River Life in Downtown Providence Walk
Greg Gerritt
10:00 am - 10:45 am

The Providence River and its tributaries teem with life. A walk along the water from downtown to Fox Point and back will help you find all the hot spots and better understand the ecological context of Providence.

Greg Gerritt is the founder of the think tank, ProsperityForRi.org which focuses on making sure ecology is actually a component of efforts to create a sustainable economy in Rhode Island. He is also the founder of Friends of the Moshassuck, protecting one of the rivers that flows into downtown Providence.

Environmental Justice Walking Tour
Amelia Rose
11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Everyone deserves an environment that is safe and healthy. Join the Environmental Justice League of RI to learn what the major environmental justice issues are here in Providence.  We’ll take a tour of a local neighborhood to hear the how communities have successfully mobilized to improve their neighborhood’s environment and to see what problems still exist.  Take home new knowledge and skills to create a tour in your own neighborhood!

Amelia Rose is the Director of the Environmental Justice League of RI where she oversees the CARE Alliance to identify sources of toxic hazards and creating a toxics reduction strategy for the city.  Amelia spent four years in Washington, DC working as a community organizer for the Washington Interfaith Network focusing on campaigns to improve housing code enforcement as well as with the Unitarian Universalist Association advocating for federal human needs programs like Medicaid and Head Start. Most recently she worked in RI as an organizer for Toxics Action Center, providing organizing assistance to residents working on environmental campaigns in their towns.

Neighborhood Walk & Green Building Tour: Wolcott Eco-Office
John Jacobson
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Join this lively walk to the Wolcott Eco-Office discussing green businesses and development along the Woonasquatucket and the birth of the Industrial Revolution and its effect and role on climate change. Take a tour of Wolcott Eco-Office which houses Alteris Renewables, the largest design-build renewable energy company in the Northeast and is the home of developer John Jacobson of JTJ Investments. It was the recipient of the 2009 Senator John H. Chafee Conservation Award presented by the Environment Council of Rhode Island as well as a Congressional Honor from Sheldon Whitehouse. It is a high performance building that uses a variety of active and passive strategies to minimize its impact on the environment including photovoltaics and solar thermal.

Walk Downtown: A Transit-Oriented Perspective
Barry Schiller
2:00 pm – 2:45pm

It is mandatory that sustainable transportation involves good pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities. This walking tour will look at the conditions of downtown Providence highlighting what is good and bad from a transit perspective.

Barry Schiller is a long-time transit advocate who has served on the RIPTA Board of Directors and is currently on the State’s Transportation Advisory Committee.

Green Building Tour: Gordon Avenue Business Incubator
Chuck Carberry
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Come see what The South Providence Development Corporation has done to transform a vacant and decaying industrial building into a vibrant, environmentally sensitive business incubator.

Chuck Carberry is the building manager of the Gordon Avenue Business Incubator. He has been the Land Division Director of CleanScape, Inc. since 2004. He earned his degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Rhode Island and was the lead Landscape Architect for Roger Williams Park for nearly ten years. He was most recently the Executive Director of New England Botanical Gardens in Providence.

Today’s Sustainable Bioheat in RI
Jim Malloy, Nat Harris & Craig Emerson
10:00 pm – 10:45 pm

We will explore the local sustainable “cradle to cradle” model of the RI Sustainable Biodiesel movement with a focus on local collection, production and distribution. This clean and efficient transportation and home-heating fuel is available TODAY in Rhode Island.

Jim Malloy is the operations manager of T.H. Malloy Biofuels and has been distributing biodiesel in RI for four years. Jim is also the co-creator of a fossil fuel-free; wind, solar, wood-powered; mortgage-free; efficient, affordable, earthen home nestled in amongst an orchard and gardens.
Nat Harris is the production manager of Newport Biodiesel, focused on the continued development of a biodiesel processing plant creating local, sustainable fuel for RI and the surrounding areas.
Craig Emerson is T.H. Malloy’s service manager and a homeowner using 100% renewables with a self-installed solar hot water system. He was the first Rhode Islander to use 100% biodiesel for home heat.

