Mala Kumar

I'm proud and excited that DEPLOY/US is featured by the influential Founders Pledge as a high-impact funding opportunity to transform US climate action. ✨ DEPLOY/US builds the impact of orgs and leaders working right-of-center on #climatechange, as a foundation for #bipartisan policymaking. (And we're the only organization in the US with that mission.) Here are the five headlines for why Founders Pledge recommends DEPLOY/US: ⏩ US climate policy is incredibly important for global decarbonization. ⏩ The success or failure of US climate policy is strongly affected by partisan dynamics. ⏩ There is reason to expect this lever can be affected. (If you feel skeptical of this, read this section of their recommendation brief, linked below. It might surprise you!) ⏩ Funding for this work is very low. (Less than 1% of US climate philanthropy goes to groups mobilizing right-of-center climate work.) ⏩ Comparatively a high-leverage intervention for decarbonization. Read Founders Pledge's full research brief for their reasoning for why funders should invest in right-of-center climate action: https://lnkd.in/edqmAxNY

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Here are a few #climatejobs with the Climate Advocacy Lab. (Their customized research digest is one of the few newsletters I read every week!)

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Social innovation to watch! The thesis here - leverage AI to help communities build political power for the more equitable and better world we want to see - is exactly what we need for these technologies, and led by someone with hard-earned expertise on both data and organizing, committed to governance models alongside ethical tech.

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Inside Philanthropy: "The new report is the latest product of Good Energy , a nonprofit that the The New York Times dubbed “Hollywood’s Climate Advisor.” It’s one of a variety of philanthropy-backed organizations that bring climate narratives to screens around the world... Good Energy itself grew out of Joyner’s recognition that other social movements were working with Hollywood to put narratives on screen, whether that was Define American on immigration or IllumiNative Org on Native narratives, but not the climate movement. “At that point there was nothing,” she said. “That seemed like a really big gap.” Convincing Hollywood to act, it turned out, was the easier sell. “It’s actually been a lot harder to get climate philanthropy to invest in narrative change,” she said. As ClimateWorks Foundation has found, climate mitigation philanthropy accounts for just 2% of global philanthropy, and all public engagement funding around climate by foundations has accounted for about $255 million annually in recent years. Strategic communications and narrative change work are essentially smaller slices of that amount, and funding for films fits somewhere within them. The oil and gas industry, by contrast, spends about $750 million annually on climate-related communications. But amid burgeoning philanthropic interest in narrative change strategies and a growing willingness to fund intersectional work, perhaps climate narratives will benefit. Good Energy is now supported by an eclectic mix of backers, including some of the world’s biggest climate philanthropies like Walton Family Foundation and Quadrivium Foundation, as well as Pop Culture Collaborative. Another is Bloomberg Philanthropies. “This is a breath of fresh air, a really different approach,” said Katherine Oliver, a principal at Bloomberg who directs the film program and is a member of the Good Energy Advisory Council. Backing culture change is not always thought of as the domain of metrics-first funders like Bloomberg. As Oliver noted, “Mike Bloomberg has always said, ‘You can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” But Good Energy’s data-oriented approach has been a fit.” The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is one of the very few endowed philanthropies directly supporting not just docs about climate, but scripted storytelling. The grantmaker has funded or given awards to more than 800 films since 1995, including the climate parable and apocalypse comedy “Don’t Look Up.” Climate may not be an intentional focus for Sloan, but in recent years, it has become a more common ingredient. “I just run into climate because it's there rather than looking for it,” doron weber said. “In that sense, my program probably reflects the concerns that are out there.” These days in philanthropy, no matter what a funder is focused on, that is an increasingly common experience." https://lnkd.in/gV3c7eqq

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📣 Important upgrade news about our ENCORE tool 👇. ENCORE helps financial institutions take their first steps towards understanding their dependencies and impacts on nature. Join 4,000 registered users who already use the tool. #naturalcapital #TNFD #sustainability

