2021 Leon County Sustainable Community Summit
Hosted through both virtual and small, outdoor in-person sessions.
On behalf of the Leon County Office of Sustainability, we want to thank you for joining the 2021 Leon County Sustainable Community Summit from April 6th – 10th. Hundreds of Leon County residents engaged in a diverse range of topics through both virtual and small, outdoor in-person sessions. This Summit would not have been possible without significant contributions from the community partners who led sessions and served as panelists. Their work helps make Leon County a more sustainable and enjoyable place to live, and we encourage you to continue to follow their efforts.
Session Recordings & Resources
All session recordings can be viewed by clicking on the title of the session you wish to watch.
Saving Energy (and Money) at Home
Session Description: This session covers conservation and energy-efficiency techniques that you can employ at home to save money on your utility bill. You'll learn strategies (from basic to advanced) for saving energy and money at home from the experts at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
Presenter: Jennifer Thorne Amann, Buildings Program Director for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
Resources shared during the session:
- PowerPoint Presentation
- American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
- Smarter House
- Energy Star
- Enervee
Session Description: This workshop covers the A, Bee, and Cs of beekeeping (see what we did there?), why bees are so important for our local ecosystem, and more. You'll learn what an apiarist is, how you raise bees, and how bees make honey.
Workshop presenter: Dr. Lee Bushong, Doc Wild's Bees.
Resources shared during the session:
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Doc Wild’s Bees
- UF/IFAS Master Beekeeper Program
- Apalachee Beekeepers Association
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Change Makers Panel: Integrating Sustainability into Your Work
Session Description: A panel of local professionals from diverse backgrounds discuss and answer questions about how they integrate sustainability into their work. This panel of changemakers apply sustainability principles to their jobs in traditional and less traditional ways. Learn how to use a sustainability lens to apply sustainability principles to any career or job – whether you think it’s related to sustainability or not. From landscaping to nutrition, there are endless ways to work on sustainability no matter what career you choose!
Panelists: Afaf Qasem, MS, RDN, LDN, Director of Quality of Life Services at TMH; Sherry Carpenter, Leon County Parks & Recreation; Cam Whitlock, Principal and Co-Founder of Architects Lewis + Whitlock; and Angelique Taylor and David "Kip" Ritchey, Owners and Operators of Smarter By Nature.
Resources shared during the session:
Session Description: This composting workshop dives into the science behind turning food scraps into compost and how to start and maintain a successful compost bin or pile. You'll learn how to successfully compost your food scraps at home, business, school, or faith-based organization. This session covers all the Dos and Don’ts for starting and maintaining a compost bin.
Workshop presenters: Mark Tancig and Molly Jameson, Extension Agents for Leon County UF/IFAS Extension Office.
Resources shared during the session:
Get Involved Panel: Community Members Driving Sustainable Action
Session Description:This panel of community members dives into the importance of community involvement and volunteering and offers several tips for how to get involved. Hear community involvement success stories and how small groups of citizens have made a big impact. You'll learn about the importance of community involvement in Leon County, where to go to find volunteer opportunities, and how to start your own grassroots initiatives.
Panelists: Royle King, Leon County Volunteer Services Coordinator; Cyndel Brunell, FSU Sustainable Campus Program Coordinator; Hannah Crow, Fort Braden Community Organizer; Miaisha Mitchell, Greater Frenchtown Revitalization Council Executive Director.
Resources shared during the session:
- Hannah Crow’s PowerPoint Presentation
- Cyndel Brunell’s PowerPoint Presentation
- Volunteer Leon
- FSU Sustainable Campus
- Fort Braden Community
- Greater Frenchtown Revitalization Council
- iGrow “Whatever You Like”
Session Description: Join Heidi Copeland's virtual cooking class, where she demonstrates how to use a mix of locally grown fresh produce and common pantry items to make hearty, yummy recipes! You'll learn how to make four delicious recipes in under an hour and the importance of local food systems.
Presenter: Heidi Copeland, Extension Agent for the Leon County UF/IFAS Extension Office.
Resources shared during the session:
Creating Your Own Sustainability Plan
Session Description: Leon County’s Sustainability Team demonstrates how to create your own sustainability action plan, including tips for both sustainability beginners and experts. Want to be more sustainable at home, at work, or within your community organizations, but not sure where to start? This session will provide you the template and some ideas to get you started!
Presenters: Tobias Raether and Tessa Schreiner, Leon County Office of Sustainability.
Resources shared during the session: