PRESS RELEASE
March 26, 2013
Event: The third Massachusetts Sustainable Communities Conference and the second Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses Conference, on Wednesday, April 24, will bring together sustainability experts and peers from education, business, government, and communities to share best practices. The conferences will be held at the Worcester DCU Center. Details are available at www.MaSustainableCommunities.com
Massachusetts Sustainable Communities and Campuses
April 24, Worcester
Worcester, MA – It’s no accident that Massachusetts is a national leader in energy efficiency two years in a row and is on track to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020. Massachusetts is serious about sustainability at every level. From community groups to universities, future-minded individuals and groups not only implement, they hone, and innovate.
And, most importantly, they share ideas and resources.
Campuses and communities will have an opportunity to share best practices when local and state leaders from government, education, business, and communities come together at thethird Massachusetts Sustainable Communities Conference and the second Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses Conference on Wednesday, April 24, at the Worcester DCU Center.
“Campuses and communities are similar in so many ways. By gathering experts and peers to explore campus and community sustainability, we can collectively expand our efforts,” says conference director Jen Boudrie. “This conference brings together people from rural, urban, and suburban communities, and from large and small campuses, private and public, across the state: UMass, community colleges, and Clark, Wellesley, and Harvard Universities will be there. The common thread is sustainability.”
Keynote speakers at the one day event will include David Cash, Massachusetts Department of Utilities Commissioner; Ed White, Vice President of National Grid; Jennie Stephens, Associate Professor at Clark University; Jill Dagilis, Executive Director, Worcester Action Council; Kevin Doyle, Principal of Green Economy; Joan Fitzgerald, Professor at Northeastern University; and Joel Tickner, Associate Professor at UMass Lowell.
Best practices and possibilities are expanding sustainability statewide. Over 21 topic sessions will be led by recognized experts: Meg Lusardi, Director, Green Communities Division, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, Henrietta Davis, Mayor, City of Cambridge; Dennis Carlberg, Sustainability Director, Boston University; John Odell, Energy Manager, City of Worcester; Catherine Cagle, Manager, Sustainable Transportation, Massachusetts Department of Transportation; and Abrah Dresdale, Coordinator, Farm and Food Systems, Greenfield Community College… to name a few.
“This conference is an opportunity to engage in conversation with your colleagues, friends, and neighbors. The panels and presentations will highlight visionary projects and people and will remind us that we all need to be heroic in our efforts to heal the planet,” says Susan Jennings, director of the Office of Campus and Community Sustainability at UMass Dartmouth, a returning speaker from last year’s conference.
Conference sponsors—Platinum: National Grid; Silver: Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; Bronze: Absolute Green Energy, ADI Energy, Casella Resource Solutions, E.L.Harvey, The Environmental Quality Company, Harvard University Extension, Nexamp, and SustainServ – are all dedicated to community sustainability.
Conference director Boudrie’s experience in environmental sustainability leadership in her community and her 20-year background in instructional design and college teaching led her to see a clear need to connect people and resources. She has created the conferences with the support of an advisory group and on-site conference team comprised of professionals from government, business, education and communities.
“Lots of local initiatives are well established and growing all over the state,” Boudrie says. “Some better known ones might be in Boston and Cambridge and Northampton, but every town and city in the state has something going on. For example, Scituate’s solar and wind installations generate all municipal-owned electricity needs and more –income for the town. Northampton has a 121-acre community farm. Newburyport has a Clean Tech Center for entrepreneurs. Hamilton has curbside composting. It’s the same with campuses. Sustainability initiatives are growing rapidly.
Speakers this year represent cities and towns across Massachusetts: Amherst, Cambridge, Devens, Dartmouth, Fitchburg, Hamilton, Holyoke, Lincoln, Marblehead, Marlborough, Newburyport, Northampton, Scituate, West Boylston, and Worcester.
Campuses include: Babson College, Boston College, Boston University, Clark University, Conway School of Landscape Planning and Design, Gordon College, Greenfield Community College, Hampshire College, Harvard University, MIT, Mass Maritime Academy, Middlesex Community College, Mount Wachusett Community College, Northeastern University, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Amherst, UMass Lowell, Wellesley College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Worcester State University.
Exhibitors include: Anchor Insulation, Big Hanna Food Composters, Coldham and Hartman Architects, Digital Lumens, Guardian Energy Management Company, Green Communities Division of Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, Horizon Energy Services, Horsley Witten Group, Massachusetts Audubon, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Northeast Organic Farming Association, Northern Energy Services, Peregrine Energy, Progressive Asset Management, Standard Electric, Toxic Use Reduction Institute, Toxics Action Center, Urban Power USA, USGBC Massachusetts, Voltrek, Waste Management, Waste Zero, and more
Full details about the conference can be found at www.MaSustainableCommunities.com
CONTACT
Jen Boudrie
508-481-0569
jenboudrie@gmail.com.
FAQs
WHAT & WHEN
The third Massachusetts Sustainable Communities Conference and second Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses Conference, April 24, 2013
WHO & WHY
Stakeholders from local and state government, education, business and grassroots organizations will gather to share best practices and resources for sustainability.
WHERE
The Worcester DCU Center is easily reached by train or car.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
David Cash, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Utilities
Ed White, Vice President of National Grid
Jennie Stephens, Associate Professor at Clark University
Jill Dagilis, Executive Director, Worcester Action Council
Kevin Doyle, Principal of Green Economy
Joan Fitzgerald, Professor at Northeastern University
Joel Tickner, Associate Professor, UMass Lowell
SPEAKERS
Campus, community, government, and business experts will share their knowledge and experience in more than 30 sessions. Community and Campus Session Listings
SPONSORS
National Grid
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
Absolute Green Energy
ADI Energy
Casella Resource Solutions
E.L.Harvey
The Environmental Quality Company
Harvard University Extension
Nexamp
SustainServ
PARTICIPANTS
Educators, facilities managers, municipal employees, students, community leaders, business partners – any and all people interested in expanding and learning about sustainability initiatives in communities and on campuses in New England.
DETAILS
The $75 entrance fee covers 85 speakers, 45 exhibitors, lunch, breakfast, and round table discussions. Group and student rates are available. Walk-in registration if not sold out in advance is $85. Conference details are at www.MaSustainableCommunities.com.
HOST
Conference Director Jen Boudrie—20-years’ experience as an instructional designer/entrepreneur, college teacher, and environmental sustainability leadership in her community—with the support of an advisory group and on-site conference team comprised of professionals from government, business, education and communities.
CONTACT
Jen Boudrie
508-481-0569
jenboudrie@gmail.com