Our mission is to reshape our communities and our local economies in the service of resiliency, racial equity, and carbon-neutrality. Instead of extractive ‘business as usual’, we aspire to inclusive models that prioritize drawdown; serve all community members equally; are healthy and generative; and that recognize the fragility and wisdom of nature in balance.
Wednesday Climate Action Coffee Series: Get woke and smell the coffee!
***Covid-19 Update: All meetings will now be virtual, Wednesdays 8:00 to 9:30 am
Zoom Meeting Video Link
https://zoom.us/j/387972672?
If you’re joining from the phone app, use:
Meeting ID: 387 972 672
Password: 227728For phone dial-in (voice only) dial: 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 387 972 672
Password: 227728
If you’re joining from the phone app, use:
Meeting ID: 387 972 672
Password: 227728For phone dial-in (voice only) dial: 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 387 972 672
Password: 227728
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***Special Meeting: April 8th, 7 – 9 pm EST: Zoom call to check in with MoCo Ag producers and consumers
Call in and other details here.
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Action Item: Petition to Build A Sustainable Urban Habitat Demonstration at Dorothy’s Woods
Hey neighbors — we, members of the Takoma Park Mobilization’s Takoma Alliance for Living Local Economy (TALLE), believe the climate emergency requires many actions both global and local. One local action is a request to the City of Takoma Park to allow us to create a sustainable habitat demonstration area at Dorothy’s Woods. Please join us by signing the petition here. Thanks!
[Posted April 3, 2020]
Update: read/download the draft proposal.
Sign up for CAC updates |
| To join our email list and Google Group, email Dan Sisken at dansisken@gmail.com |
Previous Meetings
March 25: Our Farming Community and Local Food Supply – What Now?
Notes and links from the March 25 call
Takoma Alliance for Local Living Economy (TALLE) invites you to join a “Regional Food Support Forum” via Zoom this Wednesday, 3/25 at 8 AM (Zoom details below).
This next Climate Action Coffee (BYO!) puts the conversation about issues facing our regional food system on the fast track and will explore what we can do to help. We will discuss how to mobilize local volunteers and other resources to support local farmers, distributors and retail stores if/when needed. This is a surreal time coming at one of the busiest times of the year for farmers as they start to plant their crops.
* Can we identify chief needs now and anticipated in the near future?
* How might we collectively and individually meet those needs?
Moderating the discussion will be Philip Bogdonoff, TALLE/CAC Steering Group and Director, Washington DC Chapter, Biodiversity for a Livable Climate
Anticipated Resource People:
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Caroline Taylor, Executive Director, Montgomery Countryside Alliance (http://mocoalliance.org/)
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Lee Langstaff of Shepherd’s Hey Farm
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Mike Houston, General Manager, TPSS Co-op (tpss.coop)
- Nick Maravell of Nick’s Organic Farm
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Jackie DeCarlo, CEO, MANNA Food Center (www.mannafood.org) [or an alternate]
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Dale Tibbitts, Special Assistant, Office of the County Executive (https://www.
montgomerycountymd.gov/exec/) -
Heather Bruskin, Executive Director, Montgomery County Food Council (https://mocofoodcouncil.org/)
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Gene Kingsbury, Kingsbury’s Orchard (in the Ag Reserve) (https://www.
kingsburysorchard.com/) -
And possibly others (e.g., Greg Glenn, Rocklands Farm & Vineyard; Delegate Lorig Charkoudian)
Please consider buying a share in a CSA in your region. Regenerative and other soil-building farming methods, when practiced in your watershed/foodshed, help protect community well-being.
Message from Montgomery Countryside Alliance on Helping the Farming Community
Here at MCA we are working on ways to help the farming community through this crisis and also help hungry folks tap into healthy local food. We want to hear from you on what you are worried about and what might help – is it labor, distribution, supply chain, what? The quick survey is anonymous but if you want to be involved in planning a response with us make sure you include your contact info. This can be our finest hour.
Take the survey here and thank you!
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March 4 – Climate Action Coffee: Sustainable Urban Habitat
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Busboys and Poets, Takoma
‘Nicolás Guillén room’,
235 Carroll St. NW
Washington DC
What are the sustainable options for our yards, pollinators and green space in an increasingly unpredictable wet, dry and hot climate? Please join us to discuss sustainable practices in our region how we can adapt to climate change by cultivating sustainable gardens and rainscapes with key resource people. All are welcome.
Resource People:
Galen Tromble (moderator) – yoga teacher, climate solution educator, founder of ClimateYogi.org, and Permaculture practitioner interested in
community based climate solutions.
Lincoln Smith – a certified landscape architect, permaculture design teacher and founder of Forested, LLC. Created a 10 acre demonstration
edible food forest in Bowie, MD. https://www.forested.us/
https://www.forested.us/permaculture-design-course
Liz Humes Estep – Founder of the pollinator non-profit Remeadow:
https://remeadow.org/blog/
Matt Cohen – Owner Matt’s Habitats, a Silver Spring business focusing on Edible Landscapes, Wildlife Friendly Gardens, Native, Drought
Tolerant & Low Maintenance Plants
https://sites.google.com/a/mattshabitats.com/www/gardening
Mary Travaglini – Montgomery County Program Manager, Organic Lawn and Landscape Program
Busboys and Poets will provide complimentary fair trade coffee.
Sponsored by Busboys and Poets, TALLE/Takoma Park Mobilization
Busboys and Poets’ full service breakfast menu will be available, as well as complimentary Fair Trade coffee. We encourage anyone who is able to continue the conversation following the 7:30-9 a.m. program, either in the main dining area or in the Guillen Room, as Busboys and Poets generously invites us to remain there if we choose. Full breakfast service is available.
