Happy Birthday, Bethesda Green

Five years ago today, a passionate group of people came together at the Bethesda Theatre to kick-off a new initiative.  On January 23, 2008, Bethesda Green was officially born.

Many of you may recall that we had close to 400 people join us from all different sectors, many who still talk about being part of that special day.  We started as a group open to the community and today still see inclusiveness as one of our core strengths.  The seven core principles (from our initial proposal) were:

1. Community engagement
2. Scale up what works
3. Identify opportunities
4. Educate and market
5. Leverage existing networks
6. Sustain the initiative
7. Phased approach

Thanks to all the board members who helped make Bethesda Green possible.

• To Seth Goldman and George Leventhal, whose leadership and guidance gave the organization its birth.
• To Ilaya Hopkins, Jeff Burton and Greg Rooney, whose leadership as board chairs propelled Bethesda Green forward.
• To the Bethesda Green staff, whose commitment to excellence and efforts are gifts to the community.
• And to Mike Mielke, my initial founding partner, whose purposefulness and enthusiasm for sustainability inspired me to build green, livable communities.

Our goals, when we launched were to focus, organize and accelerate the local sustainability movement.  In 2012, we instituted a three-year strategy around themes of incubate, initiate, and educate.  This year, we will begin the process of redefining our strategy post 2013.

We have made a huge difference to this community and the many people who have been part of Bethesda Green.  It may sound cliché, but our work is just beginning.  I hope you stay involved and recognize the impact this organization is having on our community and others following our lead.

Happy Birthday, Bethesda Green

 

Bethesda Green Names New Board Leadership

Bethesda Green announced the appointment of a new slate of Board officers to assume leadership at its next meeting January 7, 2011.  Community leader and current Board Member Ilaya Hopkins will serve as Chair of the Board of Directors.  Other officers elected by the Board at its December 2010 meeting include Vice Chair Jeff Burton, Deputy Executive Director at Bethesda Urban Partnership; Treasurer Joseph Chirico, Senior Vice President with Capital One Bank; and Secretary Rosalie Grazzini.

Bethesda Green Co-Founders and former Board Co-Chairs Seth Goldman (President and TeaEO of Honest Tea) and George Leventhal (Montgomery County Councilmember, At Large) championed the growth of the non-profit collaborative of residents, businesses and government since its inception in 2008 and will continue serving as Board Members.

“An important test for any young enterprise is whether it can continue to grow and evolve once the founders step aside.  I’m confident that Bethesda Green is in good hands,” said Goldman.

High among the Bethesda Green successes touted by Leventhal is its Green Business Incubator as an engine of job creation in the community. “Bethesda Green works with and leverages Montgomery County’s strengths to create a green entrepreneurial cluster that will generate economic, environmental and social value for the County’s businesses and residents,” he said.  “The Board fully supports its ongoing development.”

Other Bethesda Green highlights include:

• Installing dozens of recycling bins in downtown Bethesda.
• Educating thousands of people through seminars and trade shows about renewable energy and simple efficiencies to cut carbon output and save money.
• Organizing E-cycling days in partnership with Montgomery County, collecting tons of TVs, computers and other old electronic equipment.
• Convening an internship fair providing hundreds of young people a gateway to future careers.
• Hosting a Gala to spotlight businesses and individuals as champions of sustainable living.
• Strengthening ties between the urban and rural communities in the local agricultural food chain.

New Board Chair Ilaya Hopkins is working with staff and volunteer leadership to outline plans for the future. “Seth and George established a strong foundation for Bethesda Green in its formative years,” said Hopkins. “We look forward in 2011 to building upon our established success, expanding our community impact, providing quality educational programming and driving the creation of new green jobs.”