Cool City Challenge in Petaluma
August 27, 2021
The population at large is becoming increasingly aware that the climate crisis is not something that will happen in the future. It is happening now, and there is not much time left before many of the irreversible environmental tipping points have been passed. Though the challenge can feel daunting, there is hope. But we need to take swift action.
Right now, Petaluma, CA (where Point Blue’s headquarters is currently located) is in the running for an innovative new $1M challenge grant called the “Cool City Challenge,” a community-based multi-year program that focuses on building up our social networks to help neighborhoods become more planet friendly, disaster resilient, and community-rich while working towards Petaluma’s existing goal to become a carbon neutral city by 2030. This grant encourages residents to get involved by offering funding and in-kind support to those cities who can show they have ample community support–from individuals, businesses, and organizations–to achieve major collective action.
Point Blue has signed on as a Community Partner in this effort. We’re in good company with a number of Petaluma organizations that have already committed to be part of this challenge, and the list keeps growing:
City of Petaluma – Petaluma People Services Center PPSC – Ygrene – Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) – Petaluma Family Resource Center – Zero Waste Sonoma – Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley – Boox Eco Packaging – Jupiter Foods – Lunchette – Out West Garage – WORK Petaluma – 350 Petaluma – Aqus Community Foundation – Daily Acts – G Street Action – Petaluma Re-leaf – Point Blue – Rebuilding Together – Elders Climate Action
We are excited that Point Blue as an organization is part of this positive effort in the local community. As individuals, each of you can be part of the effort too! Petaluma is showing very strongly so far in this challenge and, in order to finalize the grant application and potentially win one of three $1M awards, Petaluma needs to sign up 200 Cool Block Leaders by the end of the month.
Would you like to join the effort? Here’s how:
Join an informational session on Zoom on to learn more about how to be part of this unique opportunity and become a Cool Block Leader. (Note: the response email with Zoom details will come from John Crowley, john@aqus.com, with the subject “RSVP Cool City webinar”. Check inbox and junk/spam for that email with Zoom link.)
If you’d like to sign up as a cool block leader with Point Blue, please contact Kait Schroeder at kschroeder@pointblue.org.
Please share this information widely, especially with Petaluma community members!