Overview Agenda Speakers Resources What to Expect We are excited to invite our CREWS Community of Learning Partners to gather with us in Tucson, Arizona, from November 12-14 for our 5th annual Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) Convening. We will host the CREWS Convening again in concert with the US Water Alliance’s One Water Summit on November 14-16, 2023. CREWS Convening Objectives We’re honored that you are attending and want to make the best use of your time. With that in mind, the objectives of the CREWS 2023 Convening are to: Gather CREWS leaders together to increase connections within CREWS and across the climate-water-equity field; Hold space for grantee partners to explore alignment and collaboration; Create opportunities for grantee partners to learn about and mutually benefit from each other’s work, skills, and resources; and Celebrate progress made and strategize about the work ahead. Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #KresgeCREWS and tag @kresgefdn and @YeouJih. Questions? If you have any questions or need support during the event, please contact Kate O’Brien at [email protected] or (207) 318-1699. COVID Protocol We request that all convening attendees take a COVID test within 48 hours before traveling to Tucson and daily before participating in CREWS Convening events. All participants will be provided test kits and masks upon arrival. If attendees have any symptoms of illness or test positive for COVID during their time in Tucson, we ask that they not participate in the in-person meeting this year. KEY LOCATION The CREWS Convening and One Water Summit will be held at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort at 3800 W Starr Pass Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85745. Schedule & Agenda Nov. 12-14, 2023 The CREWS Convening will begin with an optional dinner on Sunday, November 12. We will meet throughout Monday, November 13, and offer optional meetings and a site visit through the afternoon of Tuesday, November 14. The US Water Alliance One Water Summit will run from Tuesday through the afternoon of Thursday, November 16th. A high-level agenda is below. You can also download the full CREWS Participant Agenda. Day 1, Sunday, Nov. 12“Open Workspace” for CREWS participants (Wi-Fi) 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., AB Foyer CREWS Registration & Check-in (masks, tests) 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Wellness Room (quiet space, ongoing) AB 5 Welcome Dinner 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., Tucson Ballroom & Terrace Day 2, Monday, Nov. 13Wellness Room (quiet space, ongoing) 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., AB – 5 CREWS Registration & Check-in (masks, tests) 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., AB – Foyer Breakfast Buffet 7:30 a.m., AB – Foyer CREWS Morning Block 1 9 a.m., AB 2-3 *AB 1, AB 4 (breakout spaces) BREAK CREWS Morning Block 2 11 a.m., AB 2-3 *AB 1, AB 4 (breakout spaces) Lunch Buffet 12:30 p.m., AB Foyer CREWS Afternoon Block 1 1:15 p.m., AB 2-3 *AB 1, AB 4 (breakout spaces) BREAK CREWS Keynote 4 p.m., AB 2-3 AB 1, AB 4 (breakout spaces) “Changemakers” Networking Buffet Dinner, hosted by Urban Waters Funders 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Ania Terrace (outdoors) Day 3, Tuesday, Nov. 14Networking Buffet Breakfast 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m., AB Foyer Morning Block 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., AB 1-2 BREAK 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Morning Block 2 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., AB 1-2 Transition: Boxed Lunch Pick-Up + Board Buses to Site Visits 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., AB Foyer Site Visit: City of Tucson Storm-to-Shade Program 1:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Buses return to JW Starr Pass Resort CREWS Convening Closing Circle 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., San Luis 1-2 US Water Prize Ceremony & Celebratory Reception 5 p.m., AB 1-2 Day 4, Wednesday, Nov. 15US Water Alliance One Water Summit Keynotes, panels, and workshops 8:45 a.m. – 5 p.m. Networking Reception 5 p.m.– 6:30 p.m. Day 5, Thursday, Nov. 16US Water Alliance One Water Summit Keynotes, panels, and workshops 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. One Water Summit adjourns 1:30 p.m. Hear from CREWS Speakers Click on photos to open bios and meet our speakers. A CREWS Convening 2023 Attendee Roster will be added to the Resources section. Bina M. Patel – Keynote Speaker Saathi’s Founder and CEO Speaker | Author | Anti-Oppression Coach & Facilitator Bina M. Patel – Keynote Speaker Saathi’s Founder and CEO Speaker | Author | Anti-Oppression Coach & Facilitator “Are you helping people?” This was Bina’s father’s ever-present question as she navigated school and career choices, reminding her to be of service. To this day, his question keeps her honest and purposeful about her work. Her path is clear: to serve the advancement of justice, human rights, community power, and collective progress. After completing masters degrees in International Human Rights at the University of Denver and Social Finance at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, her career evolved to include working directly with people facing persistent and systemic marginalization. Abroad and in the US, Bina’s efforts focused on supporting and facilitating communities exercising self-determination and healing, collaborating with policymakers to drive more equitable and justice-rooted decisions. