{"id":670,"date":"2012-04-16T15:31:33","date_gmt":"2012-04-16T20:31:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/?post_type=tribe_events&p=670"},"modified":"2012-04-16T15:31:33","modified_gmt":"2012-04-16T20:31:33","slug":"2nd-massachusetts-sustainable-communities-conference","status":"publish","type":"tribe_events","link":"https:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/event\/2nd-massachusetts-sustainable-communities-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"2nd Massachusetts Sustainable Communities Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
The second Massachusetts Sustainable Communities Conference will be held on Friday, April 20th<\/strong> at UMass\u00a0 Boston, with the Sustainable Campuses following on Saturday April 22nd<\/strong>.\u00a0 Experts and peers from around the Commonwealth – municipalities, campuses, government, businesses and non-profits gather to share information and best practices.<\/div>\n
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I\u00a0 will be participating on the afternoon panel “Local Sustainability Success Stories – the Headliners<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n

Further conference and registration information is here<\/a>. The detailed agenda is below.<\/p>\n

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8:00 – 9:00 am<\/strong><\/div>\n

Keynote Presentation – The Greening of Massachusetts<\/strong><\/span>
\n86 Green Communities have received state funding and green enterprises are growing. Unprecedented collaboration and novel partnerships are bearing fruit. What are some of the projects? partnerships? achievements? future plans? Hear from:
\nJim Hunt <\/strong> Chief of Environment and Energy, City of Boston (Welcome & Introductions)
\nMeg Lusardi <\/strong> Director of the Green Communities Division at MassDOER
\nGeoff Chapin <\/strong> Founder and CEO of Next Step Living<\/em><\/p>\n

9:15 – 10:15 am<\/strong><\/div>\n

What is Community Sustainability?<\/strong><\/span>
\nCommon criteria for sustainability exist but each community from urban to rural is approaching the topic its own unique way. This session presents three different perspectives for measuring and implementing sustainability initiatives.
\nKent Portney<\/strong> Author of ‘Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously’; Founder of ‘Our Green Cities’; Tufts University professor
\nDaniella Hirschfeld<\/strong> STAR Community Index Program Officer & Resilience Specialist
\nWayne Feiden <\/strong> Director of Planning and Development, City of Northampton<\/em><\/p>\n

Community and Campus Connections – Shared Footprints<\/strong><\/span>
\nTwo universities have gone to extraordinary lengths to connect their campuses to surrounding communities. Hear from speakers whose individual and collective efforts are helping shape a new generation of conscientious citizens.
\nTom Kelly ‘<\/strong>The Sustainable Learning Community\u2019 Co-author; Chief Sustainability Officer, Univ. of New Hampshire
\nNancy Wilson<\/strong> Dean ad interim of Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship & Public Service, Tufts University<\/em><\/p>\n

Massachusetts Green Communities – A Tale of Three Cities<\/strong><\/span>
\nWe’ve seen a significant shift towards greener communities, no matter how big or small. Hear what Worcester, our second largest city with 182,000; Lowell, the fourth largest city in Massachusetts with a population of 106,519; and the historic city of Salem with 41,240 residents are doing to make life greener.
\nPaul Marquis<\/strong> Energy and Sustainability Manager, City of Salem
\nJohn Odell<\/strong> Energy Efficiency and Conservation Manager, City of Worcester
\nAllegra Williams <\/strong> Neighborhood Planner, Department of Planning & Development, City of Lowell<\/em><\/p>\n

Green Business Development Strategies in Communities<\/strong><\/span>
\nEconomic prosperity, environmental health, and local jobs start with a vision. Forward thinking businesses help make it a reality. In Boston’s Innovation District and the MetroWest, movers and shakers are playing their part to green the economy.
\nNolan Browne <\/strong> Managing Director of the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems
\nArthur Robert <\/strong>MetroWest Region Director of MA Office of Business Development <\/em><\/p>\n

10:30 – 11:30 am<\/strong><\/div>\n

Sustainable Community Success Stories<\/strong><\/span>
\nMunicipal sustainability initiatives in energy, water, land use, food, transportation, and purchasing\/materials management are inspiring and the successes worth sharing. Hear how the town of Easton with a population of 22,000, and Boston with a population 604,000 are both taking forward steps.
\nDavid Colton <\/strong> Easton Town Administrator
\nBrad Swing<\/strong> Director of Energy Policy, City of Boston<\/em><\/p>\n

Meet the Facilities Directors Implementing Energy Solutions<\/strong><\/span>
\nBetter, smarter buildings protect our environment, our health, our finances and our children. The role of the Facilities Director is gaining prominence as the quest for cost-cutting, green solutions gains prominence. Hear from two top facilities experts:
\nKen Wertz <\/strong> President of MA Facilities Administrators Association; Director of Operations at Sharon Public Schools
\nLarry Schoff <\/strong>Former Technical Analyst for the US DOE EnergySmart Schools Program & USGBC LEED for Schools<\/em><\/p>\n

Massachusetts Clean Energy Initiatives – Big Steps<\/strong><\/span>
\nTaking bold, forward strides, Massachusetts has leapt from 3 MW to 90 MW of installed solar in just five years. Massachusetts Clean Energy Center programs like Solarize Mass are popularizing renewables. The town of Harvard went from 13 to 75 installed residential solar systems in 2011-2012.
\nElizabeth Kennedy <\/strong>Program Director, Renewable Energy Generation, Mass Clean Energy Center
\nJim Elkind <\/strong> Principal at Elkind Associates; Town of Harvard Solarize Mass representative<\/em><\/p>\n

