For June and July, we’ll be hearing from folks who’ve been actively bringing sustainability to their communities – be they schools, towns, organizations, congregations, or however you’d like to define community. Here's who's on tap for June:

Susan Jennings, Director of Sustainability UMass Dartmouth – for those of you unfamiliar with what UMass Dartmouth has accomplished, you’ll find their accomplishments inspirational – and Susan has been at the helm. http://www.umassd.edu/sustainability/

Peter DeBruin, Vice President, Office of Environmental Sustainability, State Street Corporation. Peter has been involved with State Street's sustainability initiatives since they first came into being. www.linkedin.com/in/peterdebruin

Ian Todreas will talk about the challenges of fostering sustainability at a municipal level, drawing from his experience as co-chair of Belmont's Energy Committee. He has successfully advocated for more and better transportation options, commercial and residential energy efficiency, and environmentally friendly town policies.  www.linkedin.com/in/iantodreas

Mike Balinwill describe his experience with sustainable practices from two community-oriented perspectives: 1) As a member of a local green committee that worked on a 3-year "Green Church" certification process involving the congregation and broader community, and 2) illustrating how this initiative helped fuel Mike's own shift toward a less impactful lifestyle. www.linkedin.com/in/mikebalin

Jim Newmanwill talk about tracking the key indicators of success in creating regenerative living places and communities and asks, "So, what are those indicators?" Jim is founder & principal of Linnean Solutions, which provides environmental planning services & tracks energy, environmental & community impacts for companies, non-profit & governmental organizations. www.linkedin.com/pub/jim-newman/5/383/88a

Bringing Sustainability to Your Community - Part I

Register here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/6656396461#

Time is short and we all need to learn a boatload, fast. One of BASG’s explicit goals is that we learn as much as we can from each other, where the very diversity of the group is one of our most valuable assets. Come join the discussion, or hang out and listen. Meet those folks working hard to do what you’re trying to do and your paths have not yet crossed. We have a great time and really want to meet you!

Our format for the evening begins with informal networking followed by quick introductions all round before several lightening-speed presentations from knowledgeable folks. Using the 5-minute IGNITE-style format, our speakers will share their experiences  and then open the discussion.

We end the discussion with time left for more networking and sharing info on other local evnets. Hope to see you there!

The Venture Cafe is located at the Cambridge Innovation Center, One Broadway, 4th Floor. Visitors must comply with Venture Cafe attendance policies (see http://bit.ly/vc-credo for more details).

Admission $10 -  includes Eventbrite service fees and a glass of wine or beer