A ReImagine the Turtle Creek Watershed & Airshed Plus (TCWAC+)
VISIONING SESSION TO DISCUSS A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC TRANSITION Join
community members from the Turtle Creek Watershed, airshed, and beyond
as they come together for the second ReImagine the Turtle Creek
Watershed & Airshed Communities Plus (TCWAC+) visioning session.
During the first visioning session held in December of 2019, community
members had the opportunity to brainstorm sustainable, regenerative
solutions that they want to see implemented in their communities. At
this second meeting, after reviewing the data collected from the first
visioning session, we will hear from Brandon Dennison of Coalfield
Development and Patricia DeMarco, and following their presentations,
community members will have the opportunity to partake in the next
round of visioning.
This event is free and open to the public. A plant-based lunch will be
provided. Plates and cutlery will be provided, but if able, attendees
are encouraged to bring their own. Pre-registration is encouraged,
though not required. Questions can be directed to
sustainablemonroeville@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there!
ReImagine the Turtle Creek Watershed & Airshed Communities Plus
(TCWAC+) is an initiative to vision sustainable community development
in the Turtle Creek Watershed, PA Congressional District 18, and
Allegheny Council District 8.
More Information about our speakers:
Brandon Dennison:
Brandon is Ashley Dennison’s husband and father to their boys: Owen
and Will. Born and raised in West Virginia, he is Founder and CEO of
Coalfield Development, which incubates social enterprises designed to
diversify Appalachia’s coal-based economy and cultivate opportunity
for people facing barriers to employment. Dennison graduated from
Shepherd University with a B.A. in History and a B.S. in Political
Science. He holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from Indiana
University. In 2017, Brandon was named West Virginian of the Year by
WV Living Magazine. In 2016, he was named one of “40 Under 40: Young
Leaders Who Are Solving the Problems of Today” by the Chronicle of
Philanthropy. He is winner of the JMK Social Innovation Prize, is a
DRK Entrepreneur, and is an Ashoka Fellow.
As a college student, Brandon Dennison volunteered with his church to
repair homes in West Virginia’s coal country. He never forgot seeing
people his own age desperate for paying work. In 2010, Brandon founded
Coalfield Development Corporation as a community-based non-profit
organization providing affordable homes, creating quality jobs, and
generating opportunities for full life for low- income families in
southern West Virginia. The Coalfield Development Corporation offers
on-the-job-training, education, and mentoring to people in the
southern coalfields. Brandon was quoted in the Bill Moyers “Making
Change” series, saying, “Our responsibility is to create
opportunity, then to provide encouragement and build the
self-confidence necessary for pursuing opportunity.” Coalfield
Development has created more than 200 new jobs, over 50 new
businesses, and more than 800 professional certification opportunities
for unemployed people, many of whom were laid-off coalminers.
Patricia DeMarco:
Patricia M. DeMarco is a native of Pittsburgh, PA. with a doctorate in
Biology from the University of Pittsburgh. She has spent a thirty
-year career in energy and environmental policy in both private and
public sector positions. She is a Rachel Carson Scholar and served as
Executive Director of the Rachel Carson Homestead Association and
Director of the Rachel Carson Institute at Chatham University. She
holds the office of Vice President of the Forest Hills Borough
Council. She sits as Secretary on the Board of Trustees for Phipps
Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
Her book, titled “Pathways to Our SUSTAINABLE FUTURE – A Global
Perspective from PITTSBURGH” explores positive pathways toward
sustainability, based on 28 case studies in PITTSBURGH. Inspired by
Rachel Carson’s environmental ethic, the book was funded by the W.
Clyde and Ida Mae Thurman Fund of The PITTSBURGH Foundation. It was
published by The University of PITTSBURGH Press in 2017. Order the
book and find a book signing event here
https://patriciademarco.com/book/ [https://patriciademarco.com/book/]
She is the Executive Producer of a documentary film with Mark E.
Dixon, “The Power of One Voice- A 50 Year Perspective on the Life of
Rachel Carson” and has served as technical advisor for a video
series with Kirsi Jansa titled “Sustainability Pioneers”
https://patriciademarco.com/film-video/
[https://patriciademarco.com/film-video/]
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22/02/2020 Last update