Award Ceremony & Free Public Event With Van Jones Planned for Friday, October 24th at 8:00 p.m.
RHINEBECK, NY – Omega Institute, home of the award-winning Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL), today announced the third recipient of their Annual Leadership in Sustainable Education Award. The award recognizes nonprofit peers who exemplify leadership in sustainable education and who share Omega’s commitment to building a more just and sustainable world. This year, Omega recognizes Groundwork Hudson Valley, an organization working to help distressed communities in the lower Hudson Valley build a sustainable future. Groundwork Hudson Valley will be honored with the award on Friday, October 24th at 8:00 p.m., during Omega’s annual Where We Go From Here conference. The evening, which is free and open to the public, will include a special presentation on Social Justice & the New Economy by Van Jones, an internationally recognized environmental advocate and cohost of CNN’s Crossfire.
“Omega created the Leadership in Sustainable Education Award in 2012 to further our commitment to environmental stewardship and education. This year we are thrilled to recognize the exceptional achievements made by Groundwork Hudson Valley, a nonprofit dedicated to organizing environmental projects driven by local residents and youth to revitalize communities from the ground up,” said Robert “Skip” Backus, chief executive officer at Omega and visionary behind the Omega Center for Sustainable Living.
In addition to the $10,000 award, Groundwork Hudson Valley will also receive a strategic planning retreat at Omega, to help strengthen organizational development and further its mission.
“Groundwork is truly honored to be this year’s award recipient from the Omega Institute, for our work in changing places, and changing lives in the Hudson Valley. Much like the Omega Institute, our work focuses on transforming people, from the thousands each year who learn and grow on Groundwork’s amazing Science Barge to the young people we have mentored from neighborhoods in Yonkers and Newburgh that are changing their own communities and experiencing inspirational places like Yellowstone National Park. We are truly thankful for this recognition,” said Rick Magder, executive director of Groundwork Hudson Valley.
Founded five years ago, the OCSL originated as the first green building in America to achieve both LEED® Platinum and Living Building Challenge™ certification, the highest standards currently available in sustainable architecture. The OCSL has since evolved into an environmental leader, offering programs that teach the regenerative environmental practices modeled by the building.
People are invited to join the conversation about where we go from here on Twitter @Omega_Institute(conference hashtag #OCSL), and on Facebook.com/Omega.OCSL.
To see the complete schedule for the Where We Go From Here conference which runs from 9 a.m. on Friday October 24th to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, October 26th call 800.944.1001.
About Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
Founded in 1977, Omega Institute for Holistic Studies is the nation's most trusted source for wellness and personal growth. As a nonprofit organization, Omega offers diverse and innovative educational experiences that inspire an integrated approach to personal and social change. Located on 200 acres in the beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega welcomes more than 23,000 people to its workshops, conferences, and retreats in Rhinebeck, New York, and at exceptional locations around the world. eOmega.org
About Groundwork Hudson Valley
For more than a decade, Groundwork Hudson Valley has been a dynamic force for change in distressed communities in the lower Hudson Valley. Groundwork works to make neglected neighborhoods more livable and sustainable through an array of on-the-ground environmental projects that directly involve local residents, especially youth. groundworkhv.org
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