Blogs

About City Atlas: New Haven

City Atlas is a new project about the future of New Haven. We feature and promote the

sustainability goals of New Haven and Yale, and help connect members of the Yale community

to the city's new initiatives and civic organizations. We aim to strengthen the ties between social

justice, sustainability, and community building.

City Atlas: New Haven is modeled on City Atlas: New York (newyork.thecityatlas.org). City Atlas:

New Haven is the beginning of a network of sites in partnership with universities, drawing on

talented young people to create a new, locally relevant platform for a public conversation about

the future. (A project is beginning in China as well, at beijing.thecityatlas.org).

What we’re looking for:

You, Your ideas, and Your Creativity!

Do you want to get involved? Hone those communication, photography, or other skills? Are you

interested in sustainability, improving your city, or getting something cool in New Haven on the

radar? City Atlas: New Haven wants to help you do it!

We are looking for content that is local ​and relevant to New Haven. Therefore, we want to

invite submissions from all areas and perspectives across the city of New Haven who have

different stories to tell or “insider knowledge.” What’s your story? What do you love about New

Haven? What’s your vision for the future of New Haven?

If you are interested in producing content for City Atlas, we would like to know you can think

creatively and critically. Here’s the challenge:

1. Pick an issue that you care about and that you think is relevant to New Haven.
2. Come up with a brief pitch (a few paragraphs at most) that details
   • What the issue is
   • The population it affects
   • Why it's important
   • What future solutions might be out there
   • What medium you might use to present all of this information.

**You can look to pieces on City Atlas: New York (http://newyork.thecityatlas.org/index/) for

guidance.

How To Submit:

Interested applicants should send a pitch of their idea and/or a brief sample of the medium they

are interested in producing via email to liana.epstein@thecityatlas.org with “City Atlas: New

Haven Content Submission” in the subject line. Please address the questions listed above and

tell us what your story can bring to the project, and why it should be told!

Have questions? Want to learn more?

Contact Liana Epstein at liana.epstein@thecityatlas.org

Details for submitting ideas here: City Atlas: New Haven | Content Submission

***Link here: http://bit.ly/1KboYp2

The following Comstock Magazine article offers prescriptive (not necessarily research based) advice to nonprofit boards on how to be functional. Again with this presumption that nonprofit boards are predominantly dysfunctional! Now I'm not denying that there are indeed dysfunctional nonprofit boards (this is pretty much my stock and trade as a governance consultant) but nonprofit boards by-and-large function, they just do not always function efficiently and effectively.
My first wish, lets not focus on dysfunction but efficiency and effectiveness. Nonprofit board work should focus on results, not conditions. Maybe this is semantics for some but the difference to me is about what I truly care about - supporting nonprofit boards so they can achieve mission.
But back to the article. In my experience, board members are frequently highly engaged individuals. Depending on the board's stage of development, engagement ranges from making it to all the scheduled board and committee meetings to actively volunteering (especially for boards in their infancy and adolescent stages) and passionate people. Do boards engage in doing the work of governing? Perhaps less so. Are they engaged? Yes. So, are is all the advice given in the following article correct? Maybe. I for one do indeed agree that all great boards begin, not solely, with great chairs. But they equally begin with selecting the right people for the job. Composition matters. And yes, term limits matter when enforced but the question is to whom do they matter and for what outcome.

Well readers, please take a look at the following and be sure to consider that the question is: do the following "tips" increase my board's effectiveness and efficiency? And remember, the conversation is one for all to have, not just one.
Let’s Get Functional

3 tips for better board performance
BACKARTICLEJUN 18, 2015By Kim Tucker
Our region’s nonprofits save lives everyday. Many of them do so despite answering to dysfunctional boards. From all-volunteer, grassroots organizations to multi-million-dollar, statewide agencies, we’ve heard the stories of boards that lack leadership, management, strategy and vision.
Most board members join an organization for the right reasons, but many fail to make a meaningful impact. Meanwhile, executive directors complain their board lacks engagement and makes unreasonable demands. Obviously, a disconnect exists, but this scenario has a solution and can be fixed. Here’s how:
First, recognize that highly functioning boards share these attributes:

An engaged board chair — someone not over-committed, who is available, responsive and supportive of the executive director
A culture of accountability among board members
Board term limits that are followed and celebrated
Objectives that are accomplished between board meetings
Structured meetings with the advance distribution of consent calendar and meeting materials

