The Innovation Station: Upland South, [is] the third 2024 installment of the Innovation Station virtual event series convened by the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues at the U.S. Department of State. Inspired by topics of importance to communities in the U.S. Upland South region and beyond, the event will amplify women-led programs, organizations, and initiatives that address opportunities and challenges related to the music industry, sustainable distilleries, and textiles. These themes are relevant to both domestic and international locations, and the featured innovators will discuss ways in which their strategies are translatable across communities and countries.

Register here

As part of National Drinking Water Week, Community Water Center is hosting a virtual discussion on drinking water affordability with frontline leaders across the U.S. They will be discussing solutions, and how we can advance efforts to ensure a basic necessity like water needs the same government support as telephones and internet to ensure access for all. Sign up here

Register here

Join us for Taproot Earth's new #StatesofPlay webinar series where we'll host meaningful discussions with frontline leaders as they provide insight into the current political and policy landscapes of key states: Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky & Pennsylvania. We'll also discuss practical solutions communities can use to combat the impacts of rising authoritarianism in their neighborhoods.

Register here.

Please join the Bayou Culture Collaborative for our April Gathering of people and organizations focused on preserving Louisiana’s heritage and examining the effects of land loss on local culture.

Melissa M. Martin, chef and owner of Mosquito Supper Club in New Orleans, LA will talk about how her work celebrates the bounty of fishermen and farmers that define bayou cuisine.

Use the QR code to sign up via this link.

Loyola University; Thomas Hall 102

Healthy oceans provide vast cognitive, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual wellness Blue Mind benefits to all of us throughout our lives. The oceans cover more than three-quarters of Earth’s surface and account for 97 percent of its water, as well as much of the air we breathe. The oceans support an incredible array of life, help regulate the climate, and support life on our blue planet. Unfortunately, our oceans face significant threats from human-made pollution, particularly plastic. Experts estimate nine to 14 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, and without urgent action, that amount will only increase—projected to reach 23–37 million metric tons annually by the year 2040.

What does agriculture and the Farm Bill have to do with our Mississippi River? Whether you are a farmer or someone who cares about the relationship between food, farms, and the River, please join us to learn more about this important piece of legislation and how it can be used to protect our River. The webinar will be held via Zoom on Friday, June 16, at noon CT.

Extreme natural disaster events are occurring more frequently in our Mississippi River basin, and the costs associated with extreme events will continue to rise.  In 2020, the U.S. saw an average annual loss of $32 billion from flooding, and that cost could rise by up to $41 billion by 2050, according to a study published in Nature. But have you thought about how the management of the Mississippi River affects climate change? Join Olivia Dorothy, River Restoration Director with American Rivers, to explore not only how climate change is impacting communities – and especially communities of color – along the Mississippi River, but also how the Mississippi River is contributing to climate change. This presentation is adapted from a USGS forum and will highlight specific research needs and questions.

"Conservation and environmental organizations have recently begun contending with the racial exclusion and injustice that defined their creation and much of their existence. This session explores environmental history and how it fits into the larger context of social history in the U.S.. Through a timeline of events through the early 20th century, the session will reveal that despite their intent, conservation was not a categorically benevolent force, and in fact harmed Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color across Turtle Island." 

As it becomes more evident that climate and ecological breakdown are a clear and present danger to our safety and wellbeing, we increasingly need to talk about what our changing world means for us in terms of impacts at personal, family and societal level. We need to imagine it in some detail so as to be able to think about it clearly and constructively, and to explore some complex feelings and thoughts which may often be taboo and hard to talk about.

With sturdy enough support structures in place, most people can sustain challenging feelings without either dissociating and numbing or going into blind panic. They can engage with difficult truths whilst staying connected and grounded.

A climate café aims to be such a structure - a container that is strong enough to allow the exploration of fear, anxiety, and other emotions such as anger, helplessness, sadness, grief or depression.

This year at the state capital, lawmakers brought in legislation and projects tied to Carbon Capture in Louisiana. But we need to recognize the truth: Carbon Capture is a false solution that will only enable more pollution and environmental injustice…Join us at 800 Homer Plessy Way New Orleans to learn more about the legislation surrounding carbon capture projects.