End of Year Motivation

[View this email in your browser]( Michael’s End of Year Motivation Happy New Year KAIROS! As the days go further into the year, you will hear those words less often. But, we should still find ways to keep the same positivity that we have at the beginning throughout the year. Given that 2024 is a leap year, when we get that extra day, and the numbers of this year added up equal 8, a digit that is associated with personal power, we are being inspired to treat this year in a very special and unique way.  It's part of the reason why I choose the word MOMENTS as my Word of the Year. KAIROS is defined as "a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action : the opportune and decisive MOMENT" "The right or critical MOMENT" Well, since we have been given an extra day and are encouraged to remember our personal power, let's use 2024 to create life changing MOMENTS! [Why Birds and their songs are good for our mental health]( Grupo 21 Information: [3rd GRUPO 21 ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM]( [Grupo 21 - Who We Are and What We Do - 2023-2024.pdf]( Despite opinion polls, Democrats are doing well at the polls Despite the polls showing President Biden trailing Donald Trump, Democrats are doing rather well when people vote. [Read the Washington Post Article]( 2024 Kingfish Celebrating New Orleans' most accomplished businessmen. Telley Madina President, The Madina Group Consulting [Read More]( Weekly KAIROS Conversation with Allessandra Bradley-Burns Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, DEILAB Allessandra Bradley-Burns has over 25 years of experience in leading and partnering with the public and private sector to support organizational growth, sustainability, social change and innovation. She has founded, fostered, incubated and grown local and national organizations through her leadership, management and strategic acumen. She provided leadership for the growth and expansion of Platform’s Learning Team from seed funding to a $12M rollout in 16 states within two years. At NTL, she led the product development division including ideation, creative services, manufacturing and product-to-market teams in five locations, utilizing two languages, and comprised of four cultures to launch eight new products and capturing three new market sectors. Allessandra is an expert in innovation and strategic development. She has led internal restructuring of multi-million dollars firms, from publishing to financial services. Her work has resulted in triple digit growth in new product development as well as accelerated product delivery for her clients. Her work has engaged senior leadership, staff and board members to improve KPI metrics, scale business development efforts, and increase productivity through training and systems enhancements. In addition to meeting the needs of her clients, Allessandra remains committed to service. She has served on the boards SMYAL, the advisory board for the new Center for Social Impact and Innovation at Georgetown University, and as incubator for several start ups. In the past 10 years she has been a Principal at Palacio & Associates, Strategic Development and Board Advisor to the National Crime Prevention Council, taught leadership in the School of Public Affairs at American University, served as an Executive Strategist with the Calvert Foundation, and the Director of Product Development at NTL. She currently contributes to the Huffington Post, and is Managing Director with Periphery Park and Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer for DEILAB. When not helping to set the world on fire, she is home snuggling with her 6 incredible children and her very beautiful, very wise, and very funny wife. See you Wednesday! Wednesday, January 3 · 1:00pm – 2:00pm EST Video call link: [( Or dial: ‪(US) +1 651-571-1259‬ PIN: ‪460 226 103‬# More phone numbers: [ At In KidZ [[www.inkidzco.com]( we're on a mission—a mission to make education the spark that lights up inclusivity and thoughtfulness in our future leaders. Exclusive Kairos Offer: As a huge shout-out for your efforts, Kairos Connections get an exclusive 25% off on our cross-cultural education kits and our stylish bracelets—called Bond Bandz—symbols of unity and solidarity that the whole family can enjoy. Use code KAIROS25 to redeem your exclusive discount now through January 8th. Join In KidZ and Kairos as we vibe on education, conversations, and celebrations. Visit In KidZ to shop your exclusive offers now! [Shop In KidZ]( A LOOK BACK ON 2023 In 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration delivered on the most ambitious climate, clean energy, conservation, and environmental justice agenda in history. Here are some highlights from this year: January 2023 The Biden-Harris Administration [Announces]( Action to Help Protect Bristol Bay Salmon Fisheries On January 31, 2023, the EPA [announced]( it issued a Final Determination under the Clean Water Act to help protect Bristol Bay, the most productive wild salmon ecosystem in the world. With this action, the Biden-Harris Administration is protecting certain waters that are important to sustaining Southwest Alaska’s salmon resources from disposal of dredged or fill materials associated with developing the Pebble deposit. Also in January, President Biden [restored protections]( for the Tongass National Forest in Alaska – the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, and he protected the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounding watershed, ensuring clean water and a strong recreation economy into the future.  February 2023  [EPA Announces Initial Program Design of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund]( The EPA announced initial guidance on the design of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) program, created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. EPA published two Federal Assistance Listings outlining key parameters of the grant competitions that will ultimately award nearly $27 billion to leverage private capital for clean energy and clean air investments across the country. Federal Assistance Listings are the first public notice requirement to implement a federal grant program.  