Exceptional board management requires strong leadership. The board chair should pay attention to and make great use of individual board members’ talents and interests. A strong board chair should also establish a culture of accountability with personalized job descriptions that leverage members’ spheres of influence. Board leaders should inform members that the expectation is an individual contribution averaging six hours of monthly service outside of board meeting time.
Successful board meetings are dynamic exchanges wherein everyone engages, and discussions are about the strategic and long-term. Does that sound like your last meeting? If not and you’re a board chair, consider how your style might contribute to a lack of engagement. Are you too focused on consensus? Do you steamroll through the agenda, not allowing time for meaningful discussion? Do you let that one annoying board member dominate the discussion? If so, accept responsibility, and take corrective action.
You are responsible for the culture of the board, and you can change it to one of accountability, respect and impact. Transforming a board into an exceptional one, or at least improving its performance, is an exercise the board chair shares with the executive director. Together, consider these upgrades.
Recruit strategically. Give up pursuing for your board the nine players in your area who run big corporations, and focus instead on a diverse group that aligns with your mission. Recruit new board members who are passionate about the organization and have a firm grasp on whom or what it serves and how it goes about achieving its mission.
Train your new folks well. Once you identify a new board member and they willingly accept, remember that it’s not the qualified who are called, its the called who get qualified. Provide great mission-centric exposure and information, and make sure the board has an orientation protocol that offers periodic training on a variety of subjects. The protocol will get your new members up and running and will establish a pipeline for new board members.
Training for new board members should include an introduction to a strong committee structure where newbies can visualize a good fit for their skills. Start by combining all internal, external and governance-related functions into three committees, with every member assigned to just one committee. Getting work done at the committee level and between meetings allows time for big-picture discussions at the board meetings.
Whether a board member is new or has been around a while, institute an individual board development plan for each person. Toss out the old job description that gently suggests 75 percent attendance at meetings, and instead convey higher expectations. Create a fill-in-the-blank template that generates ideas of how each individual can make a difference for the organization. You’ll be amazed how ho-hum can morph to wow when board members are empowered with information and direction.
Commit to individualized attention. Part of the job of board chair is to conduct meaningful, strategic planning and board evaluations annually. Meet one-on-one with each member of your board at least once a year. The outcomes will be valuable when considering whom to groom as a potential leader.
If you are an executive director, get to know these board members. Conduct your own one-on-one interviews, especially with new board members, and do it well within the first 90 days of their term. It will be very helpful to you to know how each board member can support the mission, i.e. support you. A great board will have your back if relationships are formed early, expectations are clear and courtesy and respect are mutual.
If you serve on a nonprofit board and feel out of the loop or think you don’t matter, think again. Consider the above-mentioned upgrades — and speak up!
Don’t forget, you are on a board because you bring skills to the table. Your nonprofit’s impact depends on the engagement of all board members. If strategic, mission-centric board pursuits aren’t happening, take it upon yourself to lead change.

           Greetings To All!!!

\Grove Street Cemetery will again be celebrating the July 4th holiday with the Governor's Foot Guard and paying honor to David Humphreys as part of this American celebration.

The festivities will begin at 09:00am on July 4th.

                                                                Please come join us!!  

All the best,

Patricia Illingworth

Chief Docent

203.389.5403

Part-time Positions Available at New Haven Reads. We have two part-time positions now available at New Haven Reads: an Assistant Site Director at our Dixwell Site and a Book Bank Assistant. To learn more about these positions, please check our our website: http://newhavenreads.org/home/get-involved/careers/. Any questions? Email Kirsten at kirsten@newhavenreads.org! 

New Haven Bike Month was a celebration of biking culture this past May 2015 in collaboration with Elm City Cycling, the New Haven Department of Transportation, the New Haven Parks Department, and many other community members. It included over 160+ events, including over 50 large group rides, 30 bike repair clinics, 5 Open Streets events, and much more. 

We had two main goals with New Haven Bike Month:

1. To promote the already tremendous number of biking activities happening in New Haven.

2. And to expand -- by neighborhood, type of rider, etc. -- what it means to be a part of the biking community in this city.

We are very proud of what we were able to accomplish and begin during this past May. Movements, however, are only sustainable with consistent and regular reflection on both the successes and weaknesses. In early June, after sending handfuls of Thank You letters to our partners, the New Haven Bike Month organizers, volunteers, and participants met up for an After-Potluck/Debrief to discuss what worked, what didn't works, future goals, and next steps. In addition, a survey was sent around to folks who were unable to attend the debriefing session.

Here is a link to the summarized debrief notes.

Have feedback as well? We would be thrilled to listen, whether you heard of Bike Month of not, whether you participated in Bike Month or not, your thoughts are extremely valuable. Here is a link to survey.

For more information on New Haven Bike Month, here is the link to our website.

Want to get involved further? Want to meet up with the organizers to discuss all things biking in New Haven? Email caroline.tanbee.smith@gmail.com.

Intern with City Atlas: New Haven!

City Atlas: New Haven (modeled on an existing project in NYC), will be a hub for sustainable initiatives in New Haven, and a way to link up a conversation about the future with other cities around the world. We're seeking summer interns for the 2015 season. If you're interested in contributing ideas to improve New Haven we'd love to have you join our team!

