Led by member Jenny Kane, this session will share lessons learned from developing the 2024 USAID Biodiversity Policy and introduce a proposed biodiversity science-policy initiative to continue the learning, evidence, and thought leadership work outlined in the Policy in support of transformative change. We welcome your participation and feedback!
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USAID Biodiversity Policy Sharing and Concept Note Feedback Session

Humankind possesses greater access to food and energy, scientific knowledge, and technology today than ever before. Simultaneously, the world is experiencing unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. In response, scientific experts and policymakers around the world are calling for “transformative change” to fundamentally shift society’s relationship with the global environment, and to meet ambitious global targets for biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development, notably under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 

In this context of a worsening biodiversity crisis and calls for transformative change, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) updated its Biodiversity Policy in 2024 to reflect both a deep understanding of the role that healthy natural systems play in achieving development goals and the need for major shifts to address biodiversity loss and climate change together. The Biodiversity Policy guided the design and implementation of USAID’s $350 million (annual) global biodiversity conservation portfolio and the integration of biodiversity considerations across its entire $20+ billion (annual) development portfolio. 

The 2024 USAID Biodiversity Policy was developed through a robust internal and external engagement process through which USAID consulted with stakeholders globally, including current and former staff, implementing partners, international and local nongovernmental organizations, Indigenous Peoples organizations, the U.S. Government interagency, donors, academia, and the private sector. It also incorporated evidence from more than 140 studies and reports. 

Women Have Been Misled About Menopause w/ guest Sue Dominus

Susan Dominus has worked for the The New York Times since 2007, first as a Metro columnist and then as staff writer with The New York Times Magazine. In 2018, she was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize, for public service for reporting on workplace sexual harassment issues. She is  the recipient of the Newswomen’s Club of New York Front Page Award, and the Mychal Judge “Heart of New York” award from the National Press Club. A graduate of Yale University, she has studied as a fellow at the National Institutes of Health and Yale Law School.  Her article, The Covid Drug Wars That Pitted Doctor vs. Doctor, was included in the 2021 edition of the Best American Science and Nature Writing. In 2024, she won a National Magazine Award for service journalism for an article she wrote about menopause. JOIN ZOOM

Finding Your Essence w/ Kathryn Poling
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What is essence? Why is it important? Kathryn will lead the group through three pillars: Discovery, Embodiment and Living. She will then work with a volunteer as an example of her practice.

Throughout my life, I have pursued my passion for discovering, cultivating, and realizing the potential of individuals, groups, organizations, and paradigms. This journey has taken me inward—exploring energy and consciousness—and outward—engaging deeply with the challenges and opportunities of human endeavors. Professionally, I have worked across fields including conflict resolution, organizational effectiveness, leadership, education, finance, community organizing, and life coaching. I have served in capacities that include business trainer, consultant, nonprofit board chair, and executive director, consistently weaving together practical effectiveness with deeper purpose. My work is dedicated to bridging and integrating the inner and outer worlds, supporting people to live and lead from their essence. My focus is on accelerating the efforts of those bringing regenerative paradigms to life—an approach urgently needed at this time. Whatever your aim, my commitment is to ensure you are rooted in your essence, tapping the full potential of your unique gifts, and actualizing them.

San Francisco, CA - Colibri Mexican Bistro - 50 Moraga Ave, San Francisco, CA 94129
Hosted by members Lisa Holmes & Vivian Sorenson
Email sophie@pleiadesnetwork.org to RSVP by April 15th

Where: Home of Kate Ellis (thank you so much for hosting!) 
52 Hillside Rd
Watertown, MA 02472
What: A potluck! Please bring something easy to share -- if meat, dairy or gluten, please make that an additive/ on the side; wine + other beverages welcome 

Hosted by member Kathleen Finlay

Reschedule due to interest and technical difficulties!
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We’re delighted to host Emmy-nominated impact producer Simone Pero, founder of For Impact Productions, for a powerful conversation for artists who aim for their projects to be creatively bold, financially sustainable, and socially meaningful. Simone will introduce her signature Impact³ framework — aligning Artistic excellence, Commercial sustainability, and Social impact. Simone’s core belief is that artists are the first responders of social change, helping us imagine new futures long before systems catch up. Through her framework and approaches, Simone equips artists with the strategies and mindset to become empowered change-maker leaders.

Emmy-nominated film producer, Simone Pero is the Founder and President of For Impact Productions, a sought-after social impact consultancy for creatives of all mediums. Pero’s film portfolio includes the narrative films LILLY starring Patricia Clarkson, THE TALE starring Laura Dern, and documentaries VIVA VERDI!, Academy Award®–nominee in 2026 for Best Original Song, the Humanitas Prize Winner docu-series VOW OF SILENCE: THE ASSASSINATION OF ANNIE MAE, and the award-winning THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING featuring Geena Davis, Meryl Streep and Shonda Rhimes. In 2025, Pero launched her signature advisory cohort Artists for Impact™ and the Impact³ Workshops to equip artists with strategies and tools to finance and launch mission-driven projects. Pero is on faculty with the Stony Brook University Killer Films MFA in Film & TV Writing and serves on the President’s Council of New York Women in Film & Television. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America, BAFTA North America, the Television Academy, Women Independent Producers, Global Impact Producers Alliance and the European Women’s Audiovisual Network. 

Led by member Rachel Sagan
Take a step beyond the day-to-day of networking and consider the longevity of social capital and how to tend it as your career develops, transitions and changes. Whether you’re early in your career, interested in expanding in a new field, or need a brush-up on building your network, this is a conversation for you. Rachel Sagan will tap into her experience as a non-profit executive, board member and extroverted social butterfly. Utilizing the Pleiades network as her first-time audience, Rachel will be presenting her 40-year experience in building Social Capital. 

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Led by guest speaker Marissa Rosen
Marissa Rosen is the founder, owner, and principal consultant of Climate Social. She focuses on networking strategies, executing media campaigns, promoting high-profile events, and fostering community engagement to drive positive impact for her clients. Her work is centered around creating meaningful connections that amplify changemakers' voices and inspire change. 

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Owning the power and joy of resourcing mission-oriented work. Kathleen will share her perspective on fundraising - an invitation to shift conventional paradigm thinking about the power structures between donors and fundraisers.
Led by Katheen Finlay

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Led by member Gally Mayer
Gally will be sharing her journey as an Entrepreneur, the three biggest things she's learned, followed by a discussion.

As the CEO and Co-founder of Buena Vida Specialty Coffee, I am dedicated to transforming the coffee industry through regenerative practices that promote farmer prosperity and soil health. My mission focuses on creating sustainable financial opportunities for farmers by facilitating bank loans at Development Bank rates and developing comprehensive technical assistance manuals with farmers. I also foster a robust network of agronomists to support the transition of coffee farms to regenerative agriculture.

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This conversation will be co-hosted by Molly Malinowski (Land and Sea Farmer / Pollinator Farm & Fishers Island Oyster) and Jeanne Blasberg (Land Farmer in Wisconsin).
They will be sharing lessons learned and survival tricks they've picked up along the way. We will also document any group questions or needs for future discussion and resourcing. 

Join Guest Speaker Sandi McKinley to learn about Philanthropic and Social Sector Strategy Amidst a Changing Environment. Sandi will share what she is seeing in the sector, the major uncertainties, and approaches that her team is using, followed by a Q&A.

Sandi is the Founder and President of SectorWind, a consulting firm dedicated to helping the social sector build financial strength and strategic resilience in a way that is accessible and equitable.

In the midst of so many transitions and unknowns, our subconscious is a powerful tool to bring awareness to what can be created in a larger vision personally, communally and globally.  Led by musician and educator Amber Rubarth, this call offers interactive partner work to connect and give space to deeper layers of imagination and creativity.

Led by Niquole Esters, this is an extension of the Freezing of Impact Funds Community Call we held. We're congregating to build community as well as be in communication about how people are being affected. We aim to use the time to resource folks through our I Need / I Can tool.