Vanessa King

Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN)

USDN is a trusted peer-to-peer network of local government sustainability practitioners across the US and Canada who are committed to transformative change that builds equitable, resilient, sustainable communities. Over 250 cities and counties and 2,000 individuals are members of the network. USDN delivers programs, curates partnerships, and creates connections to strengthen sustainability practitioners' capacity as changemakers and test, spread and scale innovative practices and solutions. USDN's staff and members collaborate to lead and influence the field to achieve larger systems-level change. We work on adaptive leadership, racial equity, building energy, climate resilience, equity-centered community collaboration and engagement, renewable energy, climate action planning, low-carbon mobility, evolving the field, and more. We believe: A diverse, inclusive, and equity-centered climate movement is essential to achieving our ambitious goals for equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities. Local governments have a responsibility to partner and play an influential role within the movement toward equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities. By working together, local government sustainability practitioners and their partners can accurately diagnose the root causes of the multiple societal emergencies we are experiencing today and identify and catalyze opportunities to resolve them. The network is a unique organizing model that accelerates transformative change because it centers and connects practitioners to each other and their communities. If you want to become a member of USDN, please visit our webpage to join! https://www.usdn.org/join.html#/