Get in touch if you're interested, and please circulate this opportunity to your friends, classmates, students from other New Haven schools, colleagues, and anyone else whom you think would be interested in working on our team this summer.

See attached PDF (below) for internship details and feel free to contact Liana Epstein, lead developer, at liana.epstein@artistascitizen.org with questions! Thanks!

City Atlas Summer Internship Description

*Follow this link if you have difficulty downloading the attachment

About City Atlas: New Haven

City Atlas is a new project about the future of New Haven. We feature and promote the sustainability goals of New Haven and Yale, and help connect members of the Yale community to the city's new initiatives and civic organizations. We aim to strengthen the ties between social justice, sustainability, and community building.

City Atlas: New Haven is modeled on City Atlas: New York. City Atlas: New Haven is the beginning of a network of sites in partnership with universities, drawing on talented young people to create a new, locally relevant platform for a public conversation about the future. (A project is beginning in China as well, at beijing.thecityatlas.org).

Check out City Atlas: New Haven!

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Ok. The folks who have modified but effectively stood-by their anti-gay position that gay scouts cannot join the ranks of scout leaders have made another value statement: The Boy Scouts of America has banned water-gun fights saying that it's not kind" for scouts to shoot each other with "simulated firearms." The organization's new National Shooting Manual also forbids the use of potato guns and marshmallow shooters.

I'm not quite clear what impact this edict will have on the Scout's CBP Explorer Program (which I once read includes weapons training) but the idea that water-gun fights are not "kind" and the recently reversed modification of the Scouts anti-gay position aren't easily reconcilable for me. A simple conflict in values is what I call it.

Nonprofit values statements are the parameter-setting commitments developed to guide the board, staff, volunteers and "customers" in both the way they do business and expectations. So, when values compete, what should anyone expect?

Three-cheers to the Scouts for considering the value of "kindness". Three more cheers for the Scouts when they get all their values to be consistent.

Common Ground is seeking a new, half-time staff member who can work with teachers to strengthen our curriculum and classroom teaching — ensuring it is driven by standards, rooted in our local community and unique site, culturally relevant and inclusive, and pushing students towards both environmental leadership and college success.

Our ideal candidate has classroom teaching experience, deep roots in New Haven, and a commitment to sustainability and social justice.

Read a full job posting on our web site: http://commongroundct.org/2015/06/common-ground-seeks-half-time-curriculum-developer-environmental-resource-teacher/

Hello To All,

In June, we celebrate Father's Day. It has always been a time honored celebration. Grove Street Cemetery holds our 1st Mayor of New Haven Roger Sherman - a Founding Father, if you will.

Maybe this would seem trite but we can honor this special Founding Father. He was the only Founding Father to sign all four documents setting up the United States of America - The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, The Constitution of the United States, and The Articles of Confederation. Sherman was a self-made man who was by trade a cobbler and forged his own way into an honored life. Thomas Jefferson, said of him, "He never said a stupid thing in his life." And his original home is on Chapel Street where the Union League is now in residence.

So if you feel like it - come see the wonderful monument of our Founding "Father" - Roger Sherman.

All the best and Happy Father's Day To All,

Patricia Illingworth

Chief Docent

The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) is pleased to announce the results of the inaugural round of grants under its Matching Funds Program. Of the many qualified proposals, the CIRCA Executive Steering Committee selected four outstanding projects to receive matching funds. Collectively these projects will work to advance the mission of the Institute, increasing resiliency in Connecticut towns and cities to the threats of climate change. In total, CIRCA will provide nearly $100,000 in matching funds to support these diverse and important projects:

The Kent Land Trust: Creation of a Strategic Workplan to Identify Parcels Enhancing Climate Resilience

Lower Connecticut River Valley Regional Council of Governments: Regional Long Term Recovery-Land Use Resiliency Plan

Wei Zhang and Research Team from the University of Connecticut: Resilient Coastal Communities under Wind and Flood Hazards

Stephen Swallow and Research Team from the University of Connecticut: Public Support for Adaptation to Sea Level Rise

Please see the CIRCA webpage for funding opportunities through the Institute's Matching Funds Program. Our second round of grants available under the Matching Funds program is currently available!

CIRCA will consider requests from Connecticut municipalities, institutions, universities, foundations, and other non-governmental organizations. To be funded, a successful Matching Funds request must have a commitment of primary funding within 6 months of the CIRCA award announcement, or have received a waiver from the CIRCA Executive Steering Committee. CIRCA Matching Funds will provide up to 25% of the primary funder's contribution other than a municipal or State of Connecticut funds to enhance the likely success of project proposals that advance CIRCA research and implementation priorities. Requests are due to CIRCA by July 15, 2015.