RI Transit’s Role in Protecting Our Environment
Mark Therrien
11:00 am – 11:45 am
 
Join this discussion on transit’s importance and role in sustainability followed by a pointed presentation on the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority’s achievements and vision to lead alternative transportation changes in RI.

Mark Therrien has worked at RIPTA for more than 30 years, rising from student intern to his current position as Assistant General Manager of Transit System Development, Planning & Grants.

Growing Healthier Transportation Choices for RI
James Celenza & Molly Clark
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm

Transportation policy is, in effect, health policy—and environmental policy, food policy, employment policy, and economic development policy, Our current transportation policy prioritizes cars, highways, and roads adversely impacting air quality, injury risk, physical activity levels, climate change and access to necessities from health care to healthy foods. A transportation policy which prioritizes public transit offers the only option to this policy. Transportation is also one of the largest drivers of the built environment, helping to locate where people live, work, and recreate; and whether communities are connected to or isolated from economic and social opportunities.

James Celenza is the Director of the RI Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (RICOSH), occupational and environmental health resource center, and helped organize the New Public Transit Alliance (NuPTA), a coalition to strengthen and expand public transit in RI. Molly Clark has been working on environmental health issues for the American Lung Association in Washington, D.C., and Rhode Island for more than 30 years.

KeepSpace: Where Neighbors Meet, People Work, Children Play
Richard Godfrey
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

Learn all about KeepSpace - a groundbreaking approach to creating thriving, lasting communities. Initiated by Rhode Island Housing, KeepSpace embraces broad-based, respectful partnerships among those committed to building and preserving a Rhode Island in which families can thrive, children can learn and grow, and communities can prosper.  We are reaching out to, and forging permanent productive partnerships with equally committed agencies and individuals whose disciplines touch upon the development and preservation of our natural and built environments. Through creative and innovative planning and design, KeepSpace will result in well-balanced communities that are safe, viable and inclusive. They will thrive economically and socially while maintaining a clean, healthy environment.

Richard Godfrey is the Executive Director of Rhode Island Housing (KeepSpace Founding Partner). Since 1972, Richard Godfrey has dedicated his career to helping families acquire and keep safe, affordable homes in healthy and vibrant communities. Committed to the belief that a home is much more than a house with four walls and a roof, Richard has successfully developed innovative programs, practices and services that have resulted in thousands of homes in which people can live productive lives. By focusing on the quality of life of those within the homes and the development of thriving communities, he has created sustainable environments where people feel safe and proud, families can thrive, and children can grow.

Renewable Energy Options for Home or Business
Ben Swanson
3:00 pm – 3:45 pm

This workshop will open your eyes to ways in which solar thermal, photovoltaic and wind applications can be aesthetically integrated into your home or business design. Alteris case studies will emphasize environmentally friendly guidelines for construction projects that utilize renewable energy systems.

Ben Swanson is the RI Sales Manager at Alteris Renewables (formerly SolarWrights), working with homeowners and small businesses to identify the most cost-effective and reliable renewable energy systems to meet their energy needs.  Ben joined the company as an installer and apprentice electrician prior to moving into the system design and sales role, participating in the construction of solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and wind turbine systems.  He has a BS in Geology and Oceanography from URI, and worked previously on several classic wooden charter sailboats based in Newport and as a Ski Patroller in Vermont.

Energy: The Problems, The Solutions
Karina Lutz
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm

Energy production and use affects issues of environmental quality, war & peace, poverty & economy, and political & natural security. What leverage do you have to help address all these problems, on a personal, household, local, and global level? Come hear about the difference between energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy onsite and through your electric bill, and the limits to growth.
 
Karina Lutz is the Deputy Director of People's Power & Light, RI’s nonprofit green power provider, working to make energy more affordable and sustainable. She has been involved in energy efficiency for two decades.

