A Night of Sustainability, Community, and Green Ideas
What a night it turned out to be.
It had been almost a year since my last event, and Monday reminded me exactly why I love bringing people together. There's something genuinely special about gathering a community around sustainability — sharing ideas, lifting each other up, and leaving the room feeling like real change is possible.
Where It All Started
This event grew from a simple idea: introducing my son's school, Growing Up Green Charter Schools, to a wider audience. As PTO co-president, I see firsthand how much they do — composting, uniform recycling, food waste reduction, and a whole range of sustainability initiatives that make a lasting difference. So I invited Erin Boyle Acosta, their Director of Family Engagement, to share their work with the room.
Coffee, Conversations, and Real Connections
Through Coffee & Sustainability — the Meetup group I co-lead with Liubov (Luba) Volkova — we wanted to create a space for honest, meaningful conversation. We were glad to have Andrea Reyes from the NYC Fair Trade Coalition join us, bringing her knowledge of ethical fashion and sustainable solutions. And the setting could not have been better: the warm, plant-filled space at Impact Hub New York Metropolitan Area, led by John-Paul Parmigiani.
A Few Things I Always Keep in My Events
- A 20-minute grace period for late arrivals — mom instinct, always
- Dedicated time to network and swap ideas
- A love for public speaking, French accent and all
- A commitment to sustainable practices, like putting leftover event drinks to good use
- A venue with 60+ plants — because nature really does make everything better
I'm genuinely grateful to everyone who came out. Seeing new and familiar faces in the same room, sharing stories, and thinking through ways to build a greener future together — that's the whole point.
Who's joining us for the next one? 👇 Let's keep growing this planet-friendly community. ☕🌱
