Green Leaders for Local Impact Retreat, Friday, June 8th, from 1 – 5 pm at Potomac Overlook Regional Park

THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED DUE TO FULL CAPACITY.   If you are interested in being placed on a waiting list and/or would like to involved in further follow-up efforts, contact us at info@leadersinenergy.org. 
NOTE to ATTENDEES:   We will be opening our registration at noon.  Please join us for a lunch provided by MOM’s Organic Market.  We would like to see if we can get started at 12:45 pm.  
Direction and Parking for the Retreat at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 Marcey Road, Arlington, VA 22207:

How to get there: Marcey Road, which is situated off the Military Road in Arlington, provides the one and only vehicle entrance to Potomac Overlook Regional Park. The restrooms/parking area—located across the street from Marcey Road Park’s tennis and basketball courts—are reached after 1/3 mile (past the Donaldson Run Recreation Assn parking lot.).   You will need to walk from the parking lot to the Park’s Nature Center where the retreat is being held.  There is also additional parking by the tennis courts and along the side of the road.  Detailed directions (including a downloadable park map and link to Google Directions) are available here: http://tinyurl.com/qeh2bm6

NOTE: Please do not park in the Donaldson Run Recreation Assn parking lot.  Instead, continue on Marcey Road and you will see the Regional Park’s parking area on the right-hand side after you pass the Donald Run Recreation Association lot.

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We know that the ecosystem we live in is not sustainable without LOCAL action. 

The Green Leaders Retreat will provide you with insights, skills, and connections for making a positive green impact in our world.

This retreat is for individual Green Leaders seeking to take the next step in creating positive change at the community level in the DMV – creating actionable solutions that create more sustainable LOCAL communities.

You may be a leader in your job, community, or of one, seeking to shape a better future.

Won’t you step forward and be a part of creating solutions that matter for your local community?

Join us for an afternoon of inspiration and action with fellow Green Leaders on Friday, June 8 from 1-5 pm at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, Arlington, Va.

We’ll examine several of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in particular, #7 (Affordable Clean Energy), #8 (Decent Work); and #9 (Resilience).   These three goals will be explored, in addition to the larger SDG framework, as one of several approaches to share existing knowledge and allow new ideas to emerge and be jointly developed.   These goals can often seem out of the touch with our daily lives.  How can we bring these actions to the local level?  Can we begin to develop some local or personal SDGs?

You will:

  • Connect with fellow Green Leaders
  • Examine how local leaders can translate larger global goals into action into their communities.
  • Hear about the impact of the SDGs on the local level, and learn about gaps that need to be filled for a greener, more sustainable communities here in the DMV
  • Learn techniques for “Glimpsing the Future” from futurist Jim Burke
  • Create a practical, actionable plan for a local SDG project
  • Further hone your leadership skills as a Green Leader
  • Have fun!

 

The retreat will also include a guided nature walk (weather permitting) of this beautiful regional park located in Arlington, Virginia.  Dress comfortably with walking shoes.   Delicious refreshments provided by MOM’s Organic Market.  There will be plenty of opportunities for participants to share and build new connections.  The retreat will also include a guided nature walk (weather permitting) of this beautiful regional park located in Arlington, Virginia.  Dress comfortably in walking shoes.   Delicious refreshments provided throughout the afternoon.   Our food sponsor is MOM’s Organic Market.

 Price is $50, $45 early bird by May 30th. Student and job seeker rates at $25, with $22.50 early bird.   

Meet Our Retreat Discussion Leaders 

 

SDG #7 Discussion Leader - Ruchi Soni

SDG #7 Discussion Leader - Ruchi Soni

Ruchi Soni is Manager of Energy Access at the UN Foundation, where she oversees the Energy Access Practitioner Network and the Foundation’s involvement in the Mini-Grids Partnership. She worked for the World Bank for nine years, where she was responsible for the design and scaling-up of commercially-viable and innovative business models for electricity access. More recently, she was the program manager at wPOWER, a U.S Department of State initiative, where she directed program development and donor management. Soni also led the messaging and communication for wPOWER Hub’s impact.

