RCE Greater Atlanta Fall Quarterly Meeting Takeaways
Big thank you to everyone in attendance at this fall’s RCE Quarterly Meeting on September 30, 2024! Our generous host, Sustainable Spelman of Spelman College, welcomed around 60 RCE Greater Atlanta members, students, and community partners to the school’s LEED Gold Certified Wellness Center Gym. With the theme of SDG Professional and Workforce Development, the meeting featured a variety of RCE Greater Atlanta Community Partners speaking on sustainable careers, how the SDGs are at work in Atlanta, and opportunities to network with fellow RCE members.
Opening Remarks: Perrin Brady and Iesha Baldwin
The meeting began with remarks from Perrin Brady, RCE Greater Atlanta Student Coordinator and Engagement Manager, and Iesha Baldwin, Sustainability Coordinator at Sustainable Spelman. A long-time RCE member, Iesha Baldwin described her experience with the RCE and her gratitude to now be hosting a Quarterly Meeting of her own. In her role at Sustainable Spelman, Iesha strives to integrate sustainable practices and spread sustainability education across campus. In doing so, the RCE acts as a facilitator for the SDGs at Spelman, assisting in increasing engagement and awareness of both the RCE and SDGs to students, staff, and the greater Spelman community.Dr. Michael Black
Dr. Michael Black, Professor of Neuroscience at Georgia State University, spoke about his role at the Atlanta Global Studies Center, where he and Dr. Stuart Minson of Georgia Tech lead an action group in assessing the SDGs in Atlanta. The pair seeks to identify the present strengths of the city in addressing the SDGs and uncover pitfalls in SDG implementation in Atlanta to develop a comprehensive plan of action for progress towards this framework. Currently, Dr. Black is using his findings in Atlanta to look ahead to how a new set of SDGs in 2030 might be improved upon from our current framework.
Manuel “Josef” Rodriguez and María del Mar Ceballos
Manuel “Josef” Rodriguez, member of the 2024-2025 SDG Futures Fellow Cohort, and María del Mar Ceballos, Director of Kennesaw State University’s Office of Sustainability, shared their experiences with the SDG Futures Fellowship and encouraged interested individuals to apply for the 2024-2025 Cohort. Josef spoke highly of his experience as an SDG Futures Fellow, describing his work with Morehouse School of Medicine to research and address the problem of homelessness throughout Atlanta. The SDG Futures Fellows Program runs from November to April, and offers participants the chance to develop strong professional skills and sustainability insights through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals. Applications for the SDG Futures Fellows Program are open now until October 6, 2024.
Darryl Haddock
Darryl Haddock, Special Projects Director at West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA), discussed the role of WAWA in protecting water systems throughout the Atlanta area. WAWA represents a variety of local nonprofits advocating for green infrastructure development, community engagement and development, renewable energy technology implementation, and urban agriculture initiatives. The group emphasizes service learning through hands-on environmental education, such as clean-ups and networking. It offers a variety of opportunities for students and professionals interested in grassroots organization and sustainability.
Speed Mentoring and Networking
To conclude the meeting, a variety of RCE Greater Atlanta organizations and members engaged in speed mentoring and networking. Organizations represented include Southface Institute, Trees Atlanta, Scraplanta, Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Greening Youth Foundation. RCE members had the opportunity to speak with these organizations about their sustainability missions and work towards the SDGs.
Conclusion
Again, thank you to all who attended the Quarterly Meeting and helped make it a success! We appreciate Sustainable Spelman hosting this fall’s meeting and look forward to seeing everyone again in the winter.