Green Resource Center for Alabama launches sustainability leadership program
Millenials gather in February for a MIX MINI event on leadership. (Quez Shipman/Alabama NewsCenter)
An Alabama-based environmental group known for its “Green Progress Report” is launching a leadership development program designed to help advance sustainability in the Birmingham area.
The Green Resource Center for Alabama (GRCA) is accepting applications for EMERGE, a six-month leadership program that will focus on sustainability issues in the Birmingham region, as well as ongoing efforts and emerging ideas to make the community more “green.”
“It’s our hope that EMERGE will equip people interested in sustainability with the resources needed to create solutions for our challenges while capitalizing on our opportunities for more sustainable communities,” said Collier Craft, GRCA board president.
“We believe EMERGE will be a catalyst for inspired, knowledgeable and connected change-agents ready to champion sustainability in Birmingham for years to come,” Craft said.
Members of the first EMERGE class will participate in lectures and discussions, field trips, hands-on projects and other activities to expand their knowledge about the community’s ongoing sustainability initiatives and issues. Experts and community leaders will provide insights on several themes, including innovation, technology and education; the environment and quality of life; corporate responsibility; and leadership.
Birmingham Mayor William A. Bell, Sr., praised the idea. “We need more citizens engaged in helping us move the needle on sustainability,” he said. “EMERGE will be a valuable resource for our city.”
GRCA is probably best known for its annual Green Progress Report, which examines Alabama’s progress each year on a variety of green issues, from land conservation, to recycling, to energy efficiency and green building design.
EMERGE is being supported by a number of charitable, corporate and nonprofit partners, including the Alabama Power Foundation and the Freshwater Land Trust.
Those interested in applying for the first EMERGE class are invited to a reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Revelator Coffee, 1826 Third Ave. N., in downtown Birmingham. Applications for the first class, which is expected to include up to 35 participants, will be accepted through Nov. 18. You must be at least 26 years old, and there is a tuition fee. The program will kick off in January.
For more information, visit www.grcalabama.org/leadership.
