Community Green Committee Meetings - JSQCA + SJC hosted via Zoom

This collaboration between JSQCA + SJC welcomes individuals and community orgs, including neighborhood associations, and other stakeholders to a monthly discussion (3rd Wed evenings at 7pm exept July & August - we take a break over the Summer !) on topics that matter to making Jersey City a more sustainable and resilient city. Topics of interest to Jersey City, NJ and our Northeast Region will be discussed.

For the remaining 2025 season, we will be addressing "Can Market-Driven Economics Be A Partner In Sustainability And Climate Action ? ", both in this CGC Zoom series and in our SpeakEASY Salon sessions, which are in-person meetings held at the Main Branch of the JC Public Library (472 Jersey Ave @ Montgomery St) on the 3rd Tues eve of each month.

Mtg starts at 7pm and Zoom details will be emailed to you in your registration confirmation and also again shortly before the meeting. Typically these meetings go for 60 - 90 minutes, depending on Q&A.

UPCOMING MEETING DETAILS BELOW . . .

December 17th th Meeting details ...

We will explore -

How Can Govts & Communities Interact To Support Markets In A Green Transition ?

The role of governments (Federal, State, Local) in market economies encompases several emerging ideas including collaborative policy-making, innovative public-private partnerships and different forms of economic incentives. We will discuss existing models here and abroad, as well as new approaches in the making.

The discussion will be led by two SJC Board Members, Ash Vasishth and David Larrabee

PREVIOUS MEETING DETAILS BELOW ...

Wed November 19th Meeting details -

The Role of Businesses in Market Economies

• How Are Businesses and Firms Already Acting Sustainably?
• Decarbonizing Operations and Energy
• Adopting Circular Economy ModelsTransforming Supply Chains
• What Can We Do To Support These Ongoing Efforts?
• Close the Loop by Participating in the Circular Economy
• Amplify Your Voice and Demand Transparency
• Align Your Wallet and Your Investments

The discussion will be led by two SJC Board Members, Ash Vasishth and David Larrabee

We strongly suggest you review the background materials from the September and October CGC Mtgs as background for our November and December meetings.

Background Materials for November Meeting

David Larrabee presentation

Ashwani Vasishth presentation

*Recording - see Salon for Nov 17th here

Wed October 15th Meeting details -

We will continue with the theme from Sept where we provided a Primer for the context of "Can Market-Driven Economics Be A Partner In Sustainability And Climate Action ? " and for October we will now dive into our PERSONAL relationship to MARKETS (of all kinds) -how we influence them and how they effect our lives, including whether they map to our values.

• Our exploration will include looking at the distinctions between WEALTH, MONEY and CAPITAL ... and WHO CONTROLS WHAT ?

The discussion will be led by two SJC Board Members, Ash Vasishth and David Larrabee

We strongly suggest you review the background materials below which were presented at our September CGC Mtg as that will provide for a more robust exchange by those of you who attend our discussion 👍

In case you missed this Oct 15th Mtg here is the recording

David Larrabee October presentation materials here

Ash Vasishth October presentation materials here

Supplemental October materials here

See September Materials below as background ...

Wed Sept 17th Meeting details -

Tonight we will do some level setting and introduce the theme for the season, "Can Market-Driven Economics Be A Partner In Sustainability And Climate Action ? "

The discussion will be led by two SJC Board Members, Ash Vasishth and David Larrabee, who will also be the moderaters this season for the rest of this series.

The discussion will begin to explore the distinctions between WEALTH, MONEY and CAPITAL, looking at the relationships to these from different sector persepectives - Personal, Business and Government ... and WHO CONTROLS WHAT ? ...

We will continue to unpack these concepts and the PERSONAL, BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT sector relationships to these over the rest of the season at our monthly CGC and Salong meeting series.

In case you missed this meeting here is the recording

Presentation materials for David here

Presentation materials for Ash here

Other reference materials here that address the questions from the audience, case studies, etc.

Wed June 18th Meeting details -

We welcome special guest Chris Layton / Director of Eastman's Circular Policy Strategy who will be updating us on Eastman's breakthru 'plastics chemical recycling' process here. This will be a follow-up discussion to our May 20th SpeakEasy Salon on "The Future of Waste & The Circular Economy" and the April CGC Mtg when we hosted Beyond Plastics NJ cofounder Janet Spiezio.

This session will wrap up this season's discussions on plastic waste and where we go from here.

More about Eastman here.

