The Green Convene is an opportunity to build an influential and non-partisan Coalition to promote strong and effective sustainable policies in local government. The Green Convene - Winter 2009 was just the beginning.

Join us for the Green Convene Summer 2009 @ the Forecastle Festival!

Read our Mission statement here.

We are at a new place in history, entering a period of global change. Our community needs to embrace principles of sustainability in all aspects of public policy, private enterprise and individual behavior. There are many Louisville area stakeholders who recognize that policy decisions need to be based upon sustainable principles but do not speak with a unified voice. The Green Convene seeks to create a unifying coalition [to provide that voice].

The Green Convene is lead by an informal steering committee of local volunteers. Many of our volunteers are listed on the website.

The Green Convene - Winter 2009 was just the beginning. The goal of the Green Convene Winter 2009 is to unite stakeholders, launch a coalition, and identify next steps to promote strong and effective sustainability policies in local government. The Green Convene Winter 2009 will be followed in July by the Green Convene Summer 2009 at the Forecastle Festival.

Go to the main Winter 2009 page.

We are not yet accepting registrations for Summer 2009, but you may donate and help build the coalition by sending a check to:

Green Convene
c/o Summer Convene
107 W Market St
Louisville KY 40202

We need your help! Anyone interested in the Green Convene is welcome to attend our planning meetings at Earthenirvana (2132 Frankfort Ave - enter in back of building). Check the forum for our next scheduled meeting. Or contact jackie@greenconvene.org.

View more volunteer information here.

Stakeholders will identify the direction of the Coalition by helping to define its structure and next steps.

During the Green Convene - Winter 2009 the stakeholders helped define the direction of the Coalition by answering the following three questions:

1) Which 3 focus areas have the greatest impact on sustainability in Louisville?
The answer will help define:
o Largest area of common ground shared by Focus Groups
o Actions that will bring together the largest number of organizations
o Opportunities for the Coalition
o Next steps

2) What will you, your organization &/or your Focus Group need from the Coalition?
The answer will help define:
o Conditions required for commitment to working with the Coalition
o Next steps to meet focus group member needs

3) What will you, your organization &/or your Focus Group offer to the Coalition?
The answer will help define:
o Depth and type of commitment
o Coalition resources
o Coalition organizational structure
o Next steps to meet Coalition needs

In addition, before the Green Convene Winter 2009, stakeholders had an opportunity to help define the Coalition’s Focus Group topics as well as the Coalition’s Statement of Unity, Purpose, and Intent.

Beyond building a Coalition we would like to see strengthened relationships within the Focus Groups and identification of committed volunteers to further their specific causes.

The Green Convene steering committee volunteers are available to help coordinate Coalition efforts; however, we anticipate that the Green Convene Winter - 2009 event will generate more Coalition leadership.

We start with what we have, and current sustainability efforts in Louisville are primarily issue-specific. Our task was to organize these issue-specific efforts into a unified coalition to address larger systemic issues of sustainability in Louisville.

Issue-informed individuals serving in other local organizations volunteered to lead focus groups. Some of the Focus Groups and leaders are to be found on the website.

All Green Convene Winter 2009 registrants participated in Focus Groups on Saturday, February 21st. Participants selected their Focus Group upon registration.

The Green Convene - Summer 2009 will take place at the Forecastle Festival in July 2009. The goal of the Green Convene - Summer 2009 is to continue to promote a Coalition of united stakeholders, as well as to build on the momentum generated from the Green Convene - Winter 2009. The Green Convene - Summer 2009 will take significant steps to formalize the Coalition.

Until the Green Convene participants (Winter & Summer 2009) have spoken it is not possible to determine how the coalition will be structured. However, anyone interested in the Green Convene is welcome to attend our planning meetings on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 PM at Earthenirvana.

Register for the Green Convene, select the Focus Group that interests you, and engage with and commit to the Coalition. The success of the Coalition depends on the efforts of each Focus Group, which depend on the commitment from each group member.

Contact jackie@greenconvene.org