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175 / Winning, Wondering & What Ayana Elizabeth Johnson Is Texting Her Policy Friends
Published 6 months ago • 5 min read
I must have started at least 10 drafts of the introduction letter for today’s newsletter. What to say after two weeks of so much loss, frustration and hard truths?
My tendency in times of uncertainty is to try to “figure it out” — to apply all my brainpower to examining and analyzing and puzzling out root causes to arrive at a satisfying conclusion (or even better, an actionable solution). But these days, that feels like a brain-breaking effort.
That said, of all the essays and critiques and social media posts I’ve consumed about the events of the past few weeks, a few words keep ringing in my head that I wanted to share with you.
1.This reminder to “tune in, not out” from Dan Rather — because disengaging is exactly what they want you to do (full article in today’s 5 Links)
2.This simple but powerful rallying cry from Force of Nature’s Clover Hogan — because healing happens in stages and that activist spirit will return
I’d love to know what’s stuck out to you these past few weeks. What’s made you feel seen, comforted, motivated and (dare I say) hopeful? I invite you to share (and get inspired by what others have shared) in our LinkedIn Group.
P.S. If you’re looking to process the U.S. election results in community with other sustainable business professionals, we’re hosting an intimate Change Hub member gatheringon November 19th to explore what the changing tides mean for our shared sector. Join us by becoming a member here.
The next edition of our free, virtual, monthly(ish) networking series will be co-hosted by impact career coach Caroline Ouwerkerk and focus on Regenerative Networking. Join us on December 4th for a quick wisdom drop from Caroline followed by breakout rooms to discuss. Note: registration is required to attend!
This week and next, the hosts of the Outrage + Optimism podcast are recording live dispatches from COP29 in Baku. As former UN leaders and COP architects, there’s no better team to break down the developments from an insider perspective. Plus, their banter is just delightful.
Whether it’s the U.S. election, climate-related natural disasters or the “war on woke” — not to mention all the actual wars — these days the news cycle can feel like *a lot*. While it might be tempting to shut it all off, veteran news anchor Dan Rather argues that disengaging for the long-term “plays right into (the MAGA movement’s) hands”. (4 minutes; 🙏 my mom for sharing!)
While Trump’s win poses serious concerns for national (and global) climate policy, there were some state and local wins worth celebrating. Trellis breaks down some of the developments that flew under the radar. (11 minutes)
This week, Shell won an appeal to overturn a Dutch ruling requiring the oil and gas company to cut its carbon emissions by 45%. The original 2021 ruling marked the first time a private company was ordered to align its workings with the Paris climate agreement (and not just national law). Friends of the Earth, the coalition that initiated the lawsuit, now plans to take the case to the Supreme Court: “It's a marathon, not a sprint and the race isn't yet over.” (3 minutes)
Y’all, there are still 66 days until the presidential inauguration… and the chance for the current administration to lock in some of the hard-earned environmental gains of the past four years. If you’ve got friends and colleagues working in social and environmental policy, author and activist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson suggests checking in to see how you can help — because home-cooked stews can also be an act of resistance.
Gayathri Unnikrishnan is the founder of impact strategy think tank Liveable and a member of the Reconsidered Change Hub. In this profile, she shares three career skills she finds crucial, the first question she asks when starting a project and the impact space changes giving her hope these days.
We’ve had the honor of amplifying jobs from leading organizations like B Lab, Environmental Defense Fund, Etsy and Reformation — join ’em and book your Sponsored Job Post here.
Browse our new database of sustainability and social impact related courses, trainings and leadership programs, including:
💥 Join 15,000+ of us in our LinkedIn Group — this week, members are sharing impact meetups, Q&A sessions with climate leaders and resources to understand the voluntary carbon market.
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Get fresh finds from the world of corporate responsibility, sustainability + social impact delivered straight to your inbox, every other week. Each issue includes 5 thought-provoking links, a curated list of impact job opportunities, interviews with global impact leaders and loads of exclusive tools + resources for sustainable business professionals.
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