First Circle is very happy to be launching the first Farm to Table Program at Adrean Terrace for the Utica Municipal Housing Authority. This innovative program was initiated by members of the Utica Unitarian Universalist Church. Youth will be assisting in the design and planting of a permaculture garden space over 2 cohorts this summer. Although each cohort lasts only 60 hours, the employees will learn about the sheet mulching, the soil health principles, the hydrologic cycle, design water capture systems, build hugelkultur, harvest and preserve food and be able to communicate the permaculture principles and ethics, as well as other permaculture concepts. If you're a permie, farmer, food system professional or someone interested in volunteering by sharing your knowledge during one of the cohorts please get in touch. Check back for updates!

Our lives influence many circles. If we have not reached an awareness of what helps us feel safe, able to be present, and love most fully in our first circle, it will be difficult to find satisfaction in the other circles of our lives. This journey to find our Unique Genius will help us identify the gifts which we alone can offer to the world because of our individual experience. It could also offer us an opportunity to become more confident, generous with those we interact with, and less likely to take responsibility for other people’s actions. It will help us play in Synergetic Genius with our co-workers, partners, children and friends.Along with my personal experience and ability to be vulnerable and present, I bring a lifetime of professional experience in project management, the design/build industry, civil service, environmental awareness, holistic/sustainable business management, governance and ecological design. I have found my pathway to thriving by being gentle with my courageous and vulnerable heart. Facing my scariest moments, and accepting with gratitude the lessons of all my mentors, those who taught be difficult lessons, as well as those who have given me the space and time I needed, and shared their wisdom with me. I am grateful to all of these teachers. I now live a life of simple contentment, facing and surmounting limits and learning to transform suffering into self-awareness. Celebrate compassion for yourself and others. Imagine living a life of simple contentment? First Circle Coaching can help you define what this phrase means to you, and how you can find your own pathway to thriving.

The focus of my life’s work is building living, sustainable communities, and forming productive collaborations among stakeholders. Drastic changes in the economy offer challenges and opportunities. My skills and experience will be of great value to Northern New Hampshire and Vermont residents and business owners.My goal is to aid organizations in promoting social, environmental and economic justice. I have a special interest in cottage industry and innovation, and systems thinking. My experience supporting these collaborations has given me insight into how communities operate and which leverage points in the system improve efficiency. My passion for social justice encourages me to consider the human leverage points which must influence the economic and operational systems, and support our natural world. My experience as a sustainability consultant educating the public about these leverage points has refined my communication skills, and allows me to target all sectors of the community. As founder of the Mount Washington Valley Sustainability Network I am deepening my understanding about how communities think about and incorporate sustainability. My studies have allowed me to explore the projects and theories developed by urban and rural sustainability leaders such as Gwendolyn Hallsmith, Executive Director of Global Community Initiatives, John Cleveland, Vice President of the Innovation Network for Communities, and organizations like the Project for Public Spaces, based in NYC, which facilitates place-making. Relationships developed with these community innovators is enhancing my effectiveness as a Community Innovation Broker.BSES is a Fourth Sector business that works to promote sustainable services, technologies and businesses, and support them in creating a balance between economic success and maintaining a healthy environment for our children and grandchildren. We encourage the use of the Triple Bottom Line strategy to create sustainable connections.

Berlin BetterBuildings Deep Energy Retrofit Program, Community Manager Highly visible program funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to increase energy efficiency in existing buildings, help develop lending products to increase borrowing opportunities for retrofit work and increase the number of local energy professionals through training and networking.• ARRA funds working with partner organizations to leverage more than $25M in energy efficiency projects• 215 residential and nearly 35 commercial projects in process or completed July of 2012• Compliance monitoring, site visits, reporting and intense program management with government, businesses, non-profit, general public, and energy professionals• Implement one-of-a-kind subsidized pellet boiler program with partners• Manage marketing budget of $200,000 to recruit clients and train local professionals• Field inquiries from the general public and media, provide outreach and presentations• Coordinate and lead community education programs in building science• Design and host multiple energy workforce training series with local community college• Share secrets of success to support similar work in other communities and states

Managed membership and program coordination.