Training Opportunities: Week of February 21st

  Welcome 2025! 

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Things to Know:

 

We have a waiting list for most of our upcoming EMR classes, if you are unable to attend please let us know as early as possible so we can let those folks in. There is still room in some of the later classes but space is limited and there is a seating cap. 

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Resources: 

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Upcoming Grant Opportunities: 

Free Workshop: Navigating DEI Funding Beyond the Federal Government: A Hands-On Grant Search Workshop

Tuesday, February 25 9-11 a.m. PST/10 a.m.-noon MST/11 a.m.-1 p.m. CST/noon-2 p.m. EST Register Here for Zoom Link Description: As organizations seek alternative funding for their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, this workshop will provide the tools and strategies to navigate the shifting landscape of grants outside of federal channels. With a special focus on harnessing AI platforms and emerging opportunities, participants will leave equipped to search for grants more effectively and efficiently. In this interactive session, we’ll dive into practical tools for finding DEI funding from a variety of sources, including Grants.gov, Google, ChatGPT (and other AI tools), Foundation Directory Online, and local community foundations. We’ll also explore forecasts about which Federal channels may remain strong in the coming years and consider how the language and content of what we create may evolve. Workshop Flow: Introduction (10 min): Quick introductions and session overview. Pulse Check of Where We Are (10 min): We’ll explore the latest updates in Federal grants and search engines - and make space to discuss what we know or anticipate from agencies like the EPA, NOAA, Department of Education, IMLS, NEH, and DOL. Grant Search Platforms Walkthrough (30 min): A guide through key grant search platforms. Together we'll explore modes of searching for non-federal funding through tools that are less impacted like community foundations, Foundation Directory Online, and ChatGPT. Effective Grant Search Strategies (10 min): Strategies for refining your search, identifying the best opportunities, and ensuring your applications stand out. Grant Search Crowdsourcing (60 min): A live, hands-on search session where attendees use one of the tools to find relevant DEI funding opportunities. Participants will share their findings and insights with the group, gaining feedback and building on each other’s research. Together, we'll crowdsource a large list of funders and key details about each fund so that - hopefully - we all have opportunities available before we finish the session. Bonus Tip: Bring your ChatGPT (or another AI tool) or other favorite search engine to maximize your results during the session. **Additional Topic of Interest: Federal Appropriations ** We can also discuss the current landscape of Federal Appropriations and how your representatives are allocating funds. This is a great time to learn how to build relationships with your representatives and stay on their radar for next year’s funding cycle. Target Audience: This workshop is ideal for nonprofit organizations, community groups, and anyone seeking DEI funding beyond the federal government. Whether you’re new to grant searching or looking to refine your strategy, this session will give you practical, hands-on tools for success while using the power of community to support one another's quest for funds

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Non-MPS Trainings: 

Certified Playground Inspector Course 

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 - Thursday, April 24, 2025 Location: Middle River Recreation Activity Center (Middle River, MD) Fee: $600 (Course &Exam)   For more information and to register, click here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Monarch Conservation Webinar Series Stay informed about the latest in monarch conservation by joining our free monthly webinar series! This series is a unique opportunity to hear from experts across various interdisciplinary fields related to monarchs, other pollinators, their habitats, and the threats and pressures that make conservation urgent. Bring your questions and get ready to discover how you can get involved to protect monarchs. While this series is free to attend, donations to support our programs are greatly appreciated. Your contributions help us continue our vital work for monarch conservation. Donations can be made while registering.  Details: When: Monthly one-hour webinars at 1:00 PM Central Time (2:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM MT | 11:00 AM PT). Registration: Register once to receive access to all webinars in the series. Recordings & Resources: Following each webinar, we’ll email a recording link and any additional resources shared during the session. Please note that scheduled webinars are subject to change. If you have questions, feel free to contact us at learn@monarchjointventure.org. All past webinars are available to view in our webinar archive. 2025 Monarch Conservation Webinar Series Register for the 2025 Monarch Conservation Webinar Series January 28: Monarch Butterfly Conservation on Department of Defense Lands, presented by Stephanie Hertz, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Mercy Manzanares, Monarch Joint Venture, and Dejeanne May, Environment for the Americas February 25: The Butterfly (and Bumble Bee) Effect: Voluntary Conservation for At-Risk Species, presented by Caroline Hernandez, Sustainable Landscapes Program, University of Illinois Chicago