The Jewish Environmental Initiative (JEI), a committee of the Jewish Community Relations Council, is among the sponsors of an Aug. 25 event that will focus on “Make a Bigger Difference: Environmental Action for Your Life, Your Community and Your House of Worship.” Don Corrigan, Professor of Environmental Journalism and Global Communications at Webster University, is the keynote speaker for the forum, which takes place from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at The Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Road. 

The event aims to provide specific tools for environmental action. Cosponsors of the event are Missouri Interfaith Power and Light, the U.S. Green Building Council-Missouri Gateway Chapter, with support from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life. 

“Last year’s participants were very pleased to learn tangible action items that could make a difference for their homes and houses of worship,” said Susan Mlynarczyk, chair of JEI and a member of the Steering Committee of MO IPL.  “We are taking everything a step further this year to address how to make a difference outside your home and to provide more information for greening houses of worship.”

Corrigan is a recipient of the Lewis C. Green Environmental Service Award in recognition for his decades of writing in the area of environmental journalism, as well as for founding the program for the Outdoor/Environmental Journalism Writing Certificate at Webster University’s School of Communications.  He is a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and has won numerous awards from the Missouri Press Association for his journalism. 

After the keynote speech, two concurrent breakout sessions will address greening your house of worship and greening your life and community. The house of worship session will focus on next steps beyond recycling and will include panelists from congregations that have taken major actions to incorporate greening into all aspects of their spiritual communities. The greening your life and community session will include panelist on topics including local eco-communities, native plant landscaping, greening our schools and becoming an environmental advocate.

The event is free, but registration is required at http://bit.ly/082515. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Gail Wechsler at 314-442-3894 or [email protected].