Author: HBCU Green Fund Published July 2, 2019
Atlanta, GA – Sustainability leader and cofounder of the HBCU Green Fund, Felicia Davis, was one of three metro area women named “Atlanta Power Women” by award-winning actor Mark Ruffalo’s (Incredible Hulk) ATL100 campaign. Today the women were surprised with billboards honoring their leadership in advancing 100% clean energy. Chef Malissa “Mali” Hunter and Rev. Kate McGregor Mosley were also surprised with billboards.
The billboards underscore the leading role that women are playing in making clean energy more accessible and affordable for all people, regardless of income, zip code or race.
“In communities across the country women are leading the way to a 100% clean energy future, and today’s honorees are part of that powerful trend,” said Sarah Shanley Hope, executive director of the ATL100 campaign. “We celebrate these ‘Atlanta Power Women’ and leaders like them across America for making our nation cleaner, healthier, and more equitable.”
As director of the Building Green Initiative at Clark Atlanta University, Davis helps historically black, Hispanic-serving and tribal colleges and universities reduce their environmental footprints. She also serves as sustainability coordinator for Clark Atlanta University which is part of the Atlanta University Center, the largest consortium of historically black colleges and universities in the country.
Davis comments, “As a Black woman working on Energy, Climate and Equity issues I believed my community could make a quantum leap. The billboard moment is surreal. For me it’s a huge sign that HBCUs will play a powerful role in creating a sustainable future and renewable energy is the driver.”
Chef Hunter is a celebrity chef and partner in Tree Sound Studios. She uses her influential platform to promote healthy eating and environmental sustainability, including adopting clean, efficient energy. Powered by on-site solar energy, Tree Sound Studios boasts top talent such as Toni Braxton, Justin Bieber, Drake and Lenny Kravitz on its client list.
Rev. McGregor Mosley is executive director of Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, which unites the state’s diverse faith community around the moral case for action on clean energy. She oversees a successful program to help religious institutions across Georgia become more energy efficient in order to reduce operating costs and promote environmental stewardship.
The public can see Davis’s billboard at 920 Northside Drive NW. Ms. Hunter’s is located at 98 Ted Turner Drive, NW. and Rev. Mosley’s is at 348 Marietta Street NW. The billboards will be on view for one month.
ATL100 is a sub-campaign of the national 100% campaign, which was launched by Mark Ruffalo and actor/director Leonardo DiCaprio in 2015 to promote 100% clean energy for 100% of the people. Today’s surprises are part of the 100% campaign’s ONE100 Awards program. The program surprises individuals across the country, honoring them for their leadership in the transition to 100% clean energy for all. Other ONE100 Awards events have celebrated clean energy leaders from Buffalo, New York; Highland Park, Michigan; and Oakland, California.
“The ONE100 Awards highlight the fact that people from all backgrounds and walks of life are giving their 100% to support clean energy,” said ATL100 and 100% campaign co-founder Mark Ruffalo. “Through the ONE100 Awards, we hope to shine a spotlight on the diverse range of Americans who are spearheading innovative approaches to clean energy in community after community, all across America. They are doing important work, and deserve to be celebrated.”
HBCU Green Fund Leads the Way to Energy Efficiency on Campus
With an emphasis on cutting-edge technology and community activism, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) can lead the way for American higher education institutions providing a sustainable, Earth-friendly education for their students. Relying mainly on grassroots support and crowdfunding for resources, the HBCU Green Fund will finance campus projects that cut energy and water usage—and thus, energy costs–on HBCU campuses. The Fund will, in turn, reinvest the savings it gains back into its sustainability program to finance additional projects. Our three-pronged approach will help sustain the HBCU legacy for generations to come.
- Growing the Green Fund
- The HBCU Green Fund is launching a nationwide fundraising campaign. The goal is to raise $1 million to finance upgrades on HBCUs all across the country.
- We’re drawing expertise from Green Revolving Loan Fund (GRF) models to serve black colleges.
- We’re reaching out to HBCU supporters, alumni and students to donate at least $10.00 to the HBCU Green Fund on an annual basis.
- Grassroots support should, in turn, pique the interest and inspire support from well-heeled institutions, private companies, foundations, and university endowments.
- Finding Projects that Pay
The HBCU Green Fund will look for projects that will reduce energy, cut down on water usage, and minimize the carbon footprint of historically black colleges and universities. With older buildings and millions in deferred maintenance there are lots of excellent cost-saving opportunities. The Fund will evaluate how much each project will improve the sustainability of the campus and save for reinvestment.
To be eligible for consideration, a project must show that it can generate utility savings of 20 percent or more. Independent engineering consultants will review each application for its cost, its savings, its impact on the environment and the time frame needed to pay back any loans incurred.
- Students Lead Campus Sustainability
Perhaps the most important part of the HBCU Green Fund’s mission is to engage students. As sustainability projects on campus go forward, the HCBU Sustainability Fellows Training Program will give eager students the knowledge, support, incentives, and technical ability to find, promote, and support green initiatives on their campus. To help students promote the program, the HBCU Green Fund will provide a promotional toolkit that contains materials, signs, inflatable props, and other marketing tools.
Sustainability Fellows will work with their peers and campus leadership to reinforce the need to take an active part in green initiatives to ensure that their institution continues to provide a quality education for generations to come.
HBCU GREEN FUND