Welcome to the Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange (“the Exchange”)
The Exchange, a project of the Global Philanthropy Partnership, seeks to activiate local governments and water agencies in the U.S. and Canada to implement green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) equitably.
WHY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS?
Local governments are legally required to manage stormwater so as to protect the quality of our drinking water and the health of rivers, streams, and other surface waters. Climate change is making that job more difficult, resulting in a need for solutions that can complement traditional stormwater management methods.
WHY GSI?
In its simplest form, GSI refers to the use of plants and soils to manage stormwater. But it can also include permeable pavement and other systems for filtering, capturing and storing stormwater. Best of all, GSI has other “co-benefits,” meaning it can also beautify neighborhoods, provide green play spaces, and create new jobs.
WHY EQUITY?
Owing to discriminatory policies like redlining, many urban neighborhoods suffer from a lack of infrastructure investments. As a result, they are often warmer, with fewer places for kids to play and greater exposure to flooding and other ills. Focused in such places, GSI holds promise for making these neighborhoods more liveable.
WHAT’S NEW
How the Exchange Can Foster a State of Environmental Justice: 3 Takeaways
As my part of the welcoming plenary session at this year's Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, I offered comments on why the Exchange is uniquely situated to help foster a state of environmental justice and how that relates to our plans to create a framework of GSI...
The Exchange’s State of Public Sector GSI Report Makes the News
The State of Public Sector GSI, 2022 is a research report created to establish a baseline to better understand the state of local public sector green infrastructure implementation as well as create a shared blueprint for how we go forward together. The report offers...
Welcome New Team Members to the Exchange
The Exchange is very happy to announce the hiring of three new staff members, Tashalee Cruz (Program Manager), Yanina Salerno (Office Manager), and Veronica Hotton (Education Manager) Tashalee ("Tasha") Cruz, Program Manager Hello, Members and Friends of the GI...
Welcome New Member, Marin Countywide Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (MCSTOPPP)
Located in the northwestern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, Marin County is home to 262,231 people. Geographically, the county forms a large, southward-facing peninsula, with the Pacific Ocean to the west, San Pablo Bay, and San Francisco Bay to the east, and –...
Rogue Water Suggests a Revamp of Communications Efforts
“There is no lack of nonprofits and member organizations in the water space. With such a crowded field, it’s important to stand out and be clear on your core differentiators,” according to Rogue Water, the firm that conducted a Marketing and Communications Audit for...
Exchange Publishes Community Voices on Equity & Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Heavily quoted in the soon-to-be-released State of Public Sector Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Report, Community Voices reflects the voice and perspective of community members, especially those living in low-wealth neighborhoods and historic communities of...
