communityspotlight
A Green Community Change Agent
by Lee Walker I
n 2009, an Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream symposium reignited Marjorie Ziff-Levine’s pas- sion for environmental activism. The four-hour program, intended to inspire individuals to take action supporting an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human pres- ence on Earth, achieved its mission. Ziff-Levine left the gathering filled with a need to contribute to the com- munity by engaging in an activity that could promote sustainability. Enthused about the prospect of becoming a “change agent,” the founder of U Gotta Go Green signed up for Awakening the Dreamer facilitator training and headed to California two weeks later. Today, she periodically offers symposiums in Naples, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers. Involvement with the symposium helped Ziff-Levine clarify her own mission: to help others make con- nections and identify resources that nurture local, sustainable initiatives. To move her mission forward, she created
UGottaGoGreen.com, a local eco-net- working, information web portal and green business directory, to make it easy and simple for anyone to find and connect with green and sustainable businesses, products, goods, services
and activities. “It also provides ways for individuals and groups to interface and work together for common sustain- ability goals,” says the newest member of the Happehatchee Center’s board of directors. “Sustainability really is everything my tagline—‘It’s hip, it’s hot, it’s happening, and it helps’—says it is,” advises this activist, who has been involved in Earth Day, Hands Across the Sand and various
350.org Climate Action initiatives.
As momentum builds around Ziff-Levine’s efforts, she continues to invest many of her waking hours in connecting the green dots. An eco-busi- ness consulting practice provides her with opportunities to offer assistance to small area businesses that are interested in becoming more green. She volun- teers her time to a group of Florida Gulf Coast University students interested in sustainable business and sits on the county and city Energy Task Force committees.
Stepping into the large shoes left behind by Dianne Rhodes, who piloted last year’s
350.org event at Fleischmann Park, in Naples, Ziff-Levine is one of the primary organizers of the 10/10/10 U Gotta Go Green Eco-Extravaganza at The Mercato, in Naples, on Oc-
Marjorie Ziff-Levine
tober 10. The event is part of author and activist Bill McKibben’s
350.org grassroots environmental campaign, a citizen action plan designed to send a strong political message to our govern- ment and corporate leaders, imploring them to “get to work” for environmen- tal sustainability.
Ziff-Levine says she is certain of one thing: if everyone doesn’t get in- volved and demonstrate their commit- ment to cleaning up and preserving the environment and our natural resources, pristine places like Naples won’t exist in the future. “I wholeheartedly agree with Julia Butterfly, a young eco-activist who appears in Awakening the Dream- er,” says Ziff-Levine. “She says, ‘If hope is committed in action, then there is truly hope for the world.’ My hope is committed in the actions I perform, because I do have hope for the world!”
Contact Marjorie Ziff-Levine at UGotta-
GoGreen@Live.com or 239-596-6776. Visit
UGottaGoGreen.com. For more information on the 10/10/10 event at The Mercato, see page 43.
We often take for granted the very things
that most deserve our gratitude.
~Cynthia Ozick
40 Collier/Lee Counties
swfl
.naturalawakeningsmag.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72