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Climate Change Will Affect Us All But Will Likely Have a Disproportionate Impact on Marginalized Populations ICF is doing incredible things with data and technology that illustrate that. My colleagues just released a groundbreaking report that leverages data and technology to project future extreme heat exposure in disadvantaged communities. Read the report to learn more and what to do about it: https://lnkd.in/eXSxj4S9

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Hey y’all, specifically my digital native female identifying friends in responsible tech- With the support of the amazing organizers at All Tech is Human, we are putting together a channel for young women in DC who are all about Responsible Tech to come together and solve tech’s wickedest issues (or rant about them.) Through our quasi-group-chat-slack-channel we will have a safe space to convene for, but not limited to- - Hosting informal happy hours and salon like dinners - Setting up remote co-working sessions - Identifying areas for cross-organizational collaboration on projects that matter to us - Celebrating each other's wins - Planning how to strengthen the pipeline for women in responsible tech And, of course, what I am most excited about- making friends with people who won’t judge you for crying about a lack of comprehensive data privacy legislation in this country! This is for anyone in DC who’s looking to blend a bit of activism with tech, inspired by what All Tech Is Human stands for. If you’ve been looking for a way to mesh your tech interests with making a positive impact (and meet some awesome people along the way), this could be it. Interested? Fill out this form! Got questions? Message me! Let's make this tech space a bit more us. Help me recruit by sharing with your networks!! Xo https://lnkd.in/eBe2aHrK

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Speaks for itself

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Attention all accessible wayfinding #disabilitytech startups! The Boston MBTA RFP for Accessible Wayfinding Technology is live and accepting submissions through May 22. More info below: The MBTA issued a request for proposals to implement a pilot for accessible wayfinding technology to assist riders who are blind or have low vision in finding their way around an indoor station and locating a busway or bus stop. The MBTA will select vendors and then conduct moderated user testing with riders who are blind or have low vision. The goal of the pilot is to determine whether any of these technologies truly makes it easier for riders to safely, independently, and confidently navigate a transit environment. Interested vendors must be registered and monitor the schedule on Commbuys (https://lnkd.in/e8uu-n7F) to submit a response. All questions can be directed to the Commbuys Help Desk at 1-888-627-8283 or 617-720-319. Bid #: BD-24-1206-MBTA-MBTA-101997 Bid Description: RFP 33-24 Accessible Wayfinding Technology RFP Calendar 4/30, 11:00am - Pre-bid conference 5/10, 2:00pm - Deadline to submit bidder questions 5/22, 2:00pm - Response due date 7/8 (estimated) - Virtual presentations

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"Funding at the intersection between climate justice and digital rights has been scarce in the past, but now, a new fund is looking to fill that gap. Supported by the Ford Foundation, the Internet Society Foundation, the THE OMIDYAR GROUP LLC's Luminate, and the Mozilla Foundation, the Green Screen Catalyst Fund has announced grants to 15 recipients in support of projects including research on the climate impacts of the digital economy and tech infrastructure, creative storytelling and art projects to visualize technology's impacts on the environment, regional coalition and capacity-building for rising organizational leaders, and the development of sustainable technology, tools and infrastructure to measure and reduce environmental impact." https://lnkd.in/gPD8Qpf5

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The best case study I taught last term was by Dorothee Baumann-Pauly and is about Veja’s efforts to responsibly source natural rubber from Brazil. Dorothee’s human rights work is amazing in general, and inspires me greatly. I will share the case study in the first comment. Here, she wrote for NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights about the gap between academic and practitioner research, and how much, much more work is needed to close that gap. https://lnkd.in/gwG3_zcF

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Highly recommend this new podcast that juxtaposes intergenerational wisdom between Joanna Macy (author of Active Hope, buddhist and systems thinking scholar) and Jessica Serrante, a young climate leader. A favorite line from Episode 2: "Being part of planetary transformation is hard work...we are the ones that get to figure it all out, create possibility and bring the new future into being ourselves." Yes, the only way forward is not just envisioning a better, more equitable, resilient and sustainable future, but bringing your full self, heart, grief, imagination, creativity and possibility to this difficult and important work.

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I spoke with Jade Sasser about her new book, “Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question,” which explores the complex intersection of climate change and reproductive decisions. We discussed the importance of diversifying the conversation around climate emotions, understanding climate anxiety as a collective experience, the challenges faced by climate-concerned parents, and cultural pressures around having children. Sasser emphasizes the power of inclusive dialogue and emotional resilience as we navigate this uncertain future together. Her insights provide much-needed perspective on one of the most profound questions of our time. Read our full interview through the link in comments. #ClimateAnxiety #ReproductiveJustice #HopeInAction

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If you are looking for a magical community space where you can... ✨ Connect with neighbors and build generative friendships ✨ Learn about local climate solutions in NYC (this one will be on food justice + circularity!) ✨ Take meaningful action with your new friends to combat your climate anxiety while making an actual difference Come to our Soapbox NYC's pop-up community night on Thursday at Rethink Food! You'll be treated to a delicious upcycled dinner and share this meal with people who care deeply about our shared future. Soapbox Project is building joyful spaces for you to transform your climate anxiety into meaningful change, and if you come to our pop-ups this year, you'll be able to shape this social experiment that asks... What if we had vibrant places for people to go where they can truly belong and build community around things that actually matter? If you're in NYC and in your loneliness + climate anxiety feels, come bring them and let's transform them together. Link in the comments! Tag your friends so they can grab the last of our 5 tickets!!

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“How do we move from panic about #AI to preparedness?” It’s a common question in philanthropy right now. Shifting from a fearful, avoidant stance toward AI to one where #philanthropy perceives itself as a leader in responsible adoption will require concerted change management effort in four areas: strategic, structural, technical, and cultural. While I'm certainly not an AI expert, here is how I'm advising funders keen to lead thoughtfully in the AI era. What have I missed? STRATEGIC CHANGES [Part 1 of 4] ■ Your Vision for AI: In concert with community, develop a conceptual vision of AI’s potential for your mission attainment and sector-wide advancement. Cross-reference with your values and guiding principles. Align AI initiatives and grants with vision. ■ Community Engagement: Build ongoing engagement strategies with communities impacted by or engaged in AI technologies to understand their perspectives, concerns, and needs, Incorporate these insights into your vision and guiding principles. Ensure accountability. ■ Manage Risk: Identify, assess, and develop plans to mitigate the risks associated with AI adoption, including technical, ethical, legal, and reputational considerations for your org. ■ Innovation Strategy: Commit to building a culture of innovation and experimentation that encourages exploration of new AI technologies that can streamline and enhance in alignment with your vision, ethical guidelines, and risk. Establish mechanisms for continuous monitoring, feedback, and evaluation to iterate and improve AI strategy, adoption and outcomes. ■ Sector Leadership & Collaboration: Explore opportunities to shape the future of AI. Consider partnerships with academia, business, government, peers and partners in civil society such as Partnership on AI and American Association for the Advancement of Science to leverage expertise and share resources to advance responsible AI adoption. Advocate for policies that promote responsible AI development and adoption, such as open-source foundation models, algorithmic transparency, data privacy, and global AI ethics standards. 4 PART SERIES: AI & ORG CHANGE IN PHILANTHROPY - STRATEGIC: https://lnkd.in/gkf_uEJ3 - STRUCTURAL: https://lnkd.in/dBBQYqsa - TECHNICAL: https://lnkd.in/da6G5ABf - CULTURAL: [Next week] GO DEEPER: - Framework for Responsible AI Adoption in Philanthropy by Technology Association of Grantmakers: https://lnkd.in/gm5JbR4A - "AI Needs You" by Verity Harding: https://lnkd.in/eCyaH5QU - Report from "AI and Philanthropy" event with Partnership on AI: https://lnkd.in/ee3hRZCQ