Think Outside the Bottle
John Stewart
11:00 am – 11:45 pm

Clean drinking water is the basis for life, but soon two in three people will not have enough of it to survive. Learn how bottled water threatens our health and our ecosystems, costs thousands of times the price of tap water, and undermines local democratic control over a common essential resource. Come find out how you can Think Outside the Bottle and support public water systems! 

John Stewart is a National Organizer with Corporate Accountability International, a non-profit organization that protects people and the environment from dangerous and irresponsible corporate practices, based in Boston, MA.  A recent graduate of Green Corps, the field school for environmental organizing, John has travelled around the country organizing critical grassroots campaigns. John graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Latin American Studies.

What is a Sustainable Economy: An Ecological Perspective
Greg Gerritt
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm

Sustainability is one of the biggest buzz words today. Everyone wants to be sustainable but too often it is assumed that we can sustain business as usual. Considering that we are witnessing ecological collapse in fisheries, forests, water and climate, as well as rapid depletion of many non-renewable resources, it is time to examine just what would be sustainable on planet Earth and begin the discussion of how to shrink the economy enough to get there.

Greg Gerritt is the founder of the think tank, ProsperityForRI.org. He has been involved in efforts to create a sustainable economy since the 1970s. Currently involved in efforts around urban agriculture, with a special focus on compost, and the administration of the coalition of environmental organizations in RI, Gerritt has been the leading advocate in RI for making sure ecology is a component of efforts to create a sustainable economy in RI and a critic of the idea of sustainable growth on this finite planet.

Green Entrepreneurship Opportunities of the 21st Century 
Tomas A. Avila
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

With the Green Economy estimated to be valued over $200 billion in the United States and growing rapidly on both a local and global scale, going green is both good for the environment and a smart entrepreneurial move. The opportunities are as large as the challenges and innovative entrepreneurs from Main Street to Wall Street are taking the challenges they are facing head on.

Tomas A. Avila is the Associate Director of Sustainable Business Development at the Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living. He is a Certified Sustainable Property Specialist by the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Green Resource Council. Avila is known for his leadership and expertise on entrepreneurial training and local economic development primarily focusing on the Latino community of Rhode Island.

Green Municipalities
Daisy Diaz Rivera
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Description and bio coming soon!

Creating a Green Economy from the Bottom Up
Andrew Posner
3:00 pm – 3:45 pm

Despite the recent upsurge of interest in green jobs, much of the focus on greening the economy remains rooted in the actions and support of middle and upper income Americans (think organic food, hybrid cars, solar panels, etc.). This workshop explores how microfinance--the provision of small, affordable loans to those not considered credit worthy by mainstream financial institutions--can complement the green collar job movement by enabling green collar entrepreneurs to take the lead in creating green economy at the local, community level and engage an entire sector of American society on environmental issues.

Andrew Posner, co-founder and director of the Capital Good Fund, recently graduated from Brown University with a Master of Arts in Environmental Studies, where he wrote his thesis on the need for green microfinance in the United Sates, laying out the blueprint for what Capital Good Fund is now working to accomplish.  Andy holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Culture from California State University, Northridge, and is a LEED AP.  Andy’s thoughts and ideas can be found on several prominent environmental blogs, including Treehugger.com and the Huffington Post, as well as his personal web site, www.andyposner.org.

Social Enterprise and Sustainability
Kelly Ramirez
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm

This session will provide an introduction to the dynamic field of Social Enterprise and will showcase a number of innovative green solutions to social and/or environmental challenges from around the globe.

Kelly Ramirez is the Director for Social Venture Partners Rhode Island. She has nearly fifteen years of international development experience, advising NGOs, corporations and governments on civic engagement, sustainability, advocacy and the political process.  Kelly managed the Social Enterprise Initiative at the William Davidson Institute (WDI) and now provides project-based assistance for the initiative. She is an adjunct lecturer in Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.  Her current research focuses on mapping the landscape of social innovations, and she is working on a book on the subject. Prior to coming to the University of Michigan, she worked as a political analyst for the U.S. State Department, an election monitor for the OSCE, and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Slovakia.    Kelly received MA Degrees in Public Policy and Urban Planning and a BA in political science from the University of Michigan.

