|
Sustainable Newton has partnered with the Covington YMCA for the annual Cheerios Challenge scheduled for Earth Day this year. The Cheerios Challenge is an opportunity to run for good and help fund the YMCA's many community-based programs.
The races will begin promptly at 8:00 AM on April 22, 2023, immediately followed by a festival with live music, free food, local vendors, and activities for kids. The festival following the race will be open to the public and FREE for all to enjoy. Race registration is not required to attend the festival. Be sure to stop by the Sustainable Newton booth on Legion Field!
|
|
|
The Biden Administration released the IRA, or Inflation Reduction Act, in response to energy concerns which include tax credits supporting a range of Drawdown Georgia climate solutions. One such investment is in household energy efficiency. Could you be entitled to funding for appliance upgrades and more? Click the link below to find out how much you can receive.
|
|
|
Climate Reality Leadership Corps
|
|
|
Take a deeper dive into the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and attend the latest training. Climate Reality's Power Up: From Acts to Action will feature some key players who helped the legislation pass. Former Vice President Al Gore, White House advisor Mitch Landrieu, and White House Counsel on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Brenda Mallory to talk about the future of clean energy as well as many other special guests and speakers. The event runs April 6-20, 2023 on demand for all registered attendees. Two sessions are mandatory with dates listed below:
April 11
7:00 PM –8:30 PM ET
April 13
7:00 pm –8:30 PM ET
|
|
|
The Georgia Climate Conference will be held at the UGA Conference Center and Hotel in Athens in May. The conference aims to support communities in minimizing the risks and maximizing the benefits associated with climate change. The event will bring together attendees across many sectors and areas of expertise to highlight progress and identify new opportunities. The event will be held May 15-17, 2023. Event registration is now open.
|
|
|
2023 Executive Committee
Since our last newsletter, Sustainable Newton members elected the following officers for 2023:
|
|
|
|
PRESIDENT
Nancy Schulz
VICE PRESIDENT
Theodosia Wade
SECRETARY
Emily Griffith
TREASURER
Rob Levin
|
|
|
Our Sustainable Newton President, Nancy Schulz, received the Newton Chamber of Commerce's 2022 R.O. Arnold Award Thursday, March 9.
Schulz, who has stayed active in the community since leaving the Board of Commissioners in 2020, said she was surprised by the honor given to her during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner at Emory Oxford College.
"I want to thank the community for being my home and giving me the opportunity to participate," she said.
|
|
|
Webinar Series: 80 Acres Farms
|
|
|
|
In January, we kicked off the new year with a webinar featuring Noah Zelkind, Director of Data Analytics & Insights, with 80 Acres Farms, who gave us a fascinating look at the vertical farming technology his company is bringing to Covington. (Noah substituted admirably for his father, CEO Mike Zelkind, who was called away at the last minute.) If you missed Noah's inside look at his company’s business model and cutting-edge technology, you’ll want to catch the replay at the link below. With global warming affecting growing conditions and food waste worsening, 80 Acres Farms has plans to intersect ag tech and sustainability locally and worldwide. With food challenges emerging, vertical indoor farming reduces water consumption, is free of pesticides, and you guessed it, can grow more vertically per acre.
|
|
|
Newton College & Career Academy hosted this year's Arbor Day celebration in conjunction with the City of Covington and led by Dr. Marcus Pollard. The event began with a brief discussion on Arbor Day. After the Proclamation signing, guests participated in demonstrations like tree climbing, tree planting, and sawmill work. Students from surrounding schools were in attendance as well. During the event, 20 new species of native trees were added to the already-growing campus collection. We would like to recognize our own Cecily Gunter for her continued hard work and dedication.
|
|
|
Sustainable Newton is currently working with a group of graduate students from the Georgia Tech Scheller School of Business to conduct a market analysis of the interest among Newton County businesses for the climate solutions identified in the Drawdown Georgia Climate Action Framework. Using a survey and targeted followup conversations with local business leaders, the student will recommend actions we can take to support those businesses interested in solutions like recycling, composting, energy efficiency, rooftop solar, EV charging, etc.
|
|
|
Did you know the first person to fly to the edge of outer space and see the curvature of the Earth from a balloon lived the final years of his life in Covington, GA? David G. Simons, MD was not only a space pioneer whose photo graced the cover of Life Magazine in 1957, but he was also a passionate climate activist who addressed the City of Covington Mayor and Council in 2008 to warn about the dangers of climate change and to urge local climate action. Read more about it in our Sustainable Newton Blog. Writing about a letter Dr. Simons sent following his presentation, Maurice Carter says “Bob Dylan's line from Tangled Up in Blue says it best: ‘Every one of them words rang true and glowed like burning coal, pouring off every page like it was written in my soul from me to you.’”
|
|
|
|
|
