Experts in Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition Headline Spring Women in Conservation Presentation

(NORWICH, NH) March 4, 2019 — The Upper Valley’s Women in Conservation speaker series resumes on Thursday, March 21, with two area authorities on sustainable food and nutrition: Laurie Ristino, a nationally known and innovative environmental and sustainable food systems leader, and Certified Food for Life Instructor Beth Perera. 

 

The program runs from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, VT, and is sponsored by the Student Conservation Association (SCA), the Sierra Club Upper Valley Group, and the Montshire Museum of Science.

 

Ms. Ristino currently is a Visiting Scholar at George Washington University Law School and principal at her consultancy, Strategies for a Sustainable Future.  A trusted advisor and strategist, she has served in numerous leadership roles in government and nonprofit organizations. Her comprehensive book on conservation easements, A Changing Landscape, was published by the Environmental Law Institute in 2016.  A recognized expert, she has been quoted on an array of sustainability and climate matters in major news outlets such as The Christian Science Monitor, Inside Climate News, E&E News, Huffington Post, and Law360, and will and shares her personal story in a presentation entitled The Reluctant Environmentalist: A Lesbian Discusses How Environmentalism Must Evolve for a Multi-Cultural Generation.

 

In addition to her Food for Life certification, Ms. Perera holds a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University, among many others. In her own words, “I ate everything for the first 47 years of my life, and like so many others, until I had a health crisis, I was not motivated to change anything.” At that point, Ms. Perera implemented numerous dietary and lifestyle changes. “I adopted a plant-based diet, and my health issues completely resolved themselves,” she states. “I was then inspired to learn more and teach others.” Ms. Perera also holds certifications in Food Over Medicine, Women’s Health, Diet & Lifestyle Intervention, Cancer Prevention/Survival, and the links between Diet & the Microbiome to Autism. “My greatest joy,” she says, “comes from empowering others with this information, so they can take charge of their health and not leave their quality of life up to a medical system that omits nutrition from medical school training.” Ms. Perera’s address is titled Sustainable Living: Food Choices, Our Oceans, Our Planet.

 

Now in its second year, the Women in Conservation series features women from throughout the two-state region who influence our understanding of and interactions with the natural world. The programs offer area residents an opportunity to hear these women’s inspiring stories and draw from their leadership and stewardship.

 

Previous Women in Conservation events have featured former Vermont Governor Madeleine Kunin, SCA Founding President Liz Putnam, Green Mountain Power President and CEO Mary Powell, Dartmouth College Professor of Environmental Studies Elizabeth Wilson, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Deputy Supt. Christina Marts, past national park Artist-in-Residence Joan Hoffmann, animal behavior expert Cheryl Asa, Ph.D., and educator Anna Morris of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS).

 

The March 21 program is open to the public and free of charge. Light refreshments will be served.

 

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is America’s largest and most effective youth conservation service organization. SCA transforms lives and lands by empowering young people of all backgrounds to plan, act, and lead, while they protect and restore our natural and cultural resources. Founded in 1957, SCA’s mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders, and 70% of its 85,000 alumni are employed or studying in conservation-related fields. SCA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and maintains regional offices across the country, including the SCA National Conservation Center in Charlestown, NH. For more, visit www.thesca.org. 

 

Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club is now the nation’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization — with three million members and supporters. The Club’s successes range from protecting millions of acres of wilderness to helping pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. More recently, the Sierra Club made history by leading the charge to move away from the dirty fossil fuels that cause climate disruption and toward a clean energy economy. The Sierra Club Upper Valley Group (SCUVG) is a bi-state organization comprising a subset of Club members in the Upper Valley region. 

 

The Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vermont, is a hands-on interactive science center with more than 125 exhibits on nature, technology, astronomy, and the physical sciences. Visiting exhibitions, educational programs, and special events are offered throughout the year. 

 

# # #