An Update from Daily Acts’ Executive Director, Trathen Heckman

Twenty-three years ago on May 25th, Daily Acts launched our first program. Since then, we’ve done an incredible amount of transformative work, powered heavily by YOU, our community. Even with all the difficulty right now, there’s so much blooming – in our gardens, our programs, and our community.

Here’s four exciting updates to warm your heart and inspire your daily actions:

1. Expanding our Impact
Over the past year and a half, our team has been working hard installing 64 projects that build water and climate resilience and offer countless other benefits. These efforts are part of the Land Resilience Partnership, a statewide collaborative that is expanding across six regions in California, including Sonoma County. The momentum is growing – we’ll share more soon!

2. Spreading the Word
We’ve also been amplifying our message, models and solutions. Last month, we spoke at the Danish-California Water Dialogues and Permaculture Institute of North America’s national gathering on the power of small groups and climate-resilient landscapes.

3. Local Leadership with National Recognition
For over six years, Daily Acts has been deeply involved in the City of Petaluma’s climate leadership, including helping write the Climate Emergency Framework, supporting the formation of the Climate Commission, and helping catalyze bold climate policy and action.

This hasn’t gone unnoticed – the City of Petaluma was recently asked to apply for the All-America City Award, recognizing innovation in civic engagement and Daily Acts was asked to help write and submit the City’s application. We’re thrilled to share that the City of Petaluma is a semifinalist! Right now I’m helping organize our presentation team with a group of city and community partners for the national competition at the end of June.

4. HCLTech Americas Climate Grant Competition Winner!!!
We’re excited to share that after five intensive stages of competition, Daily Acts finished in the top three as runner up!!! Building on the incredible work in the City of Petaluma in recent years, this project will connect the dots across numerous city planning frameworks, departments and community partners to support folks most at risk of climate-induced flooding and related issues.

The pilot includes installing green infrastructure projects like rain gardens, community engagement and listening, developing landscape templates, and analyzing the impact of scaling small solutions across a city. With Daily Acts’ and the City of Petaluma’s track record of innovation that spreads to other communities, we are excited for this project and look forward to sharing more!

WOWZA. Spring has sprung and sprung and sprung. None of this would be possible without your support. From digging in gardens to showing up at council meetings, you are the roots of this movement. As we continue to spread inspiration and innovation – locally and beyond – we’re grateful to be growing with you.

Let’s show the world what’s possible when people come together to regenerate and reimagine their communities.