Maine to West Virginia. By taking a regional approach, we can grow our thinking and our work to develop a truly sustainable and resilient food system.
Friday, October 23, 2015 - 12:00am to Saturday, October 24, 2015 - 12:00am
Connecting for Change presented by the Marion Institute is an annual solutions based gathering that brings together a diverse audience to create deep and positive change in their communities.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015 - 12:00am to Friday, June 5, 2015 - 12:00am
A mindful exploration of the journey of food, from farming and food entrepreneurship to food systems to nourishment to food justice and policy.
Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 10:00am to 4:00pm
For grassroots groups focused on Transition, community resilience, environmental justice, new economy, permaculture, sustainability, local energy, local food, time banking, and more
Saturday, November 1, 2014 - 12:00am
In this interactive workshop, join peers working in local energy, food, and other community-based initiatives in New Hampshire to learn practical, powerful techniques to: Develop shared vision and strategic clarity; Gather the input and ideas of many people; Connect and empower people working for change; and Learn together and adapt.
Friday, October 24, 2014 - 12:00am to Saturday, October 25, 2014 - 12:00am
Friday, October 17, 2014 - 5:00pm to Sunday, October 19, 2014 - 12:30pm
The Summit is a multi-day event where people from across New England working to achieve environmental justice will come together to share stories, build the regional environmental justice movement, and celebrate victories.
Sunday, September 21, 2014 - 12:00am
With the whole world watching, people are taking a stand to bend the course of history. They’ll take to the streets to demand the world we know is within reach: a world with an economy that works for people and the planet; a world safe from the ravages of climate change; a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities.
Saturday, November 15, 2014 - 6:00pm
Seeds & Songs of Change - A musical event to illustrate the intersection of music and social change; an opportunity to honor all the local groups the Fund has partnered with over the past 18 years; a good bye to Founding Director, Cheryl King Fischer; and a welcome to the Fund’s next ED.
Friday, October 3, 2014 - 9:00pm
This event brings together passionate and inspiring leaders who work collaboratively on social, economic and environmental initiatives that strengthen organizations and communities.
Friday, November 7, 2014 - 12:00am to Saturday, November 8, 2014 - 12:00am
The goal of the event is to provide an opportunity for New England island residents to discuss common energy challenges and learn more about resources that exist to address these challenges.
Saturday, July 12, 2014 - 12:00am
Monday, May 19, 2014 - 12:00am to Wednesday, May 21, 2014 - 12:00am
Antioch University New England and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Regions 1 and 2 are hosting a regional conference for local planners, decision-makers and educators to understand how to create healthy resilient communities that are better prepared to handle severe weather and climate impacts.
