Your Place in the New Green Economy

I just got back from attending the free one day forum that was presented by the Center For Green Research and Evaluation @ Elizabeth City State University. Amid a vast array of speakers who were given time to speak about their organizations and/ or non-profit groups, the highlight of the event was guest speaker Majora Carter (to my right in picture). I personally knew little of Ms. Carter before today outside some of the projects she has founded and been involved with. These include Make It Right, founded by actor Brad Pitt, which is helping to rebuild New Orleans' 9th Ward and the big role she has served in the local green research and evaluation program at ECSU, headed by Dr. Scott Bradshaw. She turned out to be a very personable, dynamic figure and it was quite easy to see that she is very passionate about what she does. That passion spills over into her projects and the end results as with the 2001 founded non-profit organization Sustainable South Bronx are nothing short of remarkable!

Many subjects were tossed around and discussed at length such as Bio-Fuel research and the "on the verge of exploding" job opportunities in a new green economy, such as Energy Auditors. At the heart of it all, of course, was the need for local awareness and education.

The "Round Table Discussion" was very enlightening. Included in this were:

1) George Fountain, President & CEO of The Green Fountain Group
2) Mayor Brian Roth (Plymouth, NC)
3) Wendy Jewett, Director of the NE Workforce Development Board
4) Norman Smit, Director of Communications & Education, Biofuels Center of NC
5) Susannah Tuttle, Board of Directors for the USGBC North Carolina Chapter; Historic Green
6) Dannette Sharpley, Interim Executive Director of Black Family Land Trust
7) Arlene Yates, Perquimans County CDC
8) James Harris, Lighting Energy Specialist and Geologist

Touched upon several times was the lack of commitment due to lack of knowledge... a lot of times people want to get involved but since the task seems so overwhelming, they haven't a clue where to begin. I can relate to that! And so, probably the biggest thing I learned today was that it is a step by step process. Change isn't going to happen overnight. We each do what we can, even if all we can do is just a little! But today was encouraging... it just may be the springboard we need here in NE-NC!