Sonii has worked on policy issues, authored several publications on energy issues and contributed to global knowledge flagship products like RISE. She has been involved in designing and implementing national-level energy programs in Asia (India, Afghanistan, Fiji Islands), Latin America (Mexico) and Africa (Tanzania, Kenya). She was also responsible for program coordination, and resource planning for many of these programs and studies. Ruchi has also had stints with International Finance Corporation and Engineers India Limited. Soni holds a Master’s degree in environmental studies from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) University.

SDG #8 Discussion Leader - Nancy Donaldson

SDG #8 Discussion Leader - Nancy Donaldson

Nancy A. Donaldson served as Director of the Washington office of the International Labor Organization (ILO) from 2010-17.  She was the ILO’s liaison to the United States government, U.S. employers’ and workers’ organizations, the IMF, World Bank Group and other multilateral and international finance institutions. The ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations.  Donaldson has advised governments, non-profits, labor unions and corporations on government and public affairs for over 25 years.

Earlier in her career, Donaldson was a Vice President at Dutko Global Advisors representing corporations, governments and NGOs.  She also worked for AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern as Director of Legislation at SEIU.  Donaldson holds a B.A. in communications from Baldwin Wallace University and a J.D. from Emory University Law School.

SDG #9 Discussion Leader - Annette Osso

SDG #9 Discussion Leader - Annette Osso

Annette Osso is the Managing Director of Resilient Virginia. As a transformation of the Virginia Sustainable Building Network, Resilient Virginia’s focus is to accelerate resiliency planning in Virginia communities. Their mission is to launch a Community Resiliency Initiative in Virginia that will provide residents, businesses and governments with the ability to adapt and thrive despite changing environmental, social, and economic conditions. Resilient Virginia brings together national, state, and local resiliency expertise and resources, and acts as a dissemination point from which these resources can be distributed statewide.

Prior to leading Resilient Virginia, Osso led the Virginia Sustainable Building Network; helped create the EarthCraft Virginia Program, a voluntary home energy ration program; and planned and executed the first, statewide Virginia Sustainable Future Conference. She is a LEED Accredited Professional, and a graduate of the George Washington University.

Jim Burke

Jim Burke

MEET OUR FUTURIST

Jim Burke is a Futurist with Strategic Insight.  Jim Burke is Vice Chairman of Ascent Virginia an organization seeking to foster a vibrant, world-class clean technology economy in Virginia. Burke has thirty-five+ years’ experience in long-range planning, foresight, early warning analysis, organizational development, change management, innovation, operational requirements, and identifying implications of advanced technologies. His active military career included operational assignments, program offices and acquisition, and the Joint Staff. He is a former President of the Metropolitan Chapter of the World Futures Society, a member of the Association of Professional Futurists, and former Chair and President of several non-profits, including Virginia Interfaith Power & Light. He has an undergraduate degree in history, and graduate degrees in Public Administration and Science and Technology Studies.

He will engage us on techniques for glimpsing into the future to affect positive change.

Beth Offenbacker

Beth Offenbacker

MEET OUR FACILITATOR

Dr. Beth Offenbacker is a dynamic, visionary talent development and engagement executive with corporate, nonprofit, and public agency experience. Offenbacker is the Founder and Principal at Waterford, Inc. which works to create stronger, more successful companies, nonprofits, and communities. She brings more than 25 years of experience in training, coaching, talent development, engagement, community relations, marketing, and project management experience.  Offenbacker’ss core expertise is in developing and implementing talent management and development programs for emerging, established, and senior-level professionals. Her programs focus on developing the skills and talents green leaders need to make a positive impact in the world, at an individual and team level.

Offenbacker earned a bachelor’s degree in communications at the State University of New York at Brockport and a master’s degree in public communications at American University. A graduate of Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Administration and Policy, Beth’s dissertation focused on the practice of public participation in 12 countries (Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Mexico, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, and the United States).  Offenbacker is also the Director of Training and Development for Leaders in Energy.