Collective Strategy
RE-AMP Steering Committee
We are thrilled to announce the following RE-AMP Network members have declared their candidacy for the 2023 Steering Committee elections! There are currently five open seats for the RE-AMP Steering Committee, and nine excellent candidates are currently in the running. You can learn about the candidates in the 2023 RE-AMP Steering Committee Candidate Statements. Candidates are listed in a random order.
1. Deb Nemeth, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin
2. Devero Yellow Earring, North Dakota Native Vote
3. SeMia Bray, Black Environmental Leaders Association
4. Montre Jermain Moore, Wisconsin NAACP
5. Edyta Sitko, Union of Concerned Scientists
6. Andrew Butts, Green Neighbor Challenge
7. Sarah Dehart Faltico, Climate + Energy Project
8. Pastor Booker S. Vance, Elevate
9. Gregory Norris, A.C.E.S. 4 Youth
Thank you for running!
Ballots will be sent to the primary contacts of Full Member organizations on June 1st and they will be able to cast their ballots until June 14, 2023 at 6:00 PM Central Time. You can learn about the candidates in the 2023 RE-AMP Steering Committee Candidate Statements. For more information about the 2023 Steering Committee elections, please see the 2023 election guide. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Ann Shanahan at sarah@reamp.org
Apply to Serve on RE-AMP’s Grants Committee by Gail Francis, RE-AMP Strategic Director
We’ll be releasing the RFP for the state collaboration grants soon, and in the fall we’ll release an RFP for regional Action Teams. The grant decisions are made by RE-AMP members like you. We are looking for a few people to join the grants committee. There is a small stipend of $500 for members to do this work.
What the grants committee does:
The committee reviews applications and makes grants decisions for two dockets. The first is for state-based collaboration related to our strategic priorities. This means reviewing proposals during the last two weeks of August, scoring them against the criteria, then joining a 4 hour call that we are proposing on Aug 30, with another 3 hour time slot on September 6 in case it is needed to make final decisions.
The second docket is for Action Teams. That’s our regional collaboration on our strategic priorities. That involves reviewing proposals the first two weeks of December and then having two 2-hour calls December 12 & 14 (note: depending on how many proposals we get, we may make these 3 hour calls).
What makes an ideal grants committee member?
We are looking for someone who will take the time to read all the applications with respect and an open mind. Someone who embraces RE-AMP’s values of community, collaboration, democracy, equity, justice, and scientific rigor. Someone who can hold themselves to the criteria that we promised our members we would judge the proposals by. It’s also important that you be willing to speak truthfully about your assessment, and that you hold conversations in confidence.
An absolutely ideal candidate would be one who is familiar with our state collaboration and action teams, but isn’t planning to apply this year for any grants. However, we do understand that not everyone will be familiar with both dockets, possibly not even familiar with either docket. We also understand that you may not know for sure now whether you will apply for a grant due in August or November and we do have a recusal process.
Why apply?
It’s definitely real work to be on this committee. But previous members have told us that it helped them build their leadership skills, that it helped them learn about amazing work and that what they learned helped them in their own work, and that they’ve appreciated being able to give back to their RE-AMP Network. And although we take the decisions very seriously, we do have fun as well.
How to apply
Just reach out to me at gail@reamp.org, or (715) 558-4544 by Wednesday, May 24. I can answer any questions you have. Once I know how many people are interested, I will either invite everyone to join, or have a conversation with each applicant to determine who is a best fit this year. New grants committee members will get an orientation to help you understand how everything works. Thanks for considering!
RE-AMP’s Energy Democracy Summit
After 4 years away from each other, RE-AMPers ushered in a new chapter of in-person collaboration and with May’s Energy Democracy Summit. Thirty folks across the RE-AMP footprint convened in Cleveland this May to share knowledge on our different approaches to growing community-driven solar and democratizing rural electric cooperatives. Guided by the 4 Ds of Energy Democracy – Democratized, Decentralized, (re)Distributed, and Diversified – we:
- Explored and embodied the systemic forces behind energy injustice, through reflection, dialogue, art, and skits;
- Investigated different models of community solar led by RE-AMPers and their advantages and barriers to success;
- Workshopped rural coop election tactics and potential levers in the Inflation Reduction Act to boost coops toward our North Star Goal;
- Visited the future site of Cleveland Owns’ cooperatively owned solar array in East Cleveland;
- And imagined not only what energy justice looks like years down the line, but the collective work we start now to make that vision a reality.
Curious about what came out of the summit and how to get involved? Join the Energy Democracy Hub and/or the Democratic Authenticity in Rural Electric Coops Working Group to stay up to date on other members’ work and hub offerings.
Opportunity to Engage on the Farm Bill!
As an identified priority area of the Food and Agricultures System Hub, RE-AMP members have been collaborating and connecting around the Farm Bill, an omnibus package of legislation that passes once every five years. The Farm Bill affects quite a few aspects of the Food and Agricultural System, from crop insurance and conservation funding for farmers/producers to food assistance dollars through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that impact millions of people.
With intent to bring more groups into this coalition, RE-AMP is currently accepting applications for up to $20,000 from members interested in engaging in education and outreach of the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill. We seek to further the goals of our coalition Farm Bill campaign platform through a variety of methods, including hosting People’s Farm Bill Hearings, convening and educating impacted constituencies, hosting town halls, strategically using social media, and more. We encourage all organizations interested in engaging on the Farm Bill to apply, regardless of prior work/level of expertise on the Farm Bill. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through June 30th. Click here to get more information and apply. Please reach out to erica@reamp.org with any questions.
Share Your Story! By Daniel Schoonmaker, West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
The RE-AMP Network is developing a framework for its members to collaboratively advance its mission of equitably eliminating greenhouse gas emissions in the Midwest through local and regional action to reduce methane emissions from landfills. In the coming months, RE-AMP will publish an assessment of opportunities based on two perspectives: state policies and local action. The Local Landfill Action Working Group is led by a partnership of Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, Minnesota Environmental Justice Table and SEEDS Ecology & Education. We are creating a power map of organizations advancing solutions for sustainable materials management and/or the closure of landfills and incinerators. This could include:
- Grassroots or grasstop efforts to promote extended producer responsibility,
- Community-based composting initiatives, Environmental justice campaigns opposing landfills or incinerators,
- Food waste education and advocacy,
- Local or regional recycling improvement organizing,
- Or any other planning or advocacy effort to reduce landfill emissions.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. We are hopeful to include as much of the great work that is happening in our network (or adjacent to it) as possible. In addition to this list of initiatives, we will be conducting interviews with select organizations throughout the Midwest, developing short case studies that represent the work underway in our region. Interviewees will be compensated for their time. Please feel free to email Daniel Schoonmaker at dschoonmaker@wmsbf.org. |