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff in City Hall in Chicago, where she was responsible for overseeing a portfolio of programs and policies amounting to over $1 billion in the area of human capital, human services, public health, and community development. This led to a career spanning 25 years in direct service and strategy with community-based organizations, philanthropy, and public policy. In 2013 Bina launched Saathi Impact Consulting. A collective good consulting firm – Saathi means: to be with; to partner’. This is the defining ethos of Saathi’s approach. She partners with clients to design adaptive strategies, strengthen leadership, and mobilize courageous action – working hand-in-hand to be of better service to the communities we live in. Bina a certified mindfulness practitioner – something she infuses into her engagements with teams on justice, inclusion, anti-oppression. Brandon Black Visual Practitioner Drawnversation Brandon Black Visual Practitioner Drawnversation Brandon is a proud Cincinnatian and founder of Drawnversation, a visual facilitation practice featuring real-time scribing, experience engineering, and graphic design services. His work aims to glorify the stories of partners through visuals that are eye-catching, engaging, and everlasting. Follow on Instagram @drawnversation or LinkedIn: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brand-onblack/ Lois R. DeBacker Managing Director Kresge Foundation Environment Program Lois R. DeBacker Managing Director Kresge Foundation Environment Program Lois DeBacker serves as managing director of The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program, which focuses on helping communities build resilience in the face of climate change. She joined the foundation in February 2008. Lois’ experience includes more than 16 years at the C. S. Mott Foundation in a series of positions of progressive responsibility, including the role of Associate Vice President- Programs. Before joining the Mott Foundation, Lois worked for 10 years in Michigan state government in both policy-development and program-management capacities. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in public affairs from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Her graduate work focused on urban and domestic policy. Lois is the recipient of the 2015 Nicholas P. Bollman Award from the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities. She serves on the External Advisory Board of the University of Michigan’s Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute and as the secretary of the board of directors of the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center. She is a past board president of the Biodiversity Funders Group and has served other grantmaker affinity groups in a variety of capacities. Lois is also a member of the Gulf Health and Resilience Board, an advisory board to the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Photo: Douglas Schaible Mami Hara US Water Alliance CEO Mami Hara US Water Alliance CEO The US Water Alliance brings together diverse stakeholders to identify and advance common-ground, achievable solutions to our nation’s most pressing water challenges. Water utilities, public officials, business leaders, agricultural interests, environmental organizations, community leaders, unions, and policy organizations comprise the diverse membership of the US Water Alliance. The Alliance educates the nation on the true value of water, accelerates the adoption of One Water and water equity policies and programs, and celebrates innovation in water management. The Alliance also manages the Value of Water Campaign, a coalition of leading water sector organizations that are building public and political will for investment in water infrastructure Mami (she/her/hers) was previously the General Manager and CEO of Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). She was a board member of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, a founding member of the Water Agencies Leadership Alliance, and the founder of the Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange. Through her work in Seattle, at Philadelphia Water and as principal of a leading planning and design firm, she has developed just, climate resilient, and community centered land and water management investment approaches and practices. Mami brings her experience in green infrastructure, affordability and assistance, environmental finance, service equity, utility management, and urban planning to advancing water equity and One Water practice. She has taught at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University and holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University and advisor to several environmental, philanthropic, planning and design advocacy organizations. Yeou-Rong Jih Kresge Foundation Program Officer, Environment Program Yeou-Rong Jih Kresge Foundation Program Officer, Environment Program Yeou-Rong Jih (she/her/hers) serves as a program officer for The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program, which helps communities build resilience in the face of climate change. Yeou-Rong supports the foundation’s Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) initiative grantmaking efforts, which advance equitable solutions to climate-related urban flooding. She joined the foundation in 2021, bringing a history of engagement in urban climate resilience efforts and a commitment to action on equity and racial justice. Previously, Yeou-Rong served as the director of urban initiatives at Greenlink Analytics, where she co-led equity mapping and clean energy planning efforts, working with cities and community-based organizations to create climate plans, policies and programs that center the equity and energy justice needs of residents. She has also worked with the City of Atlanta, supporting the development and implementation of its resilience, energy and equitable water strategies. Yeou-Rong earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavioral biology from Emory University and a master’s degree in research psychology from the University of Oxford. In 2021, she was named a Grist 50 Fixer, which recognizes emerging leaders in climate, sustainability and equity, who are creating change across the nation. Melissa Mundt Pima County Natural Resources Environmental Educator Melissa Mundt Pima County Natural Resources Environmental Educator Melissa Mundt is an Environmental Educator with the Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation. She is a certified Master