GreenDMV.org | Working towards a Greener, more sustainable tomorrow.


	Green Faith Community Events *May 29, 2011 - GREEN DMV brings Energy Sundays* to East Washington Heights Baptist Church** East Washington Heights Baptist Church Southeast, Washington DC Sunday, May 29, 2011 - GREEN DMV hosted its Energy Sundays event at East Washington Heights Baptist Church this week. Southeast DC residents learned about free energy efficiency services and rebates available through the District Department of the Environment. Rev. Kip B. Banks, Sr, Pastor of East Washington Heights Baptist spoke to the congregation about climate change and how every DC resident can make small changes in their everyday lives to make a difference in curbing its affects. "When we look at all of the flooding along the Mississippi River and the multiple tornadoes that have ravaged entire towns in the south, we have to ask ourselves how we individually and collectively contribute to climate change as a result of our everyday choices. We have to be more responsible to our planet as a biblical principle." said Banks. The congregation was invited to sign up to receive a free energy kit made available through the Green Faith Initiative. The energy kits will help DC residents to save money on their energy bills and encourage more sustainable living habits. May 22, 2011 - GREEN DMV hosts Green Faith Initiative Energy Sundays event at Metropolitan AME Church Metropolitan AME Church Northwest, Washington DC Sunday, May 22, 2011 - GREEN DMV hosted the first of its "Energy Sundays" events at Metropolitan AME Church in Northwest, Washington, DC. The Energy Sundays events are part of the Green Faith Initiative launched in October 2010. The event is designed to inspire, engage and educate DC houses of worship and the community about environmental stewardship. GREEN DMV was joined by Sharon Cooke of the District Department of the Department at Sunday's event. "It is very important that the faith-based community embrace environmental stewardship to save money and create healthy communities", said Cooke. Rev. Ronald E. Braxton, Pastor of Metropolitan AME invited the congregation and community to take home CFL light bulbs to replace their old incandescent bulbs and other energy effficiency materials made available through the Green Faith Initiative. The eco-friendly materials will help DC residents reduce energy usage and save money on energy costs. Energy Sundays will host events in several churches across the District of Columbia over the next year to raise awareness about conserving energy. April 23, 2011 - GREEN DMV hosts Green Faith Initiative panel discussion and awards $90,000 for energy efficient retrofits to DC houses of worship (l-r) Acacia Bamberg Salatti, Deputy Director of the White House Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership for U.S. Health and Human Services, Ibrahim Goodwin, Masjid Muhammad, Rev. Marvin Owens, Michigan Park Christian Church, Rev. Kip B. Banks, East Washington Heights Baptist Church Good Success Christan Church Northeast, Washington DC Saturday, April 23, 2011 - Washington, DC residents gathered at Good Success Christian Church in Northeast DC to participate in GREEN DMV’s most recent initiative designed to engage DC residents on issues of sustainability and help connect them to resources that enable them to participate in the promise of the growing green economy. The District of Columbia is increasingly becoming a more sustainable city and has been named the U.S. EPA’s #1 Green Power Community. The event hosted a diverse group of faith-focused panelists to discuss the role that the faith-based community plays in ensuring that their communities embrace environmental stewardship. The panelists discussed how the community should take personal responsibility for protecting the planet as a biblical mandate. Acacia Bamberg Salatti, Deputy Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership for U.S. Health and Human Services, said “Faith-based communities play a very important part in making sure that they are actively engaged in sustainability activities”. DC Ward 7 Councilmember, Yvette Alexander was also on site for the event. Councilmember Alexander discussed the many DC initiatives that were underway to promote sustainability in Ward 7. Councilmember Alexander also recognized DC community leaders that were active in her ward 7 in spreading environmental awareness and empowerment messages like Dennis Chestnut, Irv Sheffy, and Raymond Bell, who have all been active in the community for years. The event culminated with a raffle to select which 3 houses of worship would receive $30,000 each through a grant from the District Department of the Environment to complete energy audits and perform energy efficient improvements to their facilities. The winners were Good Success Christian Church in Northeast, Miracle Temple Non-Denominational Church in Southeast and Metropolitan AME Church in Northwest. The improvements will be designed to increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, help them save money on their utility costs and create green jobs.