Architects & Sustainability
Greg Spiess & Christine Malecki West
10:00 am – 10:45 am

This workshop will address the role of an architect and how their services impact sustainability.

Greg Spiess has over 35 years experience in the architectural profession and the related fields of planning and construction. As a Registered Architect he has been responsible for the creation of a wide range of projects from the planning approval stages through construction. Alongside his office pursuits he has taught for many years as an adjunct faculty leading architecture classes in Professional Practice, Graphic Techniques and Design Studio.
Christine Malecki West, AIA, LEED-AP is an architect and Principal at KITE Architects in Providence. As winner of the 2008 Providence Sustainable Housing Competition and architect of numerous LEED and green building projects, including the first LEED-Homes registered affordable housing development in the state, she believes sustainable design is sensible design.

Energy Rebates, Incentives, Tax Credits and Free Services
Chris Gorham
11:00 pm – 11:45 pm

Never before has there been so much money available to help you make your home more energy efficient.  This workshop will help you identify specific incentives available from a number of different sources.  National Grid, federal and state government agencies and manufacturers are encouraging Rhode Islanders to make energy efficiency improvements within their homes. You will learn who’s eligible for this money, what upgrades are covered, and most importantly what you can do to take advantage of these opportunities.

Christopher Gorham is the Residential Operations Supervisor at RISE Engineering, a division of Thielsch Engineering. RISE is the primary vendor for National Grid’s EnergyWise Program in RI. Chris is part of a management team administering the program which includes: processing customer incentives, loans and rebates; performing residential energy audits; installing insulation and air sealing measures; replacing inefficient lighting fixtures; and energy efficient window and door installations.

What is a Green Roof?
Chuck Carberry
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm

Discover the reasons for and benefits of a green roof and how one can be built and maintained. Learn about and be inspired by local living roof projects already in place.

Chuck Carberry has been the Land Division Director of CleanScape, Inc. since 2004. He earned his degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Rhode Island and was the lead Landscape Architect for Roger Williams Park for nearly ten years. He was most recently the Executive Director of New England Botanical Gardens in Providence.

Insulation Throwdown
Andy Gil, Dave Oberg, Greg Fiske & Moderator Greg Spiess
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

Join us for an overview of different types of insulation and the pros & cons of each including installation techniques, material characteristics, budget costing and more.

Andy Gil of Greensulators
Dave Oberg, PE LEED AP, of Anchor Insulation
Greg Fiske, President of Anchor Insulation
Greg Spiess has over 35 years experience in the architectural profession and the related fields of planning and construction. As a Registered Architect he has been responsible for the creation of a wide range of projects from the planning approval stages through construction. Alongside his office pursuits he has taught for many years as an adjunct faculty leading architecture classes in Professional Practice, Graphic Techniques and Design Studio.

Windows: Myths & Realities of New & Replacement vs. Storms
Robert Cagnetta, Vin Andrews, Marc Cleary & Moderator Christopher Armstrong
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Review the myth or reality of claims of new and/or replacement windows vs. storm windows.  Present pros & cons of both with example energy efficiency and cost benefit analysis. 

Robert Cagnetta of Heritage Restorations
Vin Andrews of Marvin Windows
Marc Cleary of Allied Storm Windows
Christopher Armstrong, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP is a Senior Project Captain at RGB with over ten years of experience in the architectural profession. He has successfully completed multiple projects within the academic, housing, corporate and retail markets. His technical expertise coupled with a drive to leave the world better than how he found it has fueled a passion and dedication for sustainable design. Chris is an active member in RI’s design community and currently serves as chair of AIA Rhode Island’s Committee on the Environment (AIAri COTE).

LEED for Homes
David Kessler
3:00 pm – 3:45 pm

There are rapidly growing numbers of choices in the green building market. From the materials we use to the steps we take before, during and after our projects – all of our choices affect our homes as well as the world around us. This workshop will discuss Green Building in the residential market, products and services available, LEED for Homes, examples of projects and the decisions consumers have made in residential projects in an effort to be green.

