Current Leadership Grants
Following is a list of this year's Switzer Leadership Program Grants. These grants are awarded to organizations working with a Switzer Fellow on projects that address critical environmental issues, increase the capacity of the organization to address the issue, and provide ample leadership development opportunities for the Switzer Fellow.
Year Two - Executive Director
Friday, January 6 2012 | by elloyd
Year Two - Executive Director
Maui, HI
$30,000
Whale
Trust received a second year of support for Meagan Jones as its first full-time
Executive Director. Meagan co-founded
the organization in 2001 while getting her PhD, and began working full time after
finishing her degree. Meagan is leading
the organization through the next phase of its growth and development after a
successful previous year developing a strategic plan and fundraising plan. Over the course of the next year, she will
continue plans for the development of Whale Trust’s research and education
center and continued exploration of collaboration opportunities with University
of Hawaii-Maui College.
Transportation Planning for Climate Adaptation and Aquatic Connectivity
Friday, January 6 2012 | by elloyd
Transportation Planning for Climate Adaptation and Aquatic Connectivity
Keene Valley, NY
$35,190
The
Adirondack Nature Conservancy has hired Jessie Levine as a consultant to
develop a pilot program for funding the replacement and upgrade of road culverts to benefit aquatic species and habitat. Working with state and local governments and
ANC’s academic and NGO partners, Jessie will help local highway departments in
the Adirondack region by developing cost-share programs to offset the costs of
installing new culverts that are better adapted to more severe weather
scenarios under a changing climate.
Culvert upgrades will help to ensure habitat connectivity for aquatic
species and help to preserve the integrity of wetlands and waterways as severe
storms and high water events become more common. Jessie’s background in
watershed management and environmental policy will provide needed expertise to complement
ANC’s science and policy staff.
Cumulative Impacts and Sustainable Solutions: Central Valley Water
Friday, January 6 2012 | by elloyd
Cumulative Impacts and Sustainable Solutions: Central Valley Water
Visalia, CA
$40,000
Community
Water Center (CWC) has hired Carolina Balazs as Research Scientist and Scientific
Advisor. Carolina will add scientific
capacity to this grassroots advocacy organization to help inform its policy and
planning efforts as it works to ensure that communities in California’s San
Joaquin Valley have access to safe, clean, affordable drinking water. The San Joaquin Valley is one of the country’s
richest agricultural regions, yet it also has some of the most contaminated
drinking water in the country. Economically
disadvantaged agricultural communities are disproportionately affected by the
poor drinking water quality. Carolina
will generate and analyze scientific data and provide information for CWC’s
activities and policy campaigns. Her
employment at CWC builds on years of dissertation research on Central Valley
water issues, during which she worked closely with CWC.