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CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS |
- There is a clear commitment to green affordable
housing throughout Minnesota. Green by Design welcomed
nearly 350 attendees from over 75 cities and town
throughout the state. Attendees included housing
developers, contractors, architects, city planners,
funders, environmentalists, policymakers, and other
professionals concerned with creating sustainable
housing and communities in Minnesota. Click here
to view a list of conference attendees.
- Robert F.
Kennedy, Jr. inspired and motivated audience members
with his powerful keynote luncheon address
that was as much call to action as speech. He stressed
that good environmental policy is good economic policy
and that it is our responsibility and obligation to
provide our children and our grandchildren with communities
that are safe, healthy, and sustainable. He also expressed
great concern about the increase of impaired lakes,
rivers, and streams in Minnesota and throughout the
nation (often the result of mercury contamination from
local coal plants) and the need to prioritize support
for family farms instead of corporate agribusiness
and factory farms. Kennedy received two standing ovations
and many attendees expressed a renewed sense of purpose
and determination to make a difference in their own
communities. Following his speech, Kennedy appeared
on WCCO Radio with Don Shelby. Their conversation can
be heard online at
http://www.830wcco.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=730062
- Green
by Design was not without its challenges. Due to
a medical emergency, scheduled health keynote
speaker
Xavier Bonnefoy was unable to attend. Fortunately,
Ellen Tohn of Tohn Environmental Strategies, a
national expert in housing-based environmental
threats (and
a scheduled presenter for Day Two) was able to
step in for Bonnefoy and provide a compelling speech
on
the strong connections between housing and health.
Tohn asked attendees to look at their work through
the lens of a public health expert and stressed
how housing and community design have a major impact
on the health of individuals, families, and children.
She also discussed the burden of high health care
costs,
and how all of us can be a part of an effective
response
to preventing rising costs through creating healthier
housing and active, walkable communities.
- Green
by Design offered a rich assortment of more than
20 different technical and policy sessions
by local and national experts on a wide range of
green
building and design topics, including energy
efficiency, stormwater management, green building
products,
urban and rural design, global warming, health
and housing,
and much more. On more than a few occasions,
workshop sessions left standing room only (click
here to see the final conference brochure). Conference
attendees
were clearly engaged throughout the conference
and demonstrated their enthusiasm and commitment
through
their active participation and strong
evaluation comments.
- After a day of engaging workshop sessions,
many attendees stayed for a “Green Happy
Hour” for
an opportunity to network with other conference
participants
and staff, discuss topics of interest from
the day’s
workshops, share details on plans for new housing
developments, and take time get to know colleagues
from around the
state.
- The transit-friendly location appealed
to a number of attendees with over two dozen
attendees
arriving
on bicycle, bus, or lightrail. Conference
attendees also expressed pleasure in The Depot
venue,
a historic renovated train station filled with
natural light,
beautiful high ceilings and rooms, and complete
with a charming train theme and waterpark.
- Publications from the conference
To
sign up for Minnesota Green Communities e-mail
announcements, click here.
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