What is your role in sustainability?
As the voice of the green building industry in Connecticut, BuildGreenCT works to raise awareness that the building sector is the largest contributor of Connecticut’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and therefore, must be part of the solution.
As the Programs and Communications Coordinator, I play a pivotal role in curating our educational programming, exposing our audience to new green building techniques, projects, and pathways.
What’s your Why?
As a recent college graduate, I was looking for opportunities in my proverbial backyard to expand my environmental activism. After speaking with Alicia Dolce, the Executive Director of BuildGreenCT, and my former neighbor, I was inspired to join. From there, I was hired as the Programs and Communications Coordinator. Over the last year, I’ve curated programs, built connections in the CT built environment, and, most recently, volunteered in our Advocacy and Equity Committee.
Project Showcase
Since our Advocacy & Equity Committee Chair is on maternity leave (Congrats, Melissa!), I volunteered to step into the role in the interim. I’ve been spending my free hours getting familiar with the legislative process, and exploring our initiatives.
As we all know, the environment and the few green initiatives we have won are at great risk lately. Creating change on a national level can be daunting, but there are plenty of opportunities locally to impact policy! If you’re interested in making some change with us, please reach out to me at communications@buildgreenct.org. The Advocacy & Equity Committee will also be holding weekly meetings, which will be announced on the Committee page soon.
What’s your motivation?
I’ve always felt drawn to creating change. One quote that motivates me on this journey is Martin Luther King’s, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”. In moments of doubt, or facing a difficult four years (if you catch my drift), this quote reminds me that as long as we keep doing the work, we can make change — though it may take a long time to come.
Tell us about one of your hobbies.
I am a lampwork glass blower! After taking a class at the Guilford Art Center roughly 10 years ago, I fell in love with lampwork glass. Though I don’t have my own set-up at home (yet —Landlords tend to frown on tenants having several gas tanks & a blow torch), I take classes when I can!
Fun Fact
Last year, I spent some time tagging horseshoe crabs at Circle Beach in Madison, Connecticut (my hometown)!