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February 12 – Financing a Local Living Economy Through Green Banking
Video of Event
7:30-9:00 AM
How can finance help mitigate climate change and promote a just transition to a green economy? Please join us to discuss past, present and future initiatives in our region and beyond with key resource people. All are welcome.
Resource People
Larry Martin (moderator) – Steering Committee member of the DC Public Banking Center.
Michael Brennan – UMD grad student and public banking activist.
Thomas Deyo – Inaugural CEO of the Montgomery County Green Bank, mandate is to bring greater access to clean energy and energy efficiency financing for households, businesses, and institutions in Montgomery County.
Dan Robinson – former Takoma Park City Councilmember, leader in Takoma Credit Union initiative and local activist/entrepreneur.
Steve Seuser – Steering Committee member of the DC Public Banking Center. 25 years working with public, private and nonprofit sectors in affordable housing, renewable energy, economic development, and finance.
February 5 Discussion: Takoma Park’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Agenda for TP City’s Feb 5 Public Discussion
Background document including recommendations
Video of Feb 5 Climate Action Coffee, including Powerpoint
January 29: “The Green New Deal & Sunrise Movement’s Plan To Win; a coffee date for Youth & Allies”
Wednesday, January 29, 7:30-9:00 am
Busboys & Poets (big room in back)•235 Carroll St NW, Takoma, DC 20012
Busboys will provide complimentary fair trade coffee. Full breakfast menu will be available.
Sponsored by: Busboys, Climate Action Coffee, Sunrise Movement, Organic Consumers Association
Then, same day in the evening: “Climate Reporting Challenges (6-8 pm); The Green New Deal & Sunrise Movement’s Plan To Win (8-8:30 pm)”
January 29, 6-8:30 pm; Reporting panel is 6:00-8:00 pm; Sunrise presentation is 8:00-8:30 pm, followed by discussion
Busboys & Poets (big room in back)•235 Carroll St NW, Takoma, DC 20012
Full menu available.
Sponsored by: Busboys, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Mother Jones, TIME Magazine, Data for Progress, Sunrise Movement
Next, attend Sunrise Movement’s Plan to Win the Green New Deal Launch Party at Rhizome in Takoma.Friday, January 31. 4:00-6:30 pm |
January 15 Event: Community Choice Energy Bill—A Game Changer in the Transition to Green
Wednesday, January 15, 2020, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Busboys and Poets, Takoma
235 Carroll St NW, DC
Join us for a conversation about Community Choice Energy with Lily Hawkins of Food & Water Action and Gina Mathias, Takoma Park’s Sustainability Manager, on Wednesday, January 15.
Community Choice Energy (CCE), a bill sponsored by Delegate Lorig Charkoudian and by Senator Pamela Beidle, could enable Maryland to quickly transition to renewable energy and greatly reduce energy costs for Maryland consumers. CCE enables communities to establish energy aggregation programs, like others already operating successfully around the country. It would allow local governments to directly negotiate with utilities, driving down rates for consumers and enabling investment in clean, renewable energy. The City of Takoma Park and Montgomery County support the bill. Gina Mathias will discuss the importance of the CCE in reaching Takoma Park’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2035, and will discuss her sustainability plan that she will propose to the City Council on January 22.
Background
December 11 Event: The Future of a Low-Carbon Economic Development in Montgomery County: A Discussion between County Executive Marc Elrich and Michael Shuman
Throughout his political career, Marc Elrich has advocated reshaping economic development in Montgomery County in light of the emerging climate crisis. What has he accomplished thus far? What more should be done? What new strategies are needed? What can Montgomery County residents do to support this goal? This program will begin with discussion led by Michael Shuman, who has written five books on local economic development, and then will welcome your questions and recommendations.
November 13: Building Equity and Promoting Drawdown in our Regional Food Systems – The Conversation Continues
TPSS Co-op is joining Busboys and Poets and the Takoma Alliance for Local Living Economy (TALLE/Takoma Park Mobilization), to co-host the Climate Action Coffee series for the month of November and beyond.
Please join us for the continuing discussion on ‘Building Equity and Promoting Drawdown in our Regional Food Systems’ on November 13 with Lindsay Smith, Regional Food Systems Value Chain Coordinator, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
In mid-November, climate activists, legislators, small farmer advocates, cooperative grocery stores and other food system leaders came together to highlight the importance of strengthening our regional food system and to offer guidance in determining where activists can step up to further the urgent work already underway. Stay tuned for a list of action items, and watch the full session.
Also read the summary blogpost by Susanne Lowen on the TPSS Co-op website.
Busboys and Poets’ full service breakfast menu will be available, as well as complimentary Fair Trade coffee. We encourage anyone who is able to continue the conversation following the 7:30-9 a.m. program, either in the main dining area or in the Guillen Room, as Busboys and Poets generously invites us to remain there if we choose. Full breakfast service is available. 
7:30-9:00 am
Busboys and Poets, Takoma
235 Carroll St NW, DC
The Climate Action Coffee takes place every Wednesday, 7:30 am-9 am at Busboy and Poets, Takoma.
This is a weekly series meant to provide an organizing workspace with action-oriented discussion circles focused on building the kinds of markets, society, food systems and resiliency that we want for our region; raising watershed and environmental justice consciousness; and following youth climate leaders in taking immediate action to reverse the dramatic disruption of our climate systems. Bring your vision and passion for reshaping our communities and local economies in the service of resiliency, racial equity, and carbon-neutrality.
Free coffee compliments of Busboys!
Every Wednesday at 7:30-9:00 am
Busboys and Poets, Takoma
Nicolas Guillen Room
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2536864976380836/
Sign up for updates here
Sponsored by Takoma Park Mobilization/TALLE Working Group and Busboys and Poets
See Busboys In House Series