Transitioning to clean energy and building climate resilience are complex challenges that cannot be solved in silos. We need a variety of perspectives, skillsets, and constituencies to tackle climate change and foment a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future. A growing number of state and federal grant programs are requiring cross-sectoral cooperation and robust partnerships, which leaves those without strong community relationships at a disadvantage. Yet meaningful collaboration is not easy, especially for organizations that are under-staffed, with limited time to build partnerships. This session will uplift successful examples of robust climate collaboration in California, providing practical insights into how these efforts were able to gain momentum and access funding. The speakers will also share useful tips for practitioners who are struggling to get meaningful partnerships off the ground. The session will be highly interactive, with opportunities for attendees to dialogue with speakers and learn from each other’s experiences.

• Karalee Brown | Assistant Executive Director, Institute for Local Government
• Emi Wang | Director for Capacity Building, The Greenlining Institute
• Wilma Franco | Executive Director, SELA Collaborative
• Ian Gabriel | Director of Data, Policy & Planning, Lift to Rise
• Moderator: Ena Lupine | Program Manager, Community Assistance for Climate Equity, Strategic Growth Council