Julia (Osterman) Strong

Explore the prevalence of rural #ESOPs in this brief from the Aspen Institute's recent Employee Ownership Ideas Forum titled, "ESOPs in Rural Areas." The EO Ideas Forum was a two-day convening bringing together leading policymakers, practitioners, experts, and the media for a robust discussion on how we can grow employee ownership for the shared benefit of American workers and businesses. In this fact sheet, Joseph Blasi, Douglas Kruse, and Jack Moriarty provide some updated statistics regarding ESOPs in rural counties including the following: ESOPs in rural areas represent 28% of all ESOPs nationally, 12% of all active ESOP employees, 12% of all retired ESOP employees, and 10% of all ESOP assets. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dxx9jgKA #ruralesops #EOX #aspeninstitute

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If you're as concerned as us that the U.S. isn't on track to hit national, local, or private sector climate targets, then join us at The Brookings Institution September 18 at 2:00 PM ET for an event to discuss the pain points to getting more private capital off the sidelines and to deliver equitable results. https://lnkd.in/e6XFQRnV It's not going to be easy to address all of the country's climate needs, whether they're mitigation- or adaptation-focused projects. But one thing is for sure: we can't do it without enormous amounts of money. Trillions by the best guesses we have. That kind of investment requires private markets. Yet mobilizing capital isn't so simple--and it's even harder if we want to support the people and places most vulnerable to climate change, whether that's lost employment or damaged property. Later this week we'll release papers to frame the core questions of what's limiting total and targeted investment. This event complements those themes, bringing together experts for honest conversation about the challenges and opportunities. Ethan Zindler will provide framing remarks around what U.S. Department of the Treasury is up to. Then, we'll meet the press with Aime Williams Justin Worland Amrith Ramkumar to hear their candid perspectives. As always, the event is free and open to the public. Coffee, too? You know it. #climate #justtransition

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Federal guidelines for voluntary carbon offsets were released this week. While guidelines are certainly helpful to encourage the good actors they do little to weed out the systemic problems or the ineffective offsets. This could however be an opportunity for local governments to introduce mandates and oversight of this market. #carbonoffsets #decarbonization

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Join me for Sustainability Creatives #OpenDoorClimate Office Hours Tuesday at 2PM CT. This month, we will focus on Becoming a Climate Influencer! Today we will focus on identifying your value as a climate influencer. I believe this is important because we all have different reasons we wake up in the morning. We have different things we love, things we are good at, seeing what the world needs, and what we can be paid for. Maybe you're a great listener, a creative storyteller, a weaver of themes, a scientific communicator, a builder, or a natural interviewer. To build trust and an audience, being authentic and leaning into your purpose is key! So get ready for an interactive and reflective session! Whether you’re a communications pro or just getting started, these office hours are for anyone eager to fight climate change and make a difference. No need to be an expert on Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or TikTok—just bring your creativity, curiosity, and passion for sustainability! Register here! Let’s make a change together! 💪🌿 https://lnkd.in/giAVSrHy Also, thanks Audrey Desler for this idea to focus on Ikigai! #SustainabilityCreatives #Sustainability #ClimateInfluencer #OpenDoorClimate #Ikigai

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must ensure the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) in the Inflation Reduction Act does not exacerbate existing racial homeownership and wealth gaps. The GGRF must comply with the Fair Housing Act's mandate to affirmatively further fair housing. The EPA's guidance should explain this responsibility to the grantees, and the agency must provide oversight and ensure compliance. CDFIs without a strong history of serving Black, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and Native communities should consider utilizing the Equal Credit Opportunity Act's Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCPs) to design fair and inclusive underwriting, pricing, marketing, and other practices to ensure the GGRF reaches their target communities. The nonprofit CDFIs administering the National Clean Investment Fund especially might find the recently published guide on creating SPCPs as nonprofits by the National Fair Housing Alliance useful: https://lnkd.in/ekfQN9D4. The guide shares best practices for nonprofits creating SPCPs. Additionally, the grantees of the GGRF must provide regular data updates disaggregated by race and ethnicity so that the GGRF does not leave any community behind.

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More on the good news from ICVCM

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Well, it’s official: I’m excited to share that I’m launching a new venture - Frisson Systems After years of working in climate tech for heavily regulated industries (O&G), and from my time in the office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis, I have seen firsthand how much untapped potential there is in government agencies that is lost due to outdated administrative processes. That’s why I founded Frisson Systems. At Frisson, we empower government agencies to create and deploy AI-driven tools tailored to their specific needs. Our no-code platform bridges the digital skills gap, making advanced technology both accessible and secure for the public sector. We’re already in discussions for pilot programs with government organizations, and I’m confident that Frisson will help improve efficiency and close the digital divide in government. I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences that led me here, particularly my time at Project Canary, where I learned the importance of innovation and resilience in the face of serious challenges. I’d love for you to check out what we’re building. You can learn more by visiting our website, or feel free to email me at [email protected] if you’d like to chat further. https://lnkd.in/eBBqcP_B Onward to this exciting new chapter! #AI #GovTech #PublicSectorInnovation #DigitalTransformation #NoCode #GovernmentTechnology #AIForGood #StartupLife #TechForGovernment #FrissonSystems

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