About Backporch
The Back Porch Energy Initiative is a non-profit organization working with communities to cultivate local responses to the national and global issue of energy consumption. The Back Porch team is committed to collaborating with communities on existing resources, leveraging new ideas, and developing practical, economical and environmental solutions.
Spotlight
on your community
Lee Ann Kendrick
Lee Ann Kendrick is the Program Director of the Gulf Coast Conservation Corps (GCCC), an environmental youth development program based in Mississippi. Since the inception of the GCCC, Lee Ann has overseen all GCCC activities including program design, Corpsmember development, and day-to-day operations of the Corps. Lee Ann is known as "Mom," to all the Corpsmembers, going above the call of duty to build a comfortable and welcoming home for all these conservation workers.
With 16 years of experience in youth development, Lee Ann has primarily focused her attention on nonprofit organizations such as Head Start, 4-H and AmeriCorps. Prior to moving home to Mississippi, Lee Ann established an urban 4-H program in Las Vegas, Nevada and also worked with the University of Florida's 4-H program in the panhandle of Florida. Following Hurricane Katrina, Lee Ann worked toward reestablishing Early Head Start services in East Biloxi until she made the move over to the GCCC.
Lee Ann's expertise and driven spirit have offered countless youth so much. That is what Lee Ann is all about. Thank you, Lee Ann.
Tip of the Week!
"Buy food (and drink - ideally tap - water) from local companies whenever possible. Each pound of local food you purchase prevents a quarter pound of global warming (C02) emissions," suggests the Global Stewards website. "If possible, grow your own fruits and vegetables using organic gardening practices.
You can find local farmers markets, community supported agriculture, restaurants that cook with regional cuisine, and food cooperatives through Local Harvest."
|
We're just doin’ what we do best..
BackPorch is happy to announce the start of its 2nd Fiscal Year!!
The weather’s not particularly frightful here in Richmond,
but the fire in the Back Porch office is pretty delightful.
We’re cooking up a whole slew of new programs for 2009, not
just because our fiscal year is turning over in January, but because we’ve positioned
ourselves at this pivotal time in history to create the change that
we hear so much about.
the Richmond Green Jobs Initiatives:
Our fire is delightful, but BackPorch’s central focus is the
fires burning in the houses of those less fortunate than us.
The winter weather is taking a huge toll on Americans across the
board, with projected home-heating oil skyrocketing and the federal
cuts in various lower-income assistance programs, to name a few
factors.
In fact, a report recently released by the Center for American
Progress found that of low-income respondents 70% are cutting costs
on the food they need to put on the table and 31% are saving money by
cutting out medications in order to pay for the rise in utility
prices.
Man, we wish we had the money to provide the assistance necessary,
but these days no one does. What we’re focusing on is
long-term holistic solutions like bringing Green Jobs to Richmond,
the State of Virginia, and the Southeast. We’ve heard a
lot of talk about Green Jobs, now its time to get real.
Starting with a youth development training corps, Back Porch plans to
engage agencies and organizations, individuals and businesses in the
potential economic and community development benefits of a well
rounded Green Jobs Initiative.
Stuff, Inc.:
The BackPorch team has been beaming with pride about the kick-off
of Stuff, Inc. The team of directors has done an incredible job
putting together the mission, vision, and values of this burgeoning
community organization, and we’re so proud to be a part of it.
You should have received the email if you’re on our mailing
list (shoot us an email if you’re not!). Be sure to check out
the organization online at www.richmondstuff.org.
There’s tons of information about the organization, great
creative reuse ideas, and information about how you can support and
benefit from such a cool project. Keep an eye on Stuff, Inc.:
its going big places.
Green Mondays Expansion:
Keep an eye out for more Green Days of the Week in various
locations throughout Richmond, Virginia and the surrounding metro
area. Green Mondays have proven to be unbelievable successful,
not just for the community members in attendance, but for Globehopper
Coffeeshop. At Back Porch, we’re really into local
business, especially local business with a sustainability tilt.
We’re proud of what we’re doing for Globehopper, in
addition to what the regular participants of Green Mondays, and the
throngs of people popping in and out for the Green Monday discussions
that intrigue them the most, are getting out of these enthralling
community forums! Thanks for making Mondays a big hit for all of us,
and let us know if there’s a topic you’d like to see
presented, or that you’d like to present.
|
