Sustainable Long Island
February 2013   
Sustainable Long Island Newsletter
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For all Sustainable Long Island news! 
In This Issue
Long Beach Listens
Bank of America Foundation Grant
Seventh Annual Sustainability Conference
Board President Honored
New Intern and Volunteer Opportunities
511NY Rideshare Grants Available
Donate today!
Board of Directors

Ruth Negr
n-Gaines: President
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Kevin McDonald: Vice President

The Nature Conservancy   
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Charlotte Biblow, Esq: Secretary

Farrell Fritz, P.C.
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Lauren Furst: Treasurer

Pathways to Wealth, LLC   

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Russ Albanese

Albanese Organization Inc.
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Lennard Axinn

Island Estates   

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Robert Bernard

Capital One Bank 

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Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III
SUNY College at Old Westbury    

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Dr. Miriam K. Deitsch

Farmingdale State College, State University of New York 

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Pat Edwards

Citi Community Development     
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Amy Hagedorn

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Jeff Kraut

North Shore - LIJ Health System

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Mitchell H. Pally

Long Island Builders Institute

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Ron Shiffman

Pratt Institute

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Long Beach Listens 

The City of Long Beach wants you to become and stay involved in the relief and recovery efforts
 

In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy destroyed and damaged many homes and businesses throughout Long Island. One of the hardest hit areas was the City of Long Beach, located in the southwestern portion of Nassau County, which lies along the Atlantic Ocean. Months later, business, homeowners, and government infrastructure continue to feel the effects of the storm, despite the outreach efforts of FEMA, SBA, Nassau County and the Nassau IDA.

 

Sustainable Long Island has been working closely with Long Beach, since November of 2012, to coordinate the recovery and revitalization efforts throughout the City. This project consists of several components including:

  • Developing a customized boardwalk survey to assess community issues and values (see below) 
  • Administering a business survey to those businesses affected by the storm (see below)
  • Facilitating community focus groups and public meetings
  • Coordinating volunteer clean-up and beautification projects
  • Researching best practices on disaster recovery efforts and redevelopment
  • Providing administrative and technical support
  • Setting up a satellite office to assist various local businesses
  • Assisting in marketing and branding management  

Sustainable Long Island recommends you check out the brand new website - Long Beach Listens - to stay informed and see how you can help with ongoing projects over the next few months. Currently, Long Beach Listens has released the previously mentioned two surveys:

  • Issues and Values Survey (open to all Long Beach residents) to identify values that will be taken into consideration for the design and replacement of the Long Beach boardwalk that was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.
  • Business Disaster Resiliency Survey (open to Long Beach business owners and operators) to identify how businesses were affected by Hurricane Sandy, what issues remain, and how prepared they are for future storms and natural disasters.

Sustainable Long Island, on behalf of the City of Long Beach, will also be holding multiple Boardwalk Redevelopment focus groups and public meetings throughout February. These meetings are open to all members of the Long Beach community. Businesses and Residents are encouraged to attend and provide input on what is most important to them during the rebirth of this legendary landmark. Details on each meeting can be found on community updates page on the Long Beach Listens website.

 

The first meeting was held this past Wednesday, February 6, at the Magnolia Senior Community Center.

 

About 85 residents took part in a focus group facilitated by Sustainable Long Island.

 

Some residents said they hope to see shops and restaurants along the new boardwalk while others said they were concerned with safety, especially concerning future storms and hurricanes.

 

Check out News12 Long Island's coverage of the workshop. 

 

Bank of America Foundation Awards  

$25K to Sustainable Long Island 

Funding farmers' market and community garden projects

Sustainable Long Island has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Bank of America Foundation in support of the organization's youth-staffed farmers' markets projects and community gardens initiatives.

 

Three years ago, Sustainable Long Island partnered with the Long Island Farm Bureau and various community partners to establish youth-staffed, community-based farmers' markets in low-to-moderate income communities. This funding from Bank of America Foundation will help expand the project into two additional communities and will enable Sustainable Long Island to continue providing technical assistance to the six existing markets.  

 

This grant will also provide Sustainable Long Island the opportunity to work collaboratively with Stony Brook University's Nutrition Division to develop a model of financial sustainability for community gardens in Suffolk County and also work with Nassau Land Trust to launch two new community gardens in Nassau County.

 

Farmers' Markets

For existing community farmers' markets, Sustainable Long Island will continue to provide guidance to project partners, including helping to identify possible funding sources and sharing lessons learned through three years of operations, such as guiding them through application processes for subsidy programs, developing rules and regulations, working with farmers and sharing crop plans with market managers, and coordinating training opportunities.

 

For new community farmers' markets, Sustainable Long Island will provide technical assistance, including identifying appropriate location and days/hours of operation; developing project budget; identifying manager and youth staff; developing mission, rules and regulations for market; enrolling market in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program; identifying and enrolling farmers willing to participate; applying to accept SNAP benefits through the Wireless EBT program; creating advertising materials and outreach strategy; identifying viable transportation system for produce pick-up and delivery; purchasing supplies and equipment; and training market staff.

 

Community Gardens

While there are dozens of community gardens on Long Island, Sustainable Long Island will be working collaboratively with 10 10 gardens that participate in the Stony Brook University Community Roots project (all of which are located in low-to-moderate income communities as determined by US Census data). The 10 existing collectively feed over 1500 people and creating a model for their economic sustainability is critical.

 

Sustainable Long Island will work on a model for financial sustainability for community gardens, which in turn will encourage additional communities across the region to develop a program of this kind and follow this model to achieve success.

 

The creation of two new community gardens in Nassau County will help create a sense of place; promote healthy eating habits; and provide access to healthy and nutritious food for the families living in these communities.

 

"The Road to Recovery"

Seventh Annual Sustainability Conference 

Friday, April 12, 2013 at the Carlyle on the Green

Sustainable Long Island has announced this year's theme for the Seventh Annual Sustainability Conference. "The Road to Recovery" will focus on a post-Sandy Long Island. Attendees will have the opportunity to:
  • Rethink what worked and what failed during Hurricane Sandy
  • Rebuild storm-afflicted communities throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties  
  • Renew the Long Island region by planning for a sustainable tomorrow
Hundreds of community members and activists, government officials, planners, builders, decision makers, and important stakeholders will gather on Friday, April 12, 2013 at the Carlyle on the Green in Bethpage State Park. The conference will feature:
  • Keynote Speakers
  • Interactive Workshops
  • Sustainable Samplings Luncheon
  • The 3rd Annual "Getting It Done" Awards
  • The Hall of Exhibitors
Sponsorship, exhibitor, restaurant, and advertising opportunities are available! Contact Tammy Severino at 516-873-0230 or [email protected] for details. Stay tuned to Sustainable Long Island's enewsletter, conference homepage, and social media accounts for more information on the agenda and day-of schedule in the coming weeks!

Ruth Negron-Gaines, Sustainable Long Island to be Honored 

Celebration of Suburban Diversity Event

Long Island's multicultural diversity is the key to our social and economic survival. Diversity and sustainability go hand in hand. The ability of people from different  races, religions and regions to live and work together is crucial to our prosperity. In the spirit of promoting tolerance and understanding, the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University will hold the fourth annual Celebration of Suburban Diversity banquet on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at the Long Island Marriott, Uniondale, NY.

 

An inspiring evening of awards, art work, entertainment and inspirational speakers will be highlighted by honorees:

  • Ruth Negron-Gaines

    • Sustainable Long Island 
  • Keynote Speaker Robert B. Catell

    • Advanced Energy Research + Technology Center

  • Alice Chan

    • Chinese American Association of North Hempstead

  • Henry Holley

    • Henry Holley Group, Inc.

  • David Powell

    • Hofstra University

  • Harendra V. Singh

    • Raj & Rajeshwari Foundation

Diversity is everybody's business - and "good" for everybody's business. Long Island's new suburbanites are the new students, patrons, customers and entrepreneurs who can revive and sustain our economy. Getting to know one another is essential to all our success.

 

For additional information, contact Ina Katz at 516-463-9939 or via email.

 

New Sustainable Long Island  

Intern and Volunteer Opportunities 

Need for consulting services also posted

At Sustainable Long Island, we work every day to better Long Island for all residents, now and for future generations. We do it because we care and more importantly, because you care about the future of Long Island. We have worked across the region for over a fourteen years and now is your chance to make a difference.

  

Rather than sitting here reading about our organization, you can join us in our efforts by interning and volunteering Sustainable Long Island today. Every Long Islander can work with staff on sustainability issues, community planning, and revitalization projects; while experiencing all the different aspects of a non-profit organization.

  

Here are some of the just-announced, exciting opportunities:   

 

Post-Disaster Economic Recovery Intern 

  • This internship is geared to those interested in environmental initiatives with a focus on community outreach and engagement techniques, specifically targeting post-Hurricane Sandy economic recovery efforts.

Brownfield Opportunity and Economic Revitalization Intern 

  • This internship is geared to those interested in economic development of underutilized and potentially hazardous properties through community outreach and engagement techniques. 

Food Policy Analyst Intern 

  • This internship is geared to those interested in the food system with a focus on policy work.

Farmers' Markets Analyst Intern   

  • This internship is geared to those interested in promoting the viability of farmers' markets with a focus on community outreach and engagement techniques.

Community Environmental Awareness Intern 

  • This internship is geared to those interested in environmental initiatives with a focus on equity, community outreach, and engagement techniques.     

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter, addressed to Janice Moynihan, Educational Program Coordinator, to [email protected]. The subject line of the e-mail should state which internship in which you are interested. 

 

Sustainable Long Island has also posted anew Request for Proposals (RFP):   

  • An economic impact study of the local food environment

Read more about the RFP and how to submit an application on Sustainable Long Island's website.  

 

511NY Rideshare: Grants Available to Help you Create a More Sustainable Work-site  

Help your employees find a greener commute
 

The Long Island Region Improving Commuting (LIRIC) Grant program helps Long Island employers create and implement programs that reduce traffic congestion and pollution during peak commute times. Employers with at least 30 employees at a single worksite may apply.  

 

Applying for a grant is easy with the help of 511NY Ridshare's LIRIC Grant Program Manager. First, distribute a brief survey to your employees to identify their commuting habits and interest in commute alternatives. The survey results will be evaluated to determine potential projects to reduce single occupancy vehicle travel to your worksite. With this information and your input we will draft a proposal to submit to the New York State Department of Transportation.

 

Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Carpool incentive programs
  • Vanpool incentive programs
  • Preferred parking
  • Transit incentive programs
  • Shuttle service, where applicable
  • Telework
  • Bike- and walk-to-work programs

Go green and find out how your company can get involved by contacting Rita Adrion at 631-479-3096 or [email protected].

 
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Together we can build a more
sustainable Long Island

 

These challenging economic times have magnified the problems we Long Islanders face each and every day. With our leaders warning us of tougher times to come, thinking regionally and acting locally is urgent. It is in all of our best interests to stay engaged and do what we can together to build a more sustainable Long Island.

 

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Sustainable Long Island that will help support our ongoing and future work within your Long Island communities; while helping advance economic development, environmental health, and social equity!

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Sincerely,

The Board and Staff of Sustainable Long Island