1. Green can be confusing. I like to say green is the new gray because choices, even for the most socially conscious, are not always clear. There is a lack of agreement of what is green, why we should care and how to move forward.
2. The pace of change is both encouraging and discouraging. On the positive side, many people are altering their buying, eating and living behaviors and increasingly understand how their decisions impact the world. At both our Gala and the festival, the enthusiasm and energy level were palpable. But the issues are so big and so broad, the level of changes are only a fraction of what needs to be done. We are far from a transformational tipping point.

   Daves at Green Festival -- Dave Heffernan and Dave Feldman enjoying the weekend at DC Green Festival.

3. Green innovators will boost the economy. Many new ideas, products and services are being introduced to meet consumers' changing needs. Start-ups (like the ones in our green business incubator) and well-established firms creating sustainable solutions in buildings, energy, food, transportation and technology WILL leapfrog those unable to adapt. They will not all be winners, but smart entrepreneurial businesses will prevail.

Join Us for Casual Conversation and a Special Tribute to Gulf Coast Restoration Efforts

Bethesda Green is partnering with Gulf Savers, a nonprofit initiative that delivers native marsh grass to help restore the Gulf Coast ecosystem, and Voice of the Wetlands, a nonprofit focused on driving awareness about the loss of the wetlands in southern Louisiana.

Louisiana Kitchen will serve complimentary Jambalaya and other tastes of New Orleans.  Donation at the door: $10

Dedicated donations of $25 cover delivery of one Gulf Saver Native March Grass Bag.

RSVP through Meetup

Louisiana Kitchen
4907 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-652-6945
www.louisianabethesda.com

Benefit Corporations Explored

Bethesda Green is hosting a panel discussion Wednesday, Nov. 10, 6 - 7:30 pm about Benefit Corporations, a new corporate form that meets the triple bottom line interests of sustainable business leaders -- people, planet, and profit.   

Panelists include Maryland Senator Jamie Raskin (District 10), who sponsored the state's legislation recognizing Benefit Corporations; Jay Coen Gilbert, Co-Founder, B Lab; Laura E. Jordan, Attorney, Benefit Corporation Law; and Pennye Jones-Napier and Julie Paez, Owners, The Big Bad Woof Inc.

Event Partners:

B Lab

Greater Bethesda Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce

ChangeMatters

This is a free event; everyone welcome. Please RSVP online by Nov. 7 on Meetup.

See the Bethesda Green calendar page for more details.

Cheryl Kollin, Program Manager

Cheryl brings to Bethesda Green more than 25 years of non-profit experience in program development and project management in environmental conservation. Cheryl recently broadened her career focus to include sustainable business with a focus on sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Cheryl started Full Plate Ventures, a consulting business to leverage the symbiotic relationship between business and social mission. She works with clients who address the interconnected issues of hunger, health, and food access among underserved communities-through identifying social enterprise opportunities that foster education and build revenue generators toward self-sufficiency.

Prior to joining Bethesda Green, Cheryl served 16 years as vice president of the Urban Ecosystem Center at American Forests, a national non-profit forest conservation organization. Her work focused on quantifying the ecological and economic benefits of urban forests. By building the business case for trees, she elevated the ecosystem services of urban forests to strengthen public policy and environmental practices.

See the website for more about Cheryl and other BG staff.