I used to run PeoplePoweredRochester.com. Since that website is defunct, I’m importing some older posts over here.
I took a stroll through Greentopia the other day. Here’s what I learned:
- Despite its name, Delta Laboratories, inc, is a local nonprofit that has 2 main functions: organizing thousands of people to clean up streams on Earth Day, and providing environmental education to kids in nearby schools.
- The new high-stakes testing model adopted in New York this year is already having adverse effects. Teachers are afraid to let their students skip class to go on environmental field trips, because low attendance lowers their stats.
- The local Sierra Club has 3000 dues-paying members. That’s a ton of people! I had no idea.
- R-Cause.net, a local anti-fracking email newsletter and website, is maintained through 2 women who use a vanilla gmail account to send mail to 2000 people every week. I tipped them off to the existence of free tools like Action Network. Hopefully that’ll make a big difference.
- I always knew that Small World Food was a delicious worker-run bakery, but I didn’t know it was so small – there are just 3-4 full time worker/owners and a smattering of interns.
- ReConnect Rochester (a pro-public transit volunteer group) is run by the same guy, Mike, who writes RochesterSubway.com. Rochester Subway is well-worth your time, by the way.
On a personal note, I also ran into one of my favorite cousins, made some art with little kids, tasted local apples from a CSA booth, drank a flight of beer at the Genesee Brewery, and we were all treated to a a “guerrilla musical performance” by a bunch of volunteers at Greentopia. Festivals are fun!