June 10 Weekly News Brief

Would you like to meet our staff, see our office, get your burning questions answered, and, help inform our work going forward? Next month, we will be hosting groups of six visitors at at time in our office uptown for coffee and conversation! If you are interested, please contact [email protected] by Wednesday, June 17.

Over 45 people attended the very first Green Drinks Charlotte + Sustain Charlotte Monthly Mixer! We heard from Christina Vernon, Assistant Vice President for a Healthy Environment at our Gold Partner Carolinas Healthcare System. She explained the unique sustainability challenges faced by medical facilities. Did you know that a single cardiac procedure generates as much waste as an average American household of 4 people in one week? To read more about what she and our other speakers shared, read our blog.

Don't miss next month's Green Drinks Charlotte + Sustain Charlotte's Monthly Mixer! Click here to RSVP now.

Christina Vernon explained how Carolinas Healthcare System is committed to improving their sustainability.

Last week, Sustain Charlotte staff taught children at the Southview Recreation Center in West Charlotte what sustainability means and how they can help to make their neighborhood more sustainable. This follows our visioning workshop with teens last month at the nearby Arbor Glen Outreach Center.

Most of the children told us that they live in apartment homes, like over 140,000 Mecklenburg County residents. We asked the children, "What can you do to live more sustainably in an apartment?". Visit our blog to read a few of the ideas they shared!

Local residents like you play a critical role in ensuring we have the resources to carry out our work in the community to inspire choices that lead to a to a healthier and more vibrant community for generations to come! Help us do more by becoming a Sustain Charlotte member today for as little as $3/month -- that's one cup of coffee! Click to learn how easily you can support our mission and your community via membership:

In light of Monday's announcement that the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the CityLYNX Gold Line will be held on July 14, we wanted to highlight the many benefits we believe this new system will bring to the city. Visit our blog to read our list of some of the expected social, environmental, and economic benefits or download our 2013 streetcar report here: Go for the Gold: Why Streetcars Are a Win for Charlotte.

Sustain Charlotte is hiring! We are currently seeking a full-time Bicycle Program Manager. To read our job posting and how to apply click here, and please share with others to help us spread the word! Applications close June 15.

Our Sustainable Neighborhoods Program has been featured in today's Creative Loafing Charlotte! Author Ryan Pitkin writes, "It's this self-motivation that made Reid Park a perfect fit for community engagement group Sustain Charlotte to offer a helping hand in the form of its Sustainable Neighborhoods Program. This grant program, funded by Wells Fargo, brings Sustain Charlotte organizers into lower-income neighborhoods to help residents create long-term sustainability plans for their community. With the help of Sustain Charlotte, Reid Park residents have now created a proactive plan to deal with issues like street safety, littering and park maintenance that includes short- and long-term goals with resources to help reach them.They say it has been a relief to start seeing projects get done, especially as they enlist the community's youth to complete them."

Wilmore resident, Kris Steele told Creative Loafing, "I think it comes down to people. We have a number of individuals who create a collective in this space that create a momentum for change, people who see things and rather than just talk about it they get behind it...Sustain Charlotte was the central piece of that, bringing people around to talk about what could be, and when those ideas get out and sit in a space, a cauldron, they brew and essentially we turn those ideas into a reality." Read more about our innovative work with Charlotte's neighborhoods in this week's Creative Loafing.

Terry Lansdell, Program Director of Clean Air Carolina and winner of the 2015 Sustain Charlotte Award for Outstanding Leader, is highlighted in this blog article by the Charlotte Observer for his achievements. "So much of what we do every day weighs on the region’s air quality. If we make good choices, pollution levels can drop. When we’re less conscientious, we’ll be left to breathe air that’s not always so healthy for us." Click here to read the full article.

"Solar is here to stay. The question is, will it stay in North Carolina?" These are a few words from Bank of America founder Hugh McColl Jr., in a recent op-ed in which he talks about the emerging solar power industry in NC, and the need for our state to seize this opportunity to "compete and be a leader in this 21st century industry." We agree with Hugh, and urge our state legislators to ensure North Carolina’s policies remain supportive of our growing sustainable energy industry. Read the full article at The News&Observer.

Are you interested in giving a presentation at the 2015 NC Bike Summit in Charlotte this October? The call for papers is now open! Click here for instructions and to learn more. Sustain Charlotte is the local host for this 4th annual North Carolina Bicycle Summit which will be hosted in Charlotte October 15-17, 2015!

Take advantage of this important chance to tell NCDOT that we need more investment in bicycle, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure and maintenance by taking the first ever DCDOT customer survey! It will only take 10-15 minutes to complete: go.ncsu.edu/customerservice2015. This survey closes June 12. Click here to read more.

Go solar and take advantage of the Solarize Cabarrus NC Program! This is a citizen-led project to promote residential solar in Cabarrus and the entire Charlotte metro area. Everyone in the area is eligible to take advantage of this program! Visit the Solarize Cabarrus NC website now to read more about the volume discount, financing options, and tax credits: solarizecabarrusnc.com

July 7

Green Drinks Charlotte + Sustain Charlotte Monthly Mixer
6:00pm-7:30pm @ The Liberty, 1812 South Blvd, Charlotte. Join us for an informal and fun evening of conversation and networking. Our Monthly Mixers provide an opportunity where you can learn more about us, our partners, and meet others interested in local sustainability! You'll here from our Silver Partner, Greffen Systems, and also have a chance to register for the 2015 Race to the Beach commute challenge! Click here to read more and to RSVP.

June 13

Berewick Craft Beer Festival & Food Truck Rally
3pm-7pm @ Berewick Manor House, 6625 Berewick Commons Pkwy. This event benefits Sustain Charlotte! Come sample complimentary beers, purchase food, and enjoy entertainment by The Breakfast Club. For more information, click here.

June 16

Charlotte Green Team Meeting
3:30pm-5:00pm @ OMNI Charlotte, 132 E. Trade Street, 28202. The topic of this meeting is, "Water: Will We Have Enough?". There is no charge to attend. To register, send an email to [email protected] with your name, organization & email saying you’d like to attend.