Greening the City: Fostering Inspired and Innovative Leadership for Just and Sustainable Urban Communities

November 6th- 8th, 2009

A conference sponsored by Lesley University and Mass Audubon

Keynote speakers include Julian Agyeman, professor and chair of urban and environmental policy and planning Tufts University; Frances Moore Lappé, democracy advocate; world food and hunger expert; Christopher Leahy, Gerard A. Bertrand Chair of Natural History and Field Ornithology at the Massachusetts Audubon Society; Greg Watson, senior advisor for Clean Energy Technology within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs; Brian Johnson, Program Coordinator and Core Faculty for Lesley University's Master of Arts program in Urban Environmental Leadership; Coleen O'Connell, lead faculty in the Ecological Teaching and Learning MS Program at Lesley University; and Gloria Villegas-Cardoza, Director for Education at Mass Audubon.

Registration is now open. Please download the following two forms:

Registration form [pdf]

Credit Card Authorization form [pdf]

Conference Overview

Environmental movements have historically focused on "wild" places and ecological processes. Land preservation and species conservation have dominated public perception of environmental issues, as well as the agendas of many environmental groups. In the past several decades, however, a redefinition of "environment" and the attendant issues has been taking place, with urban residents becoming a strong force in addressing environmental inequities. With this transition, a new type of environmental leader has emerged. These urban environmental leaders often come from different backgrounds and have different interests than their rural- or wild-focused counterparts. Their understanding of what constitutes an environmental "issue" may also differ. For example, they may be more concerned with issues that would not have been historically defined as environmental—issues such as health, transportation, poverty, racism, and open space. In cities, environmental justice activists, environmental organizations and institutions of higher education are helping to define the urban environmental agenda.

November 6th- 8th, 2009 join more than 150 urban environmental leaders from throughout New England at the main campus of Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, to explore key strategies for fostering inspired and innovative urban environmental leadership. "Greening the City" is geared toward environmental practitioners and thinkers from non-profits, higher education, local community groups, government agencies, and businesses. It will feature prominent environmental thinkers and practitioners from academia and government agencies, as well as from for profit and nonprofit organizations. There will be keynote talks, workshops, and an exhibit area, and other interactive ways to engage with the challenges and solutions arising from our increasingly urban world. The conference is meant to engage in-depth and meaningful dialogue among participants while addressing the difficulties and opportunities faced in cultivating just and sustainable urban communities.

Proposals are invited for 90-minute participatory workshops that address ecology, infrastructure, consumption, governance and/or communities.

• Complete details
• Proposal guidelines [pdf]

Lesley University is a leader in innovative environmental programs. Lesley's Division of Environmental Studies has provided innovative and rigorous environmental programs for more than 30 years. The Division offers an M.A in Urban Environmental Leadership, and M.S. in Ecological Teaching and Learning.