Network and Change the World

The internet presents endless opportunities for individuals to network with others who share similar interests. Whether you enjoy kayaking, sewing, exercising, yoga, video games or sharing food with others, there is likely a Meetup.com group for you. Meetup.com helps individuals to find and join groups in local communities. The groups network online through the website but the groups meet offline.

The mission of the site is based on the belief that “people can change their personal world, or the whole world, by organizing themselves into groups that are powerful enough to make a difference”.

Often as an environmentalist, you may feel that your impact is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. However, getting to know other like-minded people may help you realize that your actions and those of other individuals do add up. It is also beneficial and fun to share “green” tips and ideas with others, stay motivated, swap recipes and volunteer together on projects.

To find a Meetup.com group in your area, visit www.meetup.com and enter in your location, then you can search for groups based on your interest. To find environmentally-focused groups, try keywords such as environment, green, organic, vegetarian or recycling.

Here is a brief overview of a few popular environmental Meetups in larger cities across the United States.

Green New Yorkers
Location: New York, NY
Connection: Meetup.com

Green New Yorkers is a meetup group for New Yorkers interested in building a community of people who want to live a more sustainable life, volunteer on conservation and environmental projects together, and socialize. Past Meetup events have included green documentary screenings, touring a Greenpeace ship and a vermicomposting workshop.

South Florida Vegans and Vegetarians
Location: Miami, FL
Connection: Meetup.com

The South Florida Vegans and Vegetarians Meetup group meets in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties to share conversation and meet other vegans and vegetarians. Past Meetup events have included presentations by dietitians, environmental volunteering events and movie nights that show food documentaries such as Food, Inc. This Meetup group has over 900 members.

Backroads Wine and Nature Adventures
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Connection: Meetup.com

What better way to appreciate nature and be inspired to live a sustainable life than to explore caves, hidden lakes, waterfalls, isolated beaches and forests off the beaten path. The Backroads Wine and Nature Adventure Meetup group does just that! In addition to their backroads hiking trips, they also explore art, architecture and wineries.

Organic Gardeners of the San Francisco Bay Area
Location: San Francisco, CA
Connection: Meetup.com

Meet others interested in organic gardening, even if it means growing fruits, vegetables or herbs from your kitchen, patio or windowsill. The group meets to share advice and tips on planning your garden, and planting and harvesting your fresh fruit and vegetables. Past Meetup events have included discussions on caring for the soil and how to prune for summer abundance.

Sustainability, Simplicity & Bulk Buying
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Connection: Meetup.com

This group focuses on the environmental goal of living a more self-sustainable life in a way that is affordable. They pool their resources to buy certain foods in bulk, as a group, or swap homegrown organic fruits and vegetables.

The Go Green Kids Group
Location: Denver, CO
Connection: Meetup.com

Few Meetup groups cater for children, but The Go Green Kids Group’s mission is to teach youth about the environment and to foster in kids a sense of appreciation and respect for the earth. This is a relatively small, new group, but let’s hope it catches on!

Spotlight: AASHE-Connecting Sustainable Education Nationwide

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, or AASHE, is really making a big impact on the nation. AASHE is a membership driven–501(c)(3) institution that is leading the way in empowering sustainable colleges and universities by connecting and standardizing sustainability practice on campuses nationwide.

Being apart of the AASHE network grants resources, programs and professional development for those involved. The most important factor that AASHE contributes is its ability to unite colleges and universities that lead in sustainability transformation. By working with campus faculty, students, administrators and staff alike, they provide a professional home for sustainability in higher education.

There are two ways to get involved. As a student, AASHE offers a variety of professional development programs and resources to its members including conferences, webinars, workshops, conference calls and the wide network that it is connected to. As a business, it connects them with their communities and aligns themselves with green leaders by becoming a business partner.

More than anything, AASHE is designed to help higher education practice sustainability as a norm, not as an exception. They achieve this by encouraging collaborations and helping facilitate the generating and achievement of goals for the campus as a whole.

There are many ways of getting involved in AASHE. Whether you are a business looking to become a partner, or a student that is already a member of AASHE,  a student looking to getting their college involved, or a K-12 school—AASHE is attempting to connecting and transform the everyday standards of our educational system as we know it.

If you are interested in inquiring whether your school is or should be involved, please contact AASHE