Starr Library and Climate Smart Rhinebeck are excited to help young people imagine a better future—one in which they’re empowered to take action!

Students are invited to meet and chat with local professionals whose careers have intertwined with climate change. Talk to folks about their passion and path to doing meaningful work. Panel discussion will include issues that affect our community, including climate activism, legal action, and sustainability.

Enjoy free pizza and beverages. Free admission.

Register through the Starr Library website

Panelists:

• Mikelison Womack
  Mikelison is the CEO and Founder of the Earth's Tomorrow Foundation which caters to K-12 students becoming more environmentally conscious through the use of hands-on sustainability projects. Our foundation's lesson plans cover environmental issues and sustainability ideologies such as water insecurities, the importance of composting, building greenhouses, hydroponics, etc. Mikelison is also a senior at Bard College studying Environmental and Urban Studies with a concentration in Policy. Mikelison is also studying to get his graduate degree in Environmental Policy from Bard College.

• Amelia Legare
  Amelia is an entrepreneur and owner of The O Zone, a sustainable lifestyle center based at Greig Farm in Red Hook. Soon after graduating from SUNY Plattsburgh with a BSN in Nursing, Amelia discovered that her passion for healthcare is rooted in the realms of preventative medicine. From this point she began her journey into the field of garden-to-institution education, fulfilling the role as garden educator at Mill Road Elementary School in Red Hook, NY. Alongside her role as an educator, Amelia has also been owner and operator of Avant-Gardens since 2015. Through this horticultural design and maintenance business, Amelia has hoped to instill gardening inspiration into her community by revealing the vast benefits of creating and maintaining a productive home garden. In order to relay this message further, Amelia has decided to establish a base of operations, where workshops can be held and services can be offered. The O Zone is where this part of her sustainability journey begins.

• Steve Rosenberg
  Steve started out as a land use and real estate attorney and then jumped ship to lead Scenic Hudson's land trust and direct Scenic Hudson's policy, advocacy and science programs. Steve led the organization's work to secure over 30,000 acres, creating places like Poets' Walk Park, Long Dock Park in Beacon, and the new Sojourner Truth State Park in Kingston. He also launched Scenic Hudson's River Cities Program and authored Scenic Hudson's NYC/Hudson Valley Foodshed Conservation Plan. Steve is now co-leading an effort to forge collaboration among the region's affordable housing and land conservation groups.

• Dorna Schroeter
  For 37 years, Dorna was the coordinator of PNW BOCES’ Center for Environmental Education which provided a diversity of environmental and sustainability programs to some 40,000 students annually. Now retired, she follows her passion for teaching and writing about biomimicry and sustainability. She has authored two children’s books, The Story of Velcro and The Story of Eco-Machines in the book series, How an Idea from Nature Changed Our World. In 2018, she co-coached a biomimicry youth design challenge team here in Rhinebeck that took first place. She’s a co-founder of the Center for Sustainability & Climate Education at Dutchess BOCES, co-chaired the YESS Youth Climate Summit at the Ashokan Center, and serves as a youth mentor. Her mission is to support young people who want to make our world a healthier, more sustainable, and safer place!

• Jennifer Phillips
  Jennifer teaches environmental science courses for graduate students studying to be environmental policy makers at Bard College. Her interests are in climate change and agriculture, biodiversity conservation and greenhouse gas emissions from farming systems. She also has a grassfed livestock farm with cattle and sheep where she is experimenting with how to increase trees in livestock systems.

• Moderator: Michael Slaby
  Michael is the author of For ALL the People — his first book on the relationship between media, technology, and our civic life. Michael is a world leader in digital strategy and technology and how they drive organizations and companies. Michael Slaby is chief strategist at Harmony Labs working on accelerating media reform and transformation. He has served as an advisor and board member to initiatives including the United Nations, the U.S. State Department, I AM ALS, Rhize, Bright Pink, I Am That Girl, and LiveStrong.