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Environmental Professionals of Color Meet for First Time

Students studying environmental professions to seasoned environmental professionals are encouraged to participate along with their families and fellow colleagues.

Environmental Professionals of Color (EPOC) members are leaders in the Atlanta, Georgia metro region that come from a diverse array of backgrounds and environmental specialties, including, sustainability, environmental health, urban planning, environmental justice, biodiversity, land, and marine conservation. They meet monthly to connect and discuss various diversity and environmental topics that affect them and their communities.

What brings EPOC members together is a shared vision of an inclusive, diverse, relevant, and more effective environmental movement.  To achieve this vision, EPOC members are dedicated to diversifying environmental institutions while simultaneously and effectively connecting people of color to the environmental movement.  EPOC members are passionate about making a positive impact within their communities, the environmental movement, and the broader society.

Who: Students studying environmental professions to seasoned environmental professionals are encouraged to participate along with their families and fellow colleagues. This event is open to everyone with an interest in bringing more diversity to the environmental movement.   

What: Lively discussions and networking events will take place with participants. Participants will receive a free lunch thanks to Moe’s Southwest Grill.

When: Saturday, August 25th will be our first monthly meeting. Thereafter, EPOC will decide on another date and time to meet for September. The event starts at 1:00 PM and will end at 2:00 PM.

Why: 22-33% of environmental organization have no people of color on staff. EPOC envisions a healthy, flourishing planet and society that sustainably and equitably meets the needs of all its citizens through an environmental movement that is diverse, inclusive, successful, vibrant, and relevant, taking into account the needs, perspectives and voices of all.

Where: Moe’s Southwest Grill, 3455 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard #315, Duluth, Georgia 30096, (770) 497-1355

Cost: EPOC is free to the public and free to become a member. However, each participant must RSVP their attendance to corgbon@greeningforward.org

Jimmy August 16, 2012 at 06:50 pm
Is it only open to 'people of color'?
Charles Orgbon August 16, 2012 at 06:54 pm
Jimmy: "Who: Students studying environmental professions to seasoned environmental professionals are encouraged to participate along with their families and fellow colleagues. This event is open to everyone with an interest in bringing more diversity to the environmental movement."
Susan August 16, 2012 at 08:10 pm
I never found that the field was of one color. But I lived up and down the whole East Coast. I was a Environmental Engineer, my boss was black, my peers-asian, european, American mixed race etc. I worked in Puerto Rico and about 8 states (usually 3) contracts at a time. The job market is our worse enemy. I could say the same thing about being of color-as being female in a technical field. And I'm white. I had to move to get the jobs-prejudice is alive and hated.
Charles Orgbon August 16, 2012 at 08:18 pm
This has nothing to do about racism.
Rich Rewkowski August 16, 2012 at 09:34 pm
The minute you titled this group "Environmental Professionals of Color" it did, Charles, same as if I had formed one called "Colorless Environmental Professionals". How about the Miss White America Beauty Pageant?
Jimmy August 17, 2012 at 12:16 am
Sunken, that was cold and uncalled for...Now if you were Joe 'put y'all back in chains' Biden, you could get away with that...
R August 17, 2012 at 12:31 am
"22-33% of environmental organization have no people of color on staff."
It’s a rant against Albinos!! Sorry…. Just couldn’t resist... I'll burn, I know
Renita Hedgespeth August 17, 2012 at 01:06 am
All EPOC repesents is an open forum to discuss issues that focus on the environment. Let's not forget the importance of having a venue to address the needs of the environment at the grass roots level. The reality is that there are not enough opportunities available to shed light on our environment, recycling initiatives, etc. EPOC is one of many organizations that wants to bring attention to resolving important issues like these.
Paul Wallace August 17, 2012 at 01:11 am
Not to mention Global Warming or Climate Change or what ever Owl Gore and his Kool-Aid drinking cronies are calling it these daze.
GA Building Analysis August 17, 2012 at 01:23 am
I am a EPOC "Green" so sign me up - Charles ,
Paul you're a hoot! no doubt, "now there was once a man called Noah and all the village mocked him when he started building a boat miles from the Sea" - sound familiar ?
Paul Wallace August 17, 2012 at 01:31 am
Oh, so it was God that told Obama to push for Cap and Trade.
Brian Crawford August 17, 2012 at 01:46 am
Paul, you do realize Cap and Trade was a Republican invention used to successfully curb "acid rain" during Pappy Bush's administration.
Brian Crawford August 17, 2012 at 01:48 am
The name is a little confusing. I like the EPOC acronym, maybe you should go with Environmental Professionals Of Conscience. Just a suggestion. Nevertheless, keep up the good work!!
Paul Wallace August 17, 2012 at 01:55 am
Thanks Brian. I was feeling good about that crack until now. Guess I better do my homework. : (
Kristi Reed (Editor) August 17, 2012 at 09:37 am
Thanks to all of you who have maintained a lively and civil discussion. For those who have not, please note that inappropriate comments have and will be deleted.
Jimmy August 17, 2012 at 03:07 pm
It actually wasnt a republican invention, more the brainchild of the Environmental Defense Fund (definitely NOT a republican or conservative leaning organization)...but a ruimentary version of cap and trade (without the cap) was instituted during Bush the elder's term in office...
North Georgia Weather August 17, 2012 at 03:20 pm
for Brian, everything is either republican or his way. EVERYTHING.
Jimmy August 17, 2012 at 03:35 pm
Yeah, many of his posts should come with a disclaimer like those made for tv movies, 'based (loosely) on a true story'...or maybe 'any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental'...
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