March 2023 The White House Hosts the First-Ever [Conservation in Action]( Summit, Announces New Action to Conserve and Restore America’s Lands and Waters At the White House Conservation in Action Summit, President Biden [announced]( major new actions to conserve and restore lands and waters across the nation, including by establishing Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada and Castner Range National Monument in Texas. The President also directed the Secretary of Commerce to consider expanding protections for all U.S. waters around the Pacific Remote Islands, which would reach the goal of conserving 30% of ocean waters under U.S. jurisdiction by 2030. These new commitments build on President Biden’s historic climate and environmental record, and help deliver on the most ambitious land and water conservation agenda in American history.  April 2023 President Biden Signs [Executive Order (EO) 14096 to Revitalize Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All]( On April 21, 2023, [President Biden signed Executive Order 14096]( “Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All” to further embed environmental justice into the work of federal agencies, bring clean energy and healthy environments to all, and recognize, address, and mitigate harm to those who have suffered from toxic pollution and other environmental burdens like climate change. During his first week in office, President Biden launched the most ambitious environmental justice agenda in our nation’s history, and Executive Order 14096 is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government effort to confront longstanding environmental injustices and inequities. With this action, the President is working to ensure that all people – regardless of race, background, income, ability, Tribal affiliation, or zip code – can benefit from the vital safeguards enshrined in our nation’s foundational environmental and civil rights laws.  May 2023 [Biden-Harris Administration Announces $161 Million for Landscape Restoration]( The Department of the Interior announced plans to infuse $161 million into [ecosystem restoration and resilience]( on the nation’s public lands as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This work, led by the Bureau of Land Management, will focus on 21 “Restoration Landscapes” across 11 western states and will range from restoring wildlife habitat in the sagebrush steppe of the high desert to re-creating wetland meadows to repairing watersheds on former industrial timberlands. June 2023 [U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Release Guidance on Provisions to Expand Reach of Clean Energy Tax Credits Through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda]( As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released guidance on key provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act to expand the reach of the clean energy tax credits and help build projects more quickly and affordably, which will create good-paying jobs, lower energy costs for families, and advance American innovation. The Inflation Reduction Act created two new credit delivery mechanisms—[elective pay]( (otherwise known as “direct pay”) and [transferability]( enable state, local, and Tribal governments; non-profit organizations, U.S. territories; and other entities to take advantage of clean energy tax credits. Until the Inflation Reduction Act introduced these new credit delivery mechanisms, governments, many types of tax-exempt organizations, and even many businesses could not fully benefit from tax credits like those that incentivize clean energy construction.  July 2023 [President Biden Designates Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument]( On what would have been Emmett Till’s 82nd birthday, President Biden signed a proclamation establishing the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Mississippi and Illinois. The new national monument will tell the story of the events surrounding Emmett Till’s murder, their significance in the civil rights movement and American history, and the broader story of Black oppression, survival, and bravery in America. The new national monument will be anchored at three historic sites in Chicago, Illinois; Sumner, Mississippi; and just outside of Glendora, Mississippi. These sites are central to Emmett Till’s racially motivated murder in 1955 and the defining events that followed – including the courageous activism and leadership of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. The new national monument will also encourage and enable partnerships between the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, and local communities and organizations to help conserve and interpret a broader network of historic sites that help tell the story of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley. August 2023 [President Biden Designates Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument]( As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s unprecedented commitment to protect America’s natural wonders for future generations, honor culturally significant areas, and tell a more complete story of our nation, President Biden signed a proclamation establishing the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona. The designation protects nearly one million acres of public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. This designation, which marked the fifth new national monument established by President Biden, honors Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples by protecting sacred ancestral places and their historically and scientifically important features, while conserving our public lands, protecting wildlife habitat and clean water, and supporting local economies. September 2023 President Biden launched the [American Climate Corps]( – a workforce initiative that will train over 20,000 young people for good-paying jobs in the clean energy and climate resilience economy. President Biden announced a new initiative to train young people in high-demand skills for jobs in the clean energy economy. The [American Climate Corps]( will put a new generation of Americans to work conserving our lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, advancing environmental justice, deploying clean energy, implementing energy efficient technologies, and tackling climate change. American Climate Corps members will gain the skills necessary to access good-paying jobs that are aligned with high-quality employment opportunities after they complete their paid training or service program. October 2023 [Biden-Harris Administration Approves Largest Offshore Wind Project in the Nation]( The Biden-Harris administration [announced]( its approval of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) commercial project – the fifth approval of a commercial-scale, offshore wind energy project under President Biden’s leadership. The announcement supports the Administration’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, following the approval of the Vineyard Wind 1, South Fork Wind, Ocean Wind 1, and Revolution Wind projects. When completed, these five projects will collectively add more than 5 gigawatts of clean, renewable energy to our nation’s grid, enough to power more than 1.75 million homes. November 2023 Biden-⁠Harris Administration Releases [Fifth National Climate Assessment]( and [Announces]( More Than $6 Billion to Strengthen Climate Resilience Across the Country Photo: President Biden Delivers [Remarks]( on his Administration's Actions to Address the Climate Crisis. November 14, 2023. President Biden announced the release of the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5). NCA5, which assesses changes in the climate, its national and regional impacts, and options for reducing present and future risk, indicates that not only is every region of the country already experiencing the impacts of climate change, but ambitious climate action is underway in every region as well. In coordination with the release of NCA5, President Biden announced more than $6 billion in investments to make communities across the country more resilient to the impacts of climate change, including by strengthening America’s aging electric grid infrastructure, reducing flood risk to communities, supporting conservation efforts, and advancing environmental justice. The Administration is also releasing new resources to boost climate resilience efforts. December 2023 [Biden-⁠Harris Administration Leverages Historic U.S. Climate Leadership at Home and Abroad to Urge Countries to Accelerate Global Climate Action at U.N. Climate Conference (COP28)]( Corporate Transparency Act - As of Jan 1, 2024 [What Every Small Business Needs to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act]( [Beneficial Ownership Information]( With 39M+ donations around the globe, people showed up on GoFundMe to help others in 2023. From helping propel the Jamaica women’s national soccer team in their World Cup journey to $106 million raised for natural disaster relief to helping small businesses keep their doors open, we made a difference together. Learn more of this impact in [GoFundMe’s 2023 Year in Help Report](. But we know there’s still more to be done. For so many Americans, a safe home and a warm meal is not their reality. Support for the [Essentials Fund]( directly helps individuals access their most essential needs like shelter, food, and clothing, as well as organizations offering community outreach programs. When we come together as a community, we can truly show what the power of help can do. [Support the GoFundMe Essentials Fund]( [Join the Celebration Online]( Black to San Francisco (B2SF) powered by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission Date: Friday, February 2, 2024 Location: War Memorial Veterans Building, San Francisco, CA We are excited to invite you to a significant and empowering event: Black to San Francisco (B2SF) powered by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. Join us in creating space for connection, networking, and Black economic success. B2SF represents a unique opportunity to support and contribute to the development of an HBCU satellite in San Francisco. B2SF is designed to bring together a diverse group of individuals who are passionate about empowering the Black community, fostering economic opportunities, and nurturing the leaders of tomorrow. Throughout this convening, participants will engage in discussions, workshops, and networking sessions aimed at creating a supportive environment for the development of economic opportunities within the Black community.  In addition, all attendees are invited to join us on February 1 for Dreaming Forward, an event honoring the creation and impact of the [Dream Keeper Initiative]( Your presence would greatly contribute to the vibrant exchange of ideas and the collective effort to empower and develop Black leaders and economic prospects. Further details regarding agenda, guest speakers, and registration will follow shortly. We are offering scholarships to a limited number of our HBCU representatives.  This event is invitation only and non-transferable Please mark your calendar for these important dates and stay tuned for further updates. We look forward to welcoming you to San Francisco for B2SF. [RSVP]( Upcoming KAIROS Conversations January 10, 2024 Ron Harris Lead, Knowledge Transformation Resilient Cities Network Brig. Ron General Sullivan Chief, Acquisition, Personnel & Ethics Law at Army Futures Command // Brigadier General (USAR), Chief Judge, Army Court of Criminal Appeals (IMA) January 24, 2024 Elissa Johnson Vice President of Criminal Justice Campaigns FWD.us Save the Dates Jan 15th @ 10am MLK Celebration at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church 1488 Rev. Dr. Fletcher Crawford Way The Bronx, NY Jan 18th, 2024 | 8pm-1opm KAIROS @ USCM @ HQ Powered by Black 2 San Francisco Washington, D.C. [RSVP]( February 1st & 2nd, 2024 Black 2 San Francisco San Francisco, CA KAIROS "a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action : the opportune and decisive MOMENT" "The right or critical MOMENT" [Website icon]( [Instagram icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( [YouTube icon]( [Facebook icon]( Copyright (C) 2024 Atlas Strategy Group. All rights reserved. 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