In case you missed this meeting here is the recording

Chris Layton's presentation materials here

Short video - Transforming Plastic Waste in the World’s Largest Molecular Recycling Facility | Eastman - YouTube

Wed April 16th Meeting details -

As an Earth Day topic this April, we will be discussing PLASTIC materials and the related public health issues ... of particular concern is micro and nanoplastics - more information here.

In preparation for the meeting it would be useful to review the trailer for the film "We’re All Plastic People Now" - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lovpt

The PBS program provides an investigation into the hidden story of plastic and its effect on human health.The video link to the film can be found here: https://www.pbs.org/video/were-all-plastic-people-now-rkg2mq/

An additional great resource on plastic can be found here / BeyondPlastics.org and we are delighted to be by special guest Janette Spiezio, Co Founder and Co Chair of Beyond Plastics NJ, a chapter of Beyond Plastics, a national organization that is working to reduce the harms of plastics through education, advocacy and legislation.

• Janette is also an entrepreneur and owner of Sustainable Haus Mercantile, a large zero waste, refill shop in Summit, NJ founded in 2017. Janette is a designer and makes over 50 products in haus. With over 3000 more products in the shop, Sustainable Haus has solutions to most household challenges to allow for a plastic free, non-toxic, low waste lifestyle. The Sustainable Haus team works with customers for a personalized approach on their journey to reduce waste, toxins and plastic. Their tagline is: Healthy Home * Healthy People * Healthy Planet. Janette is also a Climate Reality Leader and has two eco minded adult daughters.

If you missed this meeting here is the recording

Janette Spiezio presentation materials here

Wed March 19th Meeting details -

The JC Tree Canopy will be the topic of this meeting with presentation by the University of Vermont Spatial Analytics Lab (UVM SAL) who just completed a study SJC commissioned analyzing trends over a 10-year period. They will present their findings and also share the story map we are developing for the public to better understand important aspects of the study. One of their lead analysts Max Solter (originally from Jersey City !) will be our guest speaker .

If you missed this meeting here is the recording

Wed February 19th Meeting details -

We are excited to welcome back Ron Petherbridge, Air Quality Expert and SJC Board Member, to provide an Air Quality Primer for the commuity and also update everyone on the US EPA supported Air Pollution Study underway, with that grant awarded to the City of Jersey City HHS and partners SJC, GNA, Rutgers EOHSI, Gensler and JCHA. One of the goals of the grant is to deliver community education about air quality conditions in Jersey City. This will help inform and protect residents with respiratory conditions and other related vulnerabilities. Please join us for updates on the grant activities and this Primer.

If you missed this meeting here is the recording

Here is Ron's Presentation from tonite - Air Quality Primer 102

Here is Ron's Presentation From 2024 - a more in-depth Primer, Air Quality 101

Flyers shared during the meeting - it would be great if you shared these with your circles !

• Overview - What JC Is Doing About Air Quality Issues !
• The Daily Breather (JC Alert System)
• JC Community Health Survey (Anonymous)

Indoor Air Quality Tip Sheet

Outdoor Air Quality Tip Sheet

Wed January 15th Meeting details -

We are excited to welcome the NJ Highlands Coalition to speak with us this evening, with Executive Director Julia Somers and Director of Policy & Communications Elliott Ruga presenting about The Highlands and their importance to the rest of the state, including JC and to the region.

More about the NJ Highlands Coaltions, backgrounds on Julia and Elliott, and its significance to Jersey City here.

The Highlands Rediscovered in HDYouTube · Bob Szuter

4.5K+ views · 10 years ago... HIGHLANDS REDISCOVERED (2004) looks at both the science and the history of New Jersey's portion of this heavily-forested region ... 26:57

If you missed the meeting you can listen to the recording here

Presentation materials here

Wed Dec 18th Meeting details -

Affordable Housing in JC is the topic for this evening discussion with Guest Speakers Katie Brennan, Affordable Housing Professional. Candidate for Assembly, 32nd District and Michael Ehrmann who is affiliated with the JSqCA, both local advocacy leads for Affordable Housing in JC - stay tuned for more details !

Katie and Michael's presentation here

In case you missed this meeting here is the recording and here is the chat exchange

• Special Notation re correction in comments made during the meeting by Michael - "I made one mistake in my remarks which I would like you to share with the others in attendance. The current small property rehabilitation program only has $250,000 on hand, which is enough for upgrades in 20 - 25 properties, not the 250 I was talking about! Sorry about my slip."