Naturalist, avid trail runner and desert gardener. She has a background in sustainable landscape design, community engagement and nature play. She loves connecting people of all ages to the amazing and beautiful Sonoran Desert. Kate O’Brien Catalyst Collaboratives LLC Founder and Principal Kate O’Brien Catalyst Collaboratives LLC Founder and Principal Kate O’Brien is founder and principal of Catalyst Collaboratives LLC, a boutique consultancy specializing in adaptive change management, facilitation, and capacity building. In her work, Kate draws from her twenty-year career in the nonprofit and public sectors. Trained as a social worker, Kate began her career as a case manager for people with serious and persistent mental illness. After navigating behavioral health systems, she moved into community development while pursuing graduate studies in urban and environmental policy and planning at Tufts University. Kate’s management experience grew significantly during the eight years she led transformative projects, programs, planning initiatives, teams, and operations at Groundwork Lawrence in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Following nearly a decade of ad-hoc coaching of executives and teams, Kate formalized and led Groundwork USA’s first-ever technical assistance program, funded by US EPA and focused on building trusting partnerships between CBOs and municipalities in pursuit of equitable brownfield redevelopment and environmental justice outcomes across the country. Drawing on her years coaching and managing a portfolio of technical assistance clients, Kate set out as a solo entrepreneur focused on supporting clients who are navigating and co-creating culture change rooted in equity and anti-oppression at interpersonal, organizational, network, and systems levels. She is currently serving in her second term as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Portland Trails in her chosen hometown of Portland, Maine, where she has been leading the organization’s multi-year cultural transformation and strategic planning processes. Irene Ogata Urban Landscape Manager City of Tucson, Tucson Water Irene Ogata Urban Landscape Manager City of Tucson, Tucson Water Irene is a professional Landscape Architect, Certified Arborist and Certified Public Manager at Tucson Water within the Conservation & Stormwater Resource Division. Projects she has been involved with include green stormwater infrastructure, low-income rainwater harvesting, city-wide vegetation maintenance practices and development of City-wide Landscape Maintenance Manual, regional mapping of tree canopy and development of interactive regional resiliency maps (housed on Pima Association of Government’s website). Irene’s focus has been about individual and community health and strives to create a healthy urban environment through collaborations with diverse groups. Irene has been involved with the Green Infrastructure Leadership Group since its inception in 2015. Benny Starr US Water Alliance Hip-Hop Artist & Filmmaker, Arts & Culture Senior Fellow Benny Starr US Water Alliance Hip-Hop Artist & Filmmaker, Arts & Culture Senior Fellow Black music and southern culture intersect with deep roots in hip-hop, gospel, jazz, blues, and rock. They’re woven with rich history, resiliency, and storytelling that elicits a quest for a higher calling in those who connect with them. The same rings true in the music created by South Carolina Lowcountry artist Benny Starr (he/him/his). His most recent solo project, A Water Album, was released on Juneteenth 2019, and in 2020, Native Son, a duo comprised of Benny Starr and singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Rodrick Cliche, was formed. In partnership with The Acres of Ancestry Initiative/Black Agrarian Fund and The Black Farmers Appeal: Cancel Pigford Debt Campaign, Native Son screened “Restoration: A Concert Film” on Juneteenth 2020. The US Water Alliance welcomed Benny Starr as their inaugural One Water Artist-in-Residence in October 2020. Through his 18-month residency with the Alliance, Benny worked with staff and the Alliance network to infuse arts and cultural strategies into thinking, problem-solving, and programming. Benny currently serves as a Senior Fellow of Arts & Culture with the US Water Alliance, integrating artistic approaches and cultural strategies to help advance and accelerate our ability to achieve a sustainable water future for all. Minna Toloui Upright Consulting Services Independent Consultant Minna Toloui Upright Consulting Services Independent Consultant Minna Toloui (she/they) is an independent consultant with Upright Consulting Services, which specializes in working with governments, philanthropies, nonprofits, and business to advance racial equity, economic inclusion, and deep sustainability. Minna comes to the work with a background in city-community relationship building and facilitation, climate justice, and environmental literacy in the nonprofit and public sectors. Her work focuses on the interstitial spaces between racial equity, health, housing, energy, and beyond. She is based in her born-and-raised home of the Bay Area, CA. Minna is driven by an ancestral lineage of justice work and love for our people, planet, and collective future. 2022 Convening Album Related Resources Featured Resource CREWS 2023 Participant Packet CREWS Initiative Landing Page CREWS 2023 Attendee Roster One Water Summit Event Page JW Marriott On-Site Experiences Learning to Lead with Equity Jalonne L. White-Newsome and Julie A. Slay Water, Arts, and Culture Accelerator US Water Alliance Investing in America’s Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems for Equity and Sustainability Environmental Policy Innovation Center Impaired Waters and TMDLs Program in your EPA Region, State or Tribal Land Environmental Protection Agency The State of Public Sector Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI), 2022 Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange The Benefits of Community-Driven Green Infrastructure (Updated) Earth Economics and Water Wise Gulf South