Peer Learning Programs

Peer learning, which is practitioners learning together as a community of practice, is part of the Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange’s theory of change because of peer learning to support innovation and leadership in Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) practice. Outside of circles, members often collaborate on projects that advance GSI practice. These projects have produced a variety of guides available on our Publications Page.

The Fall 2024 Learning Circles will be part of the transition phase where Learning Circles move to the new Community Platform which will allow members to join meetings, post discussions, share resources and network with fellow members within one online platform. Circles schedule are subject to change.

• Funding, Planning & Resilience Learning Circle (1st TUE | 1:00pm pacific | 4:00pm eastern). Topics this fall will include federal funding in September. Future months will include life-cycle cost and maintenance and/or addressing false narratives.
• Design, Maintenance & Performance Learning Circle (3rd TUE | 1:00pm pacific | 4:00pm eastern). Topics in September and October will be about pervious pavement with other topics to be determined. Depending on scheduling, life-cycle cost and maintenance, or the false narratives may be scheduled during this circle as session topics sometimes overlap.
• Local Governments and Nonprofit Water Agencies (Member status only) Learning Circle (3rd MON | 10:00am pacific | 1:00pm eastern). Topics will include (1) addressing false narratives, (2) experiencing working in multi-partner/stakeholder GSI, and (3) GSI representation in senior leadership and strategy. The sequence of topics has not been scheduled, although this is the tenative seequence.

The Exchange is also piloting two courses with priority given to Members and Associate Members. Attendance in the pilot courses is free of charge. Each course meets every other week for 7 sessions. Sessions are live and are not recorded. Attendance is required for 6 of the 7 sessions including the first and last sessions. Each course has about 60-90 minutes of study/work each week. Pilot courses do not yet provide official continuing education units (CEUs) for professional licenses (e.g., engineer, landscape architects, or planners); however a letter/certificate of completion can be provided for participants. The Exchange is pursuing CEU credits for professional licenses.

• GSI Introduction Course (Pilot 1; 12-16 participants): This introductory course will survey several key areas in the interdisciplinary and cross-sector work of GSI: equity, climate resilience, planning, funding, regulations, design, maintenance, monitoring and performance. Throughout the course, participants will also be able to consider when and where blue, gray and/or green stormwater infrastructure is appropriate based on local contexts. Life cycles and case studies will be provided at the GSI program, project, and/or demonstration project levels throughout the course. Members of the Exchange will be guest facilitators and speakers so that participants can connect with experienced GSI practitioners. As a final course assignment, participants will design a GSI program, project or demonstration project that they could advocate for within their local contexts. Virtual meetings are 90 minutes on Wednesdays starting at 10am pacific / 1pm eastern: 9/18, 10/2, 10/16, 10/30, 11/13, 11/27, and 12/11.
• GSI & Equity Course (Pilot 2; 16-20 participants): This course is organized around the Exchange’s seven Equity Goals and four identified types of equity (i.e., identity, power, process, spatial). The course pays particular attention to three of the Equity Goals: Internal Readiness (1), Centering Community (2), and Benefits-Drive Project Development (3) while providing opportunities to engage with the other four goals. The course design includes two major components. The first half of the course will focus on building culture and skills, with particular attention to knowledge of the three prioritized Equity Goals. The second half of the course will broaden the scope to all seven Equity Goals. The second half will also support contextual individual and/or group work for practical applications and collaboration for enhanced equitable outcomes within local GSI contexts. As a final course assignment, participants will have a variety of ways to show their learning (e.g, write an article/blog, design an equity-focused GSI program, or develop an equity-centered activity to facilitate with peers or within the community). Meetings are 120 minutes on Wednesdays starting at 10am pacific / 1pm eastern: 9/11, 9/25, 10/9, 10/23, 11/6, 11/20, and 12/4.

Contact the Exchange’s Education Manager (veronica@giexchange.org) about peer learning programs. If you are interested in membership, link to the Membership page.