PRESS RELEASE
March 28, 2014
Event: The fourth Massachusetts Sustainable Communities Conference and the third Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses Conference connects stakeholders from government, grassroots, education, and business to promote best practices. The event will be April 17 at the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center. Details are available at www.MaSustainableCommunities.com.
Massachusetts Sustainable Communities and Campuses
April 17, Lowell
Lowell, MA – Massachusetts is advancing sustainability at every level. From government to grassroots, education to business, future-minded individuals and groups not only implement, they initiate, and innovate. And, most importantly, they share ideas and resources.
Campuses and communities will be sharing best practices when local and state leaders come together at thefourth Massachusetts Sustainable Communities Conference and the third Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses Conference on Wednesday, April 17, at the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference 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. The common thread is sustainability.”
Keynote speakers at the one day event will include Rodney Elliott, Mayor, City of Lowell; Marty Meehan, Chancellor, UMass Lowell; and Joan Fitzgerald, Interim Dean, School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs, Northeastern University; Author, Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability & Economic Development.
Sustainability solutions are expanding statewide. Over 24 topic sessions will be led by recognized experts: Meg Lusardi, Director, Green Communities Division, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, David Watson, Mass Bike; Stephanie Ciccarello, Sustainability Coordinator, Town of Amherst; Paul Connett, Author, The Zero Waste Solution; Jack Kittredge, Policy Director, Northeast Organic Farming Association; Juliette Rooney Varga, Director, Climate Change Initiative, UMass Lowell, 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,” said Susan Jennings, director of the Office of Campus and Community Sustainability at UMass Dartmouth, a speaker from last year’s conference.
Conference bronze sponsors – Casella Resource Solutions and UMass Lowell – are dedicated to campus and 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.
“Each year we hear more and more sustainability success stories from all over the state,” Boudrie says. “Every community and campus in the state has something going on. For example, Framingham State University campus has decreased Green House Gas emissions by nearly 48,000 tons. The town of Amherst’s streetlight retrofit project will reduce 270,000 kwh per year and save $48,000 annually, and they’re planting 2000 trees in the next 3 years.”
Speakers this year represent cities and towns across Massachusetts: Amherst, Andover, Ashby, Ayer, Bolton, Boston, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lowell, and Newburyport.
Campuses include: Bentley University, Conway School of Landscape Planning and Design, Framingham State University, Harvard University, MIT, Northeastern University, Northern Essex Community College, Salem State University, Tufts University, UMass Boston, and UMass Lowell.
Exhibitors include: Anchor Insulation, ACB Recovery – IRN Recycling, Casella Resource Solutions, Chelsea Green Publishing, City of Lowell, The Conway School, Digital Lumens, EL Harvey, Electrical Systems Solutions, Energy Resource Solutions, Expert Laser Services, Focused Sustainability, Global Awareness Local Action, Green Communities Division of Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, Horsley Witten Group, Massachusetts Farm to School Project, Next Step Living Inc., Northeast Organic Farming Association, Northern Energy Services, Power Options, Prism Energy Services, Rise Engineering, SCS Engineers, Smart Car Center Lynnfield, Solar Flair, Toxics Use Reduction Institute, UMass Boston Center for Sustainable Enterprise and Regional Competitiveness, UMass Lowell Undergraduate Admissions, UMass Lowell Climate Change Initiative, Zip Car, 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 fourth Massachusetts Sustainable Communities Conference and third Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses Conference, April 17, 2014
WHO & WHY
Stakeholders from local and state government, grassroots, business and education gather to share best practices and resources for sustainability
WHERE
The UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center, Lowell
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Rodney Elliott, Mayor, City of Lowell
Marty Meehan, Chancellor, UMass Lowell
Joan Fitzgerald, Interim Dean, School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs, Northeastern University; Author, Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development
SPEAKERS
Government, grassroots, business, and education experts share their knowledge and experience in 25 sessions. Community and Campus Session Listings
SPONSORS
Green Workforce Training
Casella Resource Solutions
UMass Lowell
Chelsea Green Publishing
PARTICIPANTS
Educators, 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 60 speakers, 35 exhibitors, 25 sessions, lunch, breakfast, and round table discussions. Group and student rates are available. Walk-in registration (if not sold out in advance) is $90. 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 leader 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