Green Cities Sustainability Corps 2010

Evan is a Master's Degree candidate in Sustainable Systems (Ms3) at Slippery Rock University. He works with PennFuture and the Black and Gold City Goes Green campaign educating the public on the actions that they can take to reduce their impact. He also spends a few days a week with CCI (Conservation Consultant Incorporated ) at the CCI Center. There, you can find him maintaining one of the many Sustainable Systems installations demonstrated at the facility or giving a tour of the LEED rated building. His passion for the environment and environmental issues came from his studies of sustainable growth and "sustainable regrowth" as a Political Science Major. It is his belief that we have the capacity to live in balance with the Earth's processes and species and benefit from both. We need only the desire to change, and the recognition that the current state of unbalance will inevitably lead us to a Dystopia. The question that drives our actions should be, to quote William McDonough, "How do we love all the children of all species for all time?". He enjoys hiking and all things Laurel Highlands - including his home town of Ligonier, PA, but wishes that there was a lite rail train that went to it. You may have also seen him on a stage in Pittsburgh acting with one of the many companies he has worked with in the last few years.

Sarah Palmisano grew up in Grand Rapids, MI, and graduated with a double Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science and Psychology from Michigan State University. She became interested in environmental issues the summer of 2008, when she served as the Sustainability Coordinator Intern for the City of Grand Haven, Michigan. Here, she was responsible for setting up and managing an environmental education center as well as serving as the City’s sustainability liaison. She became passionate about global sustainability and the environment and enjoyed working in the municipal setting. Sarah completed her coursework at Michigan State University where she continued to explore the field of environmental sustainability, volunteering at an energy conservation demonstration house as well as taking general courses on global sustainability. She found the Student Conservation Association (SCA) at an Environmental and Natural Resources job fair, thereafter applying for, and receiving, a three-month internship doing Environmental Education in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She loved teaching children about the environment and wanted to continue working with the SCA, and was thrilled to find, and be accepted into, the Green Cities program. Sarah is doing her fellowship with the City of Pittsburgh, where she works in the Office of Sustainability and Energy Efficiency to help carry out the municipal recommendations of the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan.