The second Massachusetts Sustainable Communities Conference will be held on Friday, April 20th at UMass  Boston, with the Sustainable Campuses following on Saturday April 22nd.  Experts and peers from around the Commonwealth – municipalities, campuses, government, businesses and non-profits gather to share information and best practices.

I  will be participating on the afternoon panel “Local Sustainability Success Stories – the Headliners“.

Further conference and registration information is here. The detailed agenda is below.

Keynote Presentation – The Greening of Massachusetts
86 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:
Jim Hunt Chief of Environment and Energy, City of Boston (Welcome & Introductions)
Meg Lusardi Director of the Green Communities Division at MassDOER
Geoff Chapin Founder and CEO of Next Step Living

What is Community Sustainability?
Common 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.
Kent Portney Author of ‘Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously’; Founder of ‘Our Green Cities’; Tufts University professor
Daniella Hirschfeld STAR Community Index Program Officer & Resilience Specialist
Wayne Feiden Director of Planning and Development, City of Northampton

Community and Campus Connections – Shared Footprints
Two 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.
Tom Kelly ‘The Sustainable Learning Community’ Co-author; Chief Sustainability Officer, Univ. of New Hampshire
Nancy Wilson Dean ad interim of Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship & Public Service, Tufts University

Massachusetts Green Communities – A Tale of Three Cities
We’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.
Paul Marquis Energy and Sustainability Manager, City of Salem
John Odell Energy Efficiency and Conservation Manager, City of Worcester
Allegra Williams Neighborhood Planner, Department of Planning & Development, City of Lowell

Green Business Development Strategies in Communities
Economic 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.
Nolan Browne Managing Director of the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems
Arthur Robert MetroWest Region Director of MA Office of Business Development

Sustainable Community Success Stories
Municipal 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.
David Colton Easton Town Administrator
Brad Swing Director of Energy Policy, City of Boston

Meet the Facilities Directors Implementing Energy Solutions
Better, 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:
Ken Wertz President of MA Facilities Administrators Association; Director of Operations at Sharon Public Schools
Larry Schoff Former Technical Analyst for the US DOE EnergySmart Schools Program & USGBC LEED for Schools

Massachusetts Clean Energy Initiatives – Big Steps
Taking 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.
Elizabeth Kennedy Program Director, Renewable Energy Generation, Mass Clean Energy Center
Jim Elkind Principal at Elkind Associates; Town of Harvard Solarize Mass representative

Sustainable Food Systems – Our Local Markets
Farmers’ 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.
David Webber Farmers’ Market Coordinator at Massachusetts Department of Agriculture
Fred Yen Manager of Winchester Farmers’ Market
Lyndsay Rose Outreach Manager, Green City Growers

Regional Initiatives from Coast to Valley
Cooperation 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 .
Susan Jennings Southeastern MA Sustainability Council Co-Chair; The Sustainability Initiative Director at UMass Dartmouth
Catherine Ratte Principal Planner and Manager at Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Megan Amsler Executive Director of Cape and Islands Self-Reliance

Education’s Role in Sustainability – Our Children are the Future
It’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.
Cate Arnold Boston Latin School Faculty & Student Advisor for YouthCAN
Karen DiFranza Founder of Hands to Earth: Educating for a Sustainable Future

Local Regulations and Resources – Problems and Solutions
As 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.
Kurt Gaertner Director of Sustainable Development, State of Massachusetts
Steven Strong President of Solar Design Associates
Ted Carman President of Concord Square Planning and Development

Energy and Buildings
Where 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.
Neil Angus Environmental Planner for the Devens Enterprise Commission
Bill Hulstrunk Technical Manager at National Fiber

Local Organizations that Engage People – The Ripple Effect
Meet three leaders from community organizations renowned for engaging the community. Hear about their work, the ripple effects and far-reaching solutions.
Rob Garrity Executive Director of Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN)
Audrey Schulman President of Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET)
Meredith Small Executive Director of Toxics Action Center (TAC)

College Student Projects in Communities – Learning While Doing
Student 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.
Laura Goldin Chair, Environmental Studies, Brandeis University; Director of the Environmental Internship Program
Eric Olson Senior Lecturer at Brandeis University

Financing – A Practical Guide
Learn 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.
Ted Carman President of Concord Square Planning and Development
Michelle Mulcahy Bids and Proposals Manager, RGS Energy

Local Sustainability Success Stories – The Headliners
Communities 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.
Nancy Hazard Greening Greenfield Energy Committee member; previous director of NESEA & Tour de Sol
Joel Wool Green Dorchester Community Advocate; Clean Water Action Organizer
Michael Greis Green Needham Chair; Needham School Committee Member