SILVER SPRING, MD – The Planning Department’s Rethink Montgomery Speaker Series is exploring how the county can use all its resources—land, people, knowledge, and more—to create a sustainable future.
Giving resources a second life will be the subject of the fourth presentation during this week’s speaker series panel at the Montgomery County Planning Board. Representatives from organizations specializing in reselling building materials and home goods will describe their work and how it contributes to community goals like recycling and economically sound public projects.
The Resources panel will be made up of Adeela Abbasi of Habitat ReStore of Montgomery County; Ruthie Mundell of Community Forklift, Edmonston, Prince George’s County; and Jason Holstine of Amicus Green Building Center, Kensington.
Abbasi is the marketing and communications manager at the ReStore, a nonprofit outlet that resells donated furnishings, appliances, and building supplies at discount prices, with proceeds going toward building affordable housing for low-income families in Montgomery County. Affiliated with Habitat for Humanity, ReStore aims to recycle donated new and used building supplies and furnishings while helping low-income families achieve home ownership.
Community Forklift recycles building materials as part of a nonprofit program that encourages donations of building materials like lumber, light fixtures, mantelpieces, and kitchen cabinets, then makes them available to the public at a discount. In its five-year existence, Community Forklift has kept thousands of tons of materials out of the landfill and made homes repairs more affordable for thousands of Washington, D.C., region homeowners, small businesses, and nonprofits.
Amicus Green Building Center supplies green building materials for consumers, builders, employers, and developers throughout the region. Founder and president Holstine says his company aims to help people live, work and play in sustainable, comfortable, healthy, affordable and responsible buildings. Amicus’ consulting arm advises organizations on how to lessen the environmental impact of their operations and supply chains.
The resources panel will be the fourth in the 2010 Planning Department speaker series, ReThink Montgomery. With presentations scheduled every week through the spring, the series provides an opportunity for the board, planners and the general public to hear from experts how nine elements of sustainability weave together and pose opportunities for planning great communities.
Learn more about the ReThink Montgomery speaker series.
Who:
Adeela Abbasi, Habitat ReStore; Ruthie Mundell, Community Forklift; and Jason Holstine of Amicus Green Building Center, Kensington
What:
ReThink Montgomery Speaker Series
When:
7:30 p.m. April 29
Where:
Park and Planning Headquarters auditorium
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring