January 31, 2024
MCLA’s annual Green Living Seminar Series returned in January and continues through April presenting a series of lectures on the theme of “Greening in New England.” Presentations occur every Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation (FCSI) Room 121.
The series kicked off on Jan. 25 with the presentation “Advancing Sustainability in Urban Residential Neighborhoods of Massachusetts” led by Urban Foresters Samantha Eanes and Sarah Greenleaf from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Urban and Community Forestry Greening the Gateway Cities Program. The program is designed to reduce household heating and cooling energy use by increasing tree canopy cover in urban residential areas.
Future Green Living Presentations include:
February 1: Local and Regional Sustainability Initiatives, Seth Jenkins, Senior Planner of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
February 8: Nature Based Solutions for River Restoration and Flood Resilience in New England, Erin Rogers, Western New England Project Manager, Trout Unlimited
February 15: WD Cowls- Sustainability is Our Purpose: Perspectives From Massachusetts’ Largest Private Land Owner, Arthur Haskins, Vice President, Real Estate & Community Development, WD Cowls, INC. Land Company
February 22: Land As Climate Solution for the Berkshires, Jenny Hansel, President, Berkshire Natural Resources Council
February 29: National Forest in New England: Management for Climate Resilience That Incorporates Sociopolitical and Economic Pressures, District Ranger Martina C. Barnes, US Forest Service, Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests, Manchester Ranger District
March 7: Regenerating Bioregional Food Systems, Hannah McDonald, Northeast Organic Farming Association, Massachusetts Education Events Manager
March 21: TBA
March 28: Making Energy More Sustainable in Massachusetts, Christopher Mason, Western Massachusetts Regional Coordinator, Green Communities Division, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
April 4: Regulatory Framework for Wetlands Protection in Massachusetts, Sarah LaValley, AICP, Assistant Director, Northampton Office of Planning and Sustainability
April 11: Ensuring Everyone Can Enjoy the Outdoors in New England’s Sustainable Future, Rachel Hailey, Founder and Transformationalist, DEI Outdoors
Each presentation is free and open to the public. All lectures will be recorded and can be replayed on the MCLA ENVI Youtube Channel and broadcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television Channel (NBCTC) 1302 at the following times:
Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.
Fridays at 4 p.m.
Saturdays at 3:30 p.m.
Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
Mondays at 5:30 p.m.
Community members can find up-to-date information about the schedule at mcla.edu/greenliving.
