On Saturday, November 7, 2015, the 14th annual grassroots community environmental conference was held in Memphis, Tennessee at the University of Memphis.
This was the second year the University of Memphis co-hosted this community learning event. This year, 205 participants attended the one-day learning opportunity, including university students, grassroots activists, professors, and small business owners. In the shared interest of "Envisioning a Cleaner, Healthier Environment", conference planners scheduled to provide for education on environmental issues so that those in attendance may become inspired and empowered to take action.
In keeping with southern hospitality, Sierra Club Organizer Rita Harris, the Tennessee and Chickasaw Sierra Club Chapters, and the Sierra Club Environmental Justice Program, have been hosting this day-long event for the past 12 years. This year's attendees enjoyed a pasta buffet lunch, prepared for them at no cost.
The conference weekend began with a VIP Reception which included a signing for Congressman Keith Ellison's new book, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee: My Faith, Our Family, Our Future”.
To open the conference, local songwriter Marvin Butler or "Mr. Organic" performed his original movement song "We Can Reverse Global Warming". Panelists and presenters in eleven unique workshop sessions communicated information relating to topics such as the Obama Administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Power Plan, health issues, solar energy, and energy efficiency.
Partner Organizations Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Southern Environmental Law Center, University of Memphis, Mid-South Peace & Justice Center, EPA Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) Environmental Justice (EJ) Office, Shelby County Health Department, union groups UCW-CWA and Teamsters, Self+Tucker Architects, Memphis Bus Riders Union, and the Center for Independent Living all presented.
Session leaders included Sierra Club National EJ Director Leslie Fields and Larry Williams, Jr. Williams expertly led the Labor & the Environment session. Supporting leadership was provided by Sierra Club Senior Field Organizing Manager Dave Muhly, Rhonda Anderson and Sierra Club Community Organizer Karen Monahan. Chickasaw Group Chair and member of the Tennessee Group Transportation Conservation Program, Dennis Lynch, organized and led the transportation panel.
Local Congressman Stephen Cohen, above right-most, recieved the 14th annual Dick Mochow Award for his environmental justice efforts on Capitol Hill. Congressman Keith Ellison, emphasising the civic duty of voting, shared his dream of a young, diverse movement for climate justice with the morning plenary session. Sierra Club President Aaron Mair gave a strong presentation that covered our history, our connection to the land, inclusiveness, and civil and voting rights.
Students attended from Christian Brothers University, Rhodes College, University of Memphis, and HBC LeMoyne-Owen College. Faculty visited from Tennessee State University in Nashville, and Rust College in Holly Springs. Moreover, there were about fourteen Clean Memphis students from four Tennessee charter high schools in attendance.
Over 100 letters, all asking that Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam dump his plans to privatize parks and various sectors of public institutions, were collected to be sent directly as a packet.