This podcast features another brief look behind the scenes at PennFuture, building on the conversations last week and the previous week. PennFuture’s intrepid podcaster and Federal Policy Manager Joy Bergey has a short discussion with Pam Fendrock, our northeast Pennsylvania outreach coordinator. Pam talks about her special feelings for the area, and that she believes PennFuture is the best way to improve the place she calls home. She also discusses the area’s problems dealing with the aftermath of anthracite mining. Finally, she invites supporters to visit her office in Wilkes-Barre on the Public Square, located right next to Circles Sandwich Shop, which she calls the “best sandwich shop in town.”

Keeping all of our staff and offices up and running takes help from our supporters. If you aren't already a PennFuture member, there's no time like the present to donate. Together, we're changing Pennsylvania for the better!

This podcast features a look behind the scenes at PennFuture, building on last week's conversation. Tanya Dierolf, our outreach coordinator for Central Pennsylvania gets to know better her counterpart, Joylette Portlock, our outreach coordinator for Western Pennsylvania. We learn more about how Joylette got to know PennFuture (the infamous Pittsburgh holiday party is mentioned!), and a bit more about one of her main projects, the Black and Gold City Goes Green.

Tanya then chats with staff attorney Brian Glass, who works out of our Philadelphia office. Brian describes his career switch from private practice, where he defended the sorts of clients he now fights against at PennFuture, lending his skills and expertise toward assisting citizens dealing with problems like improper stormwater management in communities. He's having a lot more fun working on this side of the table, and making an important difference in people's lives doing so.

If you aren't already a PennFuture member, there's no time like the present to donate. Together, we're changing Pennsylvania for the better!

This podcast features a look behind the scenes with a free wheeling discussion between PennFuture's President and CEO, Jan Jarrett, and our Federal Policy Manager, Joy Bergey.

Jan and Joy talk about why they do the work they do and what they like best about their jobs. From global warming to TMI, these women will show you the passion, intelligence, and sensitivity they bring to the work, and why PennFuture does so much so well.

If you aren't already a PennFuture member, there's no time like the present to join. Together, we're changing Pennsylvania for the better!

Urban agriculture is not a contradiction in terms. It's alive and well in cities worldwide.

This podcast presents speakers from the Urban Sustainability Forum: “How can we feed Philadelphia? Growing the Grange,” held earlier this month at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philly.

PennFuture’s Rachel Vassar interviews Marcia Caton Campbell, Program Director, Center for Resilient Cities in Milwaukee. The Center works to help residents and public servants create healthy, high-quality environments. They build the capacity of urban communities to create and preserve green infrastructure networks that improve the natural environment, citizen health, and economic opportunities.

We also hear from Ben Reynolds, Food Link Project Officer and Network Director of Sustain London. London Food Link works towards increasing the availability of sustainable food in London, tackling the barriers preventing access to healthy and sustainable food for all Londoner and protecting and celebrating London's diverse food culture.

You can join Philadelphia area residents who are working to build a greener, cleaner and more sustainable Philly by being part of the Next Great City initiative. Just go to the website and take the pledge to stay active and informed.

For decades the lack of a comprehensive plan to guide the creation of public amenities and private development has kept the Delaware riverfront from being all that it could be. But no more, thanks to citizens with a vision.

This podcast features some of the speakers from a public meeting held on April 21, 2009 by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission to consider accepting the Civic Vision for the Central Delaware as the framework for future planning. Adopting the Civic Vision will open portions of the river to residents for the first time in a lifetime, while improving the economic vitality of the area and the entire city as a result of increased neighborhood and riverfront attractiveness.

PennFuture’s Rachel Vassar first interviews Steven Weixler, chair of the Central Delaware Advocacy Group (CDAG), who discusses CDAG’s involvement the Civic Vision, and what the Civic Vision is. Next, Patrick Starr, senior vice president the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, discusses greenways, and the importance of the East Coast Greenway. Finally, Harris Steinberg, executive director of PennPraxis, the clinical arm of PennDesign, the School of Design for the University of Pennsylvania, talks about the importance of the Action Plan in moving the Vision forward. He urges listeners to get involved by attending public meetings at the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, advocating building Pier 11 as a recreational pier, and participating in the Master Planning.

You can be part of this civic vision, and other projects to help make Philadelphia the Next Great City. Visit the NGC website to learn how, or sign up for the e-newsletter.

Although it is home to miles of highways and development, Montgomery County may arguably be the greenest county in Pennsylvania. That’s due to the vision of the citizens and elected officials who have put together a Greenprint – a vigorous project to reduce the county’s contribution of heat trapping gases that cause global warming.

This podcast features Montgomery County resident and PennFuture staffer Joy Bergey, a member of the Advisory Committee on Climate Change, interviewing some of the key leaders of the Greenprint project. She talks to County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, who discusses the many parts of the project, including successful outreach to the business community. She also talks to Steve Nelson, Director of Policy for the Montgomery County Planning Commission, who discusses how the County is working to operate all its properties and programs while causing as little pollution as possible. And she completes the picture by interviewing Caesar Gambone, co-engineer and plant supervisor for the County, who talks about his work on the frontlines in making direct reductions in energy use and pollution throughout the county.

