In the our monthly Regenerate Cascadia Update Session, Clare Attwell and Brandon discussed changes in their approach to update sessions, the significance of a Novo Foundation Grant for Regenerate Cascadia, and the development of a Bioregional Regeneration Fund. They also explored the potential of place mapping, the Hub formation, and the role of regional salons in building community coherence. Lastly, they discussed Regenerate Cascadia’s objectives and strategies, creating a shared vision for sustainability in the Pacific Northwest, and the need for improved presentation and outreach strategies.
Regenerate Cascadia Growth and Novo Foundation Grant
Clare Attwell and Brandon announced a change in their approach to update sessions, focusing on team check-ins and sharing news. They revealed a significant 250,000 Nova Foundation Grant, marking the beginning of a long-term relationship and supporting the core structure of Regenerate Cascadia. The team discussed the ongoing growth and organization of Regenerate Cascadia, the importance of capacity building, and the potential of the grant opportunity to support landscapes and build connections with foundations. They also talked about the need to enhance their capacity by bringing in more support for project management and organizational details, the importance of storytelling, and developing a story telling process. Lastly, they introduced the concept of a ‘bioregional activator’ and the idea of a Bioregional Regeneration Fund, a collaborative partnership aiming to establish a landscape fund bridging the global funding pool down to the landscape level.
Place Mapping, Hub Formation, and Partnerships
Clare and Brandon discussed the development of place mapping and the Hub formation, focusing on bioregional learning and the role of regional salons in building community coherence. They emphasized the need for more structured support and the importance of engaging frontline communities and indigenous nations in the work. They also highlighted the complexities of cross-border partnerships, particularly fiscal sponsorship, and expressed a need for specialized accounting knowledge in this area. Lastly, they discussed the potential of landscape hubs to learn from indigenous communities and the need for better partnerships between their departments.
Transitioning to Presentation and Collaboration Plans
Clare Attwell suggested transitioning to the presentation shortly but opened the floor for other topics first. Given her team’s limited capacity, Nicole expressed interest in further collaboration and requested time after the presentation to discuss. Brandon agreed they could meet separately and assured Nicole her involvement was welcomed despite scheduling constraints. The team discussed getting feedback on the rough draft presentation, with Clare suggesting they record it. Based on Clare’s feedback, Brandon proposed creating an updated version with visuals afterward. The team also agreed to share the case study internally before publication. Brandon will be sharing visuals during the presentation.
Regenerate Cascadia Objectives and Strategies
Clare Attwell and Brandon discussed the objectives and strategies of Regenerate Cascadia, a nonprofit organization supporting regenerative projects and communities in the Cascadia bio-region. They highlighted the importance of a whole-systems approach, building relationships of trust, and developing a digital platform to support these efforts. Regenerate Cascadia is a fiscal sponsorship organization, providing resources and nonprofit status to projects and community groups working towards regenerative goals. They also discussed the ongoing process of developing regional mapping and frameworks to determine appropriate initiatives for each landscape.
Envisioning Session and Presentation Strategies
Clare Attwell proposed an envisioning session to enhance team support and encouraged open contributions. Clare Strawn suggested improvements to the visualization process and proposed guiding questions for the session. The team also discussed presentation strategies for their organization, emphasizing the need for clear and concise communication between new and existing members. Lastly, Brandon proposed using a tool like Notion to create a knowledge base, and Clare suggested modeling existing processes to engage new members.
Creating Shared Sustainability Vision for Cascadia
The team discussed creating a shared vision for sustainability in the Pacific Northwest region, focusing on regenerating Cascadia. They acknowledged the importance of a landscape-scale approach, incorporating historical context and weaving together various sustainability projects. The team also discussed the potential for defining the interior frameworks of Cascadia, the importance of effective presentation and outreach strategies, and the need for a more unified narrative. Plans were made for further communication via email and to attend a visioning session and consider an underground QR code system for information dissemination.
