Sustainability work can be as diverse as Philly’s residents: SustainPHL 2018

Future event organizers, take note: Your nominees, speakers and attendees must represent the breadth of the community you’re honoring. Otherwise, you risk becoming obsolete.

Last night, local changemakers delivered in celebrating the variety of people and organizations working to make the city greener at the third annual SustainPHL. The awards show from consulting company and blog Green Philly highlighted community impact leaders, social enterprises, civic orgs and nonprofits for their impactful sustainability efforts.

“We are excited to recognize a diversity of Philadelphia’s sustainability leaders who are making changes everyday,” founder Julie Hancher wrote in an email. “Our third awards continued to highlight those tackling climate change, innovative solutions and disruptors that would otherwise go unnoticed. It’s important to talk about Philadelphia’s accomplishments so we can continue to evolve and work towards climate solutions.”

Presenter and LIA Diagnostics founder Bethany Edwards spoke about the discrepancy of venture capital available for “frivolous tech” such as virtual reality versus social enterprises working to solve big issues. (Hey, locally focused impact investing!)

Bethany Edwards of @LIADiagnostics: “If we are unable to leave this world better when we leave than when we arrived, then we as a species have failed” #SustainPHL pic.twitter.com/hIR5716vlC

— Generocity (@Generocity) August 17, 2018

Naida Elena Burgos, a presenter, 2017 awardee and community engagement coordinator at Temple’s Center for Bioethics, Urban Health and Policy, said so-called vulnerable communities should actually be considered resilient because they must constantly strive to maintain the resources they do have: “Communities have been sustaining themselves all along.”

Presenter Naida Elena Burgos: When we talk about sustainability, we need to consider those working in grassroots efforts, such as housing and economic justice. It’s all connected #SustainPHL pic.twitter.com/WFtatF47iZ

— Generocity (@Generocity) August 17, 2018

Susquehanna Clean Up/Pick Up head Judith Robinson of North Philadelphia implored funders to remember the grassroots orgs making a difference in their communities.

Neighborhood Champion winner: Judith Robinson, accepting on behalf of all those doing sustainability work “on a shoestring budget” #SustainPHL pic.twitter.com/llVV2SP6i8

— Generocity (@Generocity) August 17, 2018

Former Office of Sustainability Deputy Director Sarah Wu reminded that the best thing citizens can do to fight climate change is to vote — with their time, money and power, along with literal ballots.

Climate Hero winner: Sarah Wu #SustainPHL — “We are all climate heroes” if we can all work toward reducing climate change pic.twitter.com/KFykrDY5Io

— Generocity (@Generocity) August 17, 2018

Esperanza Education and Community Development Manager Gabriella Gabriel Paez called for increased accessibility in green services, including bilingual information, to ensure that all Philadelphians are educated about sustainability. After all, she said, the one thing that brings us all together is “we all breath the same air” and live on the same earth.

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." -Nelson Henderson https://t.co/7Ybj2P2XzC

— Leslie F Hudson (@Lesliefhudson) August 17, 2018

And upon accepting the #FuturePHL award, Philadelphia Program Manager Patrick Morgan of the Knight Foundation emphasized that the work in improving our city — and planet — is collective.

#FuturePHL winner: @PMorganPHL #SustainPHL “I firmly believe our sustainable future is not based on an individual” but a network coming together pic.twitter.com/TEDKR7FBOG

— Generocity (@Generocity) August 17, 2018

###

Here are all of your 2018 award recipients:

• Impact Business Leader — Circle Compost
• Social Impact — Ken Weinstein
• Business Innovation — Hungry Harvest
• Neighborhood Champion — Judith Robinson
• Sustainability Mentor — Diana O’Fee-Powers
• Sustainable Communities — Bartram’s Garden
• Climate Hero — Sarah Wu
• Activist of the Year — Gabriela Gabriel Paez
• #FuturePHL — Patrick Morgan

See all 2018 nominees here, and see 2017’s winners here and 2016’s winners here.