• Program 2010-11

Sustainability and Underserved Communities

Date: 

February 15, 2011

Time: 

6-8 pm

Venue: 

NYU Center for Global Affairs Woolworth Building - 15 Barclay Street (Enter on Barclay Street ) New York , NY (Please present ID at Ground Floor Reception.) Subways - 2,3 at Park Place 4,5,6 at City Hall

Sustainability and environmentalism have often been portrayed as benefiting affluent sectors of society while not addressing the real unmet needs of low-income communities. Compared to other challenges such as poverty, health and crime, creating sustainable communities has not been a high priority in our cities.
On this panel, we will seek to move beyond this false trade-off to discuss how sustainability is being integrated into the fields of community development and environmental justice. Examples include the creation of affordable and supportive green housing, healthy food funds for people living in food deserts, and green job training in low-income neighborhoods. Participants will include community development practitioners as well as philanthropic, private and public investors who are supporting initiatives which improve both standards of living and environmental quality.

Moderator: 

Steve Godeke, Godeke Consulting

Panelists: 

Judith Kende, Low Income Investment Fund; James Patchett, Goldman Sachs; Penny Fujiko Willgerodt, The Prospect Hill Foundation; Henry Lanier and Abigail Westbrook, Forsyth Street Advisors