Sustainable Food Systems – Our Local Markets<\/strong><\/span>
\nFarmers’ markets and urban farming have seen record growth, heralding a new era of health and environmental consciousness. In Massachusetts the local food message is finally coming home.
\nDavid Webber<\/strong> Farmers\u2019 Market Coordinator at Massachusetts Department of Agriculture
\nFred Yen <\/strong> Manager of Winchester Farmers’ Market
\nLyndsay Rose <\/strong> Outreach Manager, Green City Growers<\/em><\/p>\n

1:00 – 2:00 pm<\/strong><\/div>\n

Regional Initiatives from Coast to Valley<\/strong><\/span>
\nCooperation among regional communities has risen in recent years, resulting in more collective power to share resources and knowledge. Learn about three regions working on sustainability: Cape Cod, the Southeastern Coast, and Pioneer Valley .
\nSusan Jennings <\/strong> Southeastern MA Sustainability Council Co-Chair; The Sustainability Initiative Director at UMass Dartmouth
\nCatherine Ratte <\/strong> Principal Planner and Manager at Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
\nMegan Amsler <\/strong> Executive Director of Cape and Islands Self-Reliance<\/em><\/p>\n

Education\u2019s Role in Sustainability – Our Children are the Future<\/strong><\/span>
\nIt’s never too early to inculcate good habits and equip youth with the knowledge and tools that can help change the world. Two teachers and their students describe empowering school programs and how they connect to the surrounding community.
\nCate Arnold<\/strong> Boston Latin School Faculty & Student Advisor for YouthCAN
\nKaren DiFranza<\/strong> Founder of Hands to Earth: Educating for a Sustainable Future<\/em><\/p>\n

Local Regulations and Resources – Problems and Solutions<\/strong><\/span>
\nAs we add new sustainability elements to communities, fresh concerns arise. How do we manage the challenge of change and sustainable development? Hear from experts about problems and solutions at the local level.
\nKurt Gaertner <\/strong>Director of Sustainable Development, State of Massachusetts
\nSteven Strong<\/strong> President of Solar Design Associates
\nTed Carman <\/strong> President of Concord Square Planning and Development<\/em><\/p>\n

Energy and Buildings<\/strong><\/span>
\nWhere can you find a sustainable housing project with zero-net energy homes? Where can you find a local company that makes insulation? Right here in Massachusetts. Hear from two of the experts who make it all come together.
\nNeil Angus <\/strong> Environmental Planner for the Devens Enterprise Commission
\nBill Hulstrunk <\/strong>Technical Manager at National Fiber<\/em><\/p>\n

2:15 – 3:15 pm<\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Local Organizations that Engage People – The Ripple Effect <\/strong><\/span>
\nMeet three leaders from community organizations renowned for engaging the community. Hear about their work, the ripple effects and far-reaching solutions.
\nRob Garrity<\/strong> Executive Director of Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN)
\nAudrey Schulman<\/strong> President of Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET)
\nMeredith Small<\/strong> Executive Director of Toxics Action Center (TAC)<\/em><\/p>\n

College Student Projects in Communities – Learning While Doing<\/strong><\/span>
\nStudent projects can elevate the sometimes theoretical learning process to real life learning experiences, connecting education to community and business interests. From research to action, students are important sustainability stakeholders.
\nLaura Goldin<\/strong> Chair, Environmental Studies, Brandeis University; Director of the Environmental Internship Program
\nEric Olson<\/strong> Senior Lecturer at Brandeis University<\/em><\/p>\n

Financing – A Practical Guide<\/strong><\/span>
\nLearn how others have organized the financing needed to renovate their downtowns or install solar arrays. Renovations and solar installations can change underutilized buildings and spaces to become attractive and profitable solutions.
\nTed Carman <\/strong> President of Concord Square Planning and Development
\nMichelle Mulcahy<\/strong> Bids and Proposals Manager, RGS Energy<\/em><\/p>\n

Local Sustainability Success Stories – The Headliners<\/strong><\/span>
\nCommunities with environmental organizations see more success when more people are invested and the results are real. Hear success stories from three top local groups across the state.
\nNancy Hazard <\/strong>Greening Greenfield Energy Committee member; previous director of NESEA & Tour de Sol
\nJoel Wool <\/strong> Green Dorchester Community Advocate; Clean Water Action Organizer
\nMichael Greis<\/strong> Green Needham Chair; Needham School Committee Member<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The second Massachusetts Sustainable Communities Conference will be held on Friday, April 20th at UMass\u00a0 Boston, with the Sustainable Campuses following on Saturday April 22nd.\u00a0 Experts and peers from around the Commonwealth – municipalities, campuses, government, businesses and non-profits gather<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_tribe_events_status":"","_tribe_events_status_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"tribe_events_cat":[],"class_list":["post-670","tribe_events","type-tribe_events","status-publish","hentry","","tg-column-two"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/tribe_events"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=670"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":672,"href":"https:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/670\/revisions\/672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=670"},{"taxonomy":"tribe_events_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.riverbendadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events_cat?post=670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}