Dave Kessler, LEED AP, founded Native Structures a year ago to focus on designing and building green structures using sustainable construction materials and practices. With a background in project management and marketing at a traditional construction company Dave recognized a need for green products and services to be offered and implemented in more residential and commercial projects. Native Structures is currently in the midst of constructing and renovating green residential and commercial projects throughout Rhode Island.

Small, Green & Good
Catherine Tumber
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm

This workshop will discuss the role of America’s smaller industrial cities in a low-carbon future.

Catherine Tumber is an historian and journalist and former managing editor of news and features for the Boston Phoenix.  Her third book, on the subject of this talk, is forthcoming from MIT Press.

A Look Into Rhode Island's Food System: What it is and What it Can Be
Jennifer Baumstein
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm

In this session, we will discuss the ways in which Rhode Island is working towards a more just and sustainable food system. We will look at the expansion of farmers' markets, increases in government support, and access to healthy local food and how it has made a difference in the state. We hope that you leave with a greater knowledge of our Food System and the power that you hold as a member of it.

Jennifer Baumstein came to Farm Fresh RI via New York, San Francisco and Vermont. She has worked in the sustainable food movement as an advocate for five years filling the roles of student, educator, and want-to-be farmer. Currently, she can't get enough sugar snap peas in her life, no matter how hard she tries.

Who’s Served by Local Food?
Leo Pollock & Jessica Knapp
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

With local food becoming more and more prevalent in the public consciousness, we pose the question, "Who is really being served by local food?" How effective has the local food movement been in terms of actualizing social justice, food security, and community health?  We will look at this issue from a national standpoint as well as specifically for Providence, with the hope of generating a lively discussion.

Leo Pollock is the Education Director at the Southside Community Land Trust.  Prior to working at SCLT, he received a master's degree in Sustainable Development in the Netherlands.
Jessica Knapp is the Outreach Director at the Southside Community Land Trust.  Prior to working at SCLT, she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Farm Fresh RI.

Compost and the Future of the RI Food Supply
Greg Gerritt
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Local agriculture in Rhode Island will go nowhere if it does not have a large, steady and growing supply of compost. No compost, no soil fertility. Urban areas present a special program for the production of compost. Join us for a discussion of current efforts to create the compost stream in Rhode Island.

Greg Gerritt is the founder of the think tank, ProsperityForRI.org. He has been involved in efforts to create a sustainable economy since the 1970s. Currently involved in efforts around urban agriculture, with a special focus on compost, and the administration of the coalition of environmental organizations in RI, Gerritt has been the leading advocate in RI for making sure ecology is a component of efforts to create a sustainable economy in RI and a critic of the idea of sustainable growth on this finite planet.

Taste the Difference
Laura Genello, Dave Johnson, Joshua Miller & Nancy Miller
3:00 pm – 3:45pm

Join Local 121 for a comparison tasting of locally and industrially produced foods followed by a discussion about creating and sourcing a menu based on local, sustainable foods and the challenges encountered.

Laura Genello possesses a rare insight into the various facets of the food system through her work as the Local 121 food forager and over two years of hands on experience working on RI farms.
Dave Johnson is the Executive Chef of Local 121, is a RI native, and has a true passion for locally harvested foods. He works with local farmers and food artisans to create seasonal menus from the best RI has to offer. Before joining Local 121, Dave perfected his craft at Mills Tavern, La Laiterie, and the Carnegie Abbey Club.