You too can make a difference in cutting heat trapping gases. Join PennFuture’s Cool Pennsylvania Campaign – and Pittsburghers can join The Black and Gold City Goes Green Campaign – to help make Pennsylvania even cooler!

How much "green" will Pennsylvania get from the federal stimulus bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act? PennFuture's director of outreach Christine Knapp counts the ways our environment and economy will benefit during a recent appearance on NBC 10's Live @ Issue program with Steve Highsmith.

In addition to federal dollars flowing to improve the state's public transportation infrastructure, sewer and water line upgrades, and important energy efficiency projects, the stimulus bill also provides significant new funding for green jobs development. Philadelphia in particular is poised to capitalize now from new, sustainable jobs, thanks to hard work that the Sustainable Business Network and the Green Economy Task Force have done over the past year to create linkages between employers, trainers, and job-seekers. Similar work is underway just outside Philadelphia as part of the Smart Energy Initiative, a project of the Chester County Economic Development Council. Recognized as the 2009 Regional Economic Development Project of the Year by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Smart Energy Initiative is bringing together employers and other partners to create workforce and economic development opportunities in the clean energy sector.

Not to worry... there's plenty to go around. Check out PennFuture's special edition of Green Power Update that has a rundown of new federal and state funding for clean energy and energy efficiency projects. Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, entrepreneur or aficionado there's something in it for you. You can learn more about why it matters at one of our upcoming events-- our global warming conference in northeastern Pennsylvania, or our clean energy conference in Harrisburg.

In March, Philadelphia's Urban Sustainability Forum centered on the multitude of green-minded projects, initiatives, and groups working throughout Philadelphia neighborhoods. PennFuture's Christine Knapp spoke with a few of the featured presenters.

Who's got the greenest block in all of Philadelphia? Bets are it's one of the communities in Sustainable 19125, or it soon will be. As Shanta Schachter, director of development and operations for the New Kensington Community Development Corporation explains, they are out to show the Next Great City that their zip code has sustainability cornered. Focusing on advocacy, policy and infrastructure, most of the ideas for these neighborhoods have grown up from the neighbors themselves, and are taking root in a big way.

How do you make positive change in your neighborhood? Start with who you know, the person right next door, and work your way out in concentric circles, advises Lara Kelly, co-chair of Northern Liberties Clean and Green. Home to Liberty Lands, the largest privately-owned park in the city, and perhaps the northeast, this group knows a thing or two about how to successfully nurture a green-up activity from idea to reality.

Helping Philadelphia community based organizations do just that-- make concepts fundable, bricks-and-mortar projects, is Beth Miller's Community Design Collaborative, linking planners, architects, and landscape architects with neighborhood groups. The Collaborative funds that critical first 10 percent of projects, to aid in putting designs on paper, so that groups can move forward in obtaining support for completion.

To learn more about the Next Great City initiative, visit our Web site. There, you can get more involved by making a donation or taking action.

Best known for her book, Silent Spring, Rachel Carson was a true daughter of Pennsylvania, launching the modern environment movement with her powerful writing about nature and how humans change the natural world. Her family home, in Springdale, Pennsylvania, is now the site of the Rachel Carson Homestead.

According the Homestead’s website, “It is here in southwestern Pennsylvania that this little girl, who grew up to become ‘one of the most influential people of the 20th century,’ according to TIME magazine, developed her love or nature. The youngest and only child of three to attend college, Rachel Carson was a published writer by age 10. In addition she began a life-long love of the ocean - perhaps inspired by her daily view of the great Allegheny River. As a young adult, Rachel went on to finish degrees in biology and marine biology.” Rachel Carson is a graduate of Pittsburgh’s Chatham University, home of the Rachel Carson Institute.

Last month, the Institute and the Garden Club of Allegheny County held the Pittsburgh premier of the biographical film, “A Sense of Wonder,” featuring Kaiulani Lee’s portrayal of Rachel Carson's life and work. The film was followed by a panel discussion about Carson’s impact on the environmental and public policy.

PennFuture’s Joylette Portlock interviewed the other panelists about Carson, the film and the state of the environmental movement. This podcast includes interviews with Chatham University’s Nancy Gift, acting director of the Rachel Carson Institute; Fiona Fisher, director of communications at the Rachel Carson Homestead; and Dave Cooper, who presented the Mountaintop Removal Roadshow.

This week’s podcast features PennFuture’s Tanya Dierolf interviewing State Representative David Kessler (D-Berk) about the Organic Farming Transition Program.

Kessler details his work with the Rodale Institute in proving organic farming fights global warming and water pollution, grows healthier food, and improves the farmers’ bottom line. The new program, which Kessler successfully advocated last session, provides funding and expertise to farmers who wish to convert from non-organic to organic farming.

Applications for the program are online at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s website.