Tilt

Thursday was a remarkable opportunity to talk to Goucher College. In the lastest, Silver LEED building on campus, we were positioned on a panel, front and center to tell our story. After a full day of travel for Rachael and TEDx for Jess, we were wiped out, but ready to force the crowd to help energize us.

We opened with change and asked the room to move around and create some energy. The outcome was fantastic! We had people upside down, slapping elbows and turning around. It was a wonderful sight to see.

Throughout our talk, the room participated with ideas and thoughts for change. It was fun to hear their ideas and their reactions to some of the key environmental terms that are out there. Our favorite was Christina from Baltimore Green Works who said when asked ‘what does the term Green mean’, “Blue + Yellow.” Great statement!

And in the end, we were able to solicit some wonderful ideas of change from the audience. Here is just a snapshot of what was written in our notebook of all things considered to be Creating Change. If you have any additions or thoughts, please let us know.

“Provide alternative ideas change my way of doing things.” -Ellis

“I consult for NPO’s at a reduced rate. I also don’t put bags in bags.” -Tony

“Bring extra fruit & veggies to work for some of my unhealthy co-workers.” -Joe

“I want to stop using the words green and sustainable. I want to listen more often to what people love and have to say to create that change!!” -Christina

“Carpooled here!” -Andi

“Spread knowledge to friends and family to induce change.” -Alex

“Brought my son to school on a bike. Shared ideas I’m passionate about with people.” -Ariane

“Contacted rescue groups to use my unique pet ID tags for fundraising for them.” -Robyn

“Use my bike to get everywhere go to grocery store with canvas attending Goucher to go into wildlife with environmental conservation.” -Hadley

“Changed all my home products + cosmetic products (soaps, shampoos) to green products.” -Anna

“Use those super cool reusable Q-tips!” -Amanda Griffith

“Educate people on all the ways that we can make big impacts in our everyday life.” -Linde

“Not use compact Mercury Light Bulbs, too light” -Lydia

“Bike everywhere.” -Mark

“Turn off the shower while I lather up!” -Will

“Every time you get the feeling that you can’t do something & even if its an intuitively good thing, ask yourself why… (pick a bottle out of the trashcan and put in recycling’s don’t flush after going #1, etc.)” -Davin

“I take mass transit or walk on a daily basis. I attempt to use as little electricity as possible, unplugging unused appliances and minimizing the usage of any lights.” -Melissa

“Limiting my waste unfortunately a lot of change is uncomfortable so the struggle is daily.” -Claire

“Sharing whatever knowledge you have about change-climate change and conservation-with your friends. The domino effect will happen and change can occur.” -Emma

“Limiting waste, limiting resource use (electricity, water) be involved in progress with green efforts, eat locally, spread knowledge & increase my knowledge.” -Cornelia

“Spread the word and convey the problem. Real change will come from a worldwide cohesive movement.” -Dave

“I use handkerchiefs, hand towels, recycle, turn off the water when I brush my teeth, use reviable apps. *LITTLE CHANGES in my lifestyle that I try to inspire other people to do too.” -Tabitha

“Drive hybrid cars, wear clothes a long time cutting down as shopping.” -Mary

“Always approach today’s work and tasks with a new attitude and different perspective, leaving yesterday’s ideas behind.” -Phebe

“Recycle.” -Alena

“Walk more, recycle, stop shopping.” -Sara

“During dinner parties, when helping out doing dishes, I shut the running faucet off constantly only to annoy my friends and start “the” conversation.” -Ricardo

“Create a vacation program doing international volunteer/grassroots/humanitarian program/planting trees” -Anon

“I examine my dairy habits to see now I can best change them to reduce waste and electricity use. I cannot force others to change, but I can change myself.”

“Participate in volunteer conservation project.”

“When I see ways in which other people could be environmental, I like to suggest it in away that seems beneficial to them.”

“Smile”

“Always be willing to stand up for what you believe in even if you’re the first and the only one. Also, believe in change. Do the little things that may not seem to make a difference. Together with everyone learning more and doing more, there will be change. Be confident.”

“Through spontaneity. By learning and thinking and maintaing an open mind. By talking and conversing and sharing ideas. By taking adventures. By training to adapt my lifestyle to sustainable practices…”

“1. Invest in 6 biodiesel buses, 2. Have holistic life, kids and artists decorate each bus. Name the bus. Green theme. 3. Install display screen to shore rotating green news. 4. Run 3 N-S 3 E-W  5. Showcase them in the media. Yay!”

“I listen, I learn, and I try to be inspired, and inspire those around me. I would like to execute change somewhere, and let people know that they have the ability to change.”

“I create change in my workplace by started a ‘Green Team’. This is a grass roots employee organization who comes up with ideas and then gets support from the senior leadership to implement – examples: eliminating styrofoam plates in the cafeteria – recycling bottles and cans in the cafeteria and conference rooms: installing a green roof, etc.”

“Today, I made change by turning off the lights when I left, recycling rather than trashing, and turning down the thermostat. Sometimes its the little things that make the world go ’round.”