Yoga Classes at Eyes of the World Yoga

Introduction to Yoga
8:00 am – 9:30 am
10:00 am – 11:30 am
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Come enjoy a modest stretching, breathing and relaxation class for everyone interested in finding out what yoga is about. This class is geared for someone new to yoga. Bring a yoga mat if you have one. Learn more about our studio at: www.innerhappiness.com

Patricia Hottel is a certified yoga instructor through Eyes of the World and a certified prenatal yoga instructor through Kripalu. Originally from Brazil, Patricia has studied with many different instructors abroad and in the United States. Most recently, she studied in-depth with Tom Gillette and Shannah Green. With Janice Clarfield Patricia completed her prenatal yoga teacher certification.  Her classes focus on bringing awareness, curiosity and sensitivity to your mental and physical body. With her dedication to individualized attention to each and every student Patricia offers a safe, comfortable and non-competitive practice. Patricia also speaks Portuguese and will translate in class for those who need.

Jessie Meyer-Eisendrath is a devoted practitioner of yoga for the past twelve years. She seeks to apply her passion for yoga not only to the mat but also to the way in which she lives her life. An advocate for sustainable living and organic, local farming, Jessie brings this grounding to her practice and classes. A long-term student of Tom Gillette, Shannah Green, and Shiva Rea, Jessie incorporates lessons from these mentors and combines them with her twenty-two years of classroom teaching experience. In addition, her workshop studies include Rodney Yee, Baron Baptiste, Tias Little, and Beryl Bender, among others. She guides her students to access their heart and grace through careful alignment, self-respect, and conscientious breath within a prana flow vinyasa.

Rebecca Foster received her teaching certification through Eyes of the World in Providence, RI.  She has studied extensively with Tom Gillette at Eyes of the World as well as Divya Epstein-Lubow.  As both student and teacher she appreciates exploring the meditative flow of a vinyassa practice as well as the introspective depth of yin yoga.  Rebecca has been practicing Vipassana (insight/mindfulness) meditation for 10 years and has a strong commitment to contemplative practice.  Yoga offers her the opportunity to combine her interest in awakening the heart and mind with her love of body expression and movement.

Rebecca's classes use the meditative flow of breathing (praanaayaama) and postures (aasana) to develop strength, balance and flexibility in the body while cultivating mindfulness, equanimity and an opening of the heart.  Students are encouraged to explore with compassion and curiosity his or her own deeply held tensions, assumptions and habits of body and mind to open to a healthier, more present and joyful self—both on and off the mat.

Bike Tours Leaving from Various Providence Locations

Join the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council for a bike tour of the Woonasquatucket Greenway.  All rides are free and fairly easy on paved surfaces with no major hills. For a map of the bike path and greenway, or to learn more about WRWC go to: www.wrwc.org. To register, please call WRWC: 401-861-9046

Shortest Rides
4.5 miles – 1 hour total
Rides start and end at Riverside Park at 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM

These short rides tour the off-road portion of the Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway.  This is Providence’s first off-road bike path.  Rides start at Riverside Park in Olneyville.  Riverside Park is on Aleppo Street, just off of Manton Avenue next to Atlantic Mills.  Meet at the Big Red Shed Bike Shop.  You can’t miss it.  It is big and red.

Medium Rides
9 miles – 2 hours total
Rides start and end at Providence Place at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM

These rides start at the official beginning of the Woonasquatucket Bike Path by the bike racks at Providence Place Mall just next to Joe’s Bar & Grill on Francis Street.  This ride is both on-road and off-road.  We will bike along the Woonasquatucket River starting at Providence Place Mall along Promenade Street, past Paul Cuffee School and American Locomotive, through a short off-road portion at Eagle Square, then past Donigian Park, through Rising Sun Mills and our first fish ladder and onto the off-road bike path at Riverside Park.

Long Rides
14 miles – 3.5 hours total (starting at Riverside Park)
19 miles – 4.5 hours total (starting at Providence Place)
Rides start at Providence Place at 10:00 AM or Riverside Park at 10:30 AM

Ride along the Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway starting in Providence, enjoying the off-road path into Johnston.  Then travel on-road through Johnston for 5 miles to Dame Farm and Orchard.  Bring your lunch and some money for apples or a horse drawn wagon tour of the orchard.  Dame Farm and Orchard is on Brown Avenue in Johnston.  Check out their website and read their story at www.damefarm.com.