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Are you advocating for racial equity in anti-equity spaces? This paper from scholars Jeff Niederdeppe, Jiawei Liu, Mikaela Spruill, Neil Lewis Jr, Steven Moore, Erika Franklin Fowler and Sarah Gollust reviewed 80 studies that tested messages to increase support for racial equity policy. They found that messages that emphasize race disparities made White participants LESS likely to support racial equity policies 😖. But! They identify and share recommendations for us working for racial equity in predominately White spaces. "Several studies provide evidence that messages that (a) illuminate the structural causes of social problems; (b) describe the specific ways that existing policies disenfranchise, penalize, or harm Black people; or (c) emphasize ongoing commitment to addressing racial disparities can increase levels of support for social reform among both White and non-White audiences. These strategies appear most likely to shift support when they avoid reference to cues that may be seen as threatening by some White respondents (e.g., population shifts away from a White majority, threats to employment among White people) and when they emphasize present and future aspirations over historical progress in reducing racial inequity." Just a reminder that we can not create systems change and advance racial equity without navigating deeply held racial worldviews and mindsets that shape how White people respond to messages. https://lnkd.in/g8KrKfiR

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Hi Folks, For those who don't know, four years ago, I co-founded Sustainable Progress and Equality Collective with my friend and colleague Joe Torreggiani. Happy 4th Anniversary, SPEC team!! 🎊 The incredible journey we've embarked upon since the inception of SPEC and its historical foundation, the Buffalo Project, a passion project of mine that began a little over fourteen years ago (you can learn more about the Buffalo Project here: https://lnkd.in/gTWe6C67) has been soul fulfilling. It's been a remarkable adventure of dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to making a difference. So what is SPEC? 🌱 Our Mission: From day one, our mission has been clear: to create lasting positive change by nurturing a sense of equality, sustainability, and progress within our communities. We believe in the power of education, mentorship, and collective action to transform lives, and we've seen it happen right before our eyes. 🙌 Milestones Achieved: ✅ Mentored diverse individuals to acquire new skills and unlock their potential. ✅ Facilitated career growth and development for talented, underrepresented individuals. ✅ Fostered a diverse, inclusive, and supportive community of change-makers. ✅ Launched impactful initiatives, like the Journal of Engaged Research, to address pressing social, technological, and environmental issues. ✅ Collaborated with partners in the tech and sustainability space who share our vision and values. 🌍 Impact Beyond Measure: Our collective impact extends far beyond the numbers. It's in the stories of individuals who have found their voices, in the projects that are driving positive change, and in the hope we've ignited in the hearts of many. Check out some of our work: ✅ Our constantly evolving SPEC website here: https://specollective.org/ ✅ Our FY2024 partnership with HackClub here: https://lnkd.in/g_RM9Bwp ✅ You can also check out some of our FY2022-2023 partnership work with RAND's Center to Advance Racial Equity Policy (CAREP) here: https://lnkd.in/gAJ_bbrQ None of this would have been possible without our incredible team's dedication, our partners' unwavering support, and the trust and enthusiasm of all our community members. What Lies Ahead: As we look ahead to year five with excitement and determination, much work still needs to be done. We are more committed than ever to making a lasting impact on the world. Thank you for being a part of our story, and here's to many more years of growth, learning, and positive change! 🌟🌍🤝 #SPECollectiveAnniversary #FourYearsStrong #ImpactMakers

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😊 It is sooo gratifying to see how #governments are recognising the importance and efficacy of #behaviourscience in #policymaking. Just this week, we see that the US government has joined the growing ranks of national governments officially endorsing the use of behaviour science principles in use at the national, organisational and community levels. Go science!! 💪Behaviour science can make significant differences in #health, #education, #environment, #livelihoods, disaster/outbreak preparedness and response, and in general - improving the polictical and cultural climate in how we treat others. We have seen positive examples across the board and this endorsement paves the way for further improvements in every arena. Win-win. Where have YOU seen the positive effects of applied behaviour science in your community or country?

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