Your Green Review

What happens when businesses, community members, educators, innovators and government officials come together in a cooperative effort to bring sustainability into the mainstream for the benefit of an entire community?  Think Green Columbus has a pretty good idea: exponential growth through collaboration, innovation and education.  And, judging from TGC’s inaugural ‘brainworking’ event (brainstorming + networking) Wednesday night, it seems that they’re not alone in the notion that the potential for growth is limitless when individuals and organizations can pool their resources and work together for a common cause.

Between 60-80 people trickled in and out through the night laughing, drinking and discussing their visions of sustainability in central Ohio’s future.  Some came to hear brief presentations from Mayor Mike Coleman’s Environmental Policy Advisor, Andia Sangale,  and Green Columbus founder, Tad Dritz, but many stayed hours after the event had officially ended.  TGC founders, Zack Griffin, Sara Rampersaud and Andrew Spott, couldn’t have asked for more.  Attendees felt ownership in the infant organization; the excitement in the air was unmistakable.

All in all it cemented the trio’s decision not to incorporate but instead, allow the group to grow organically as a grassroots effort directed, governed and guided by the community itself.  To incorporate would slow down its efforts and take away from the communal spirit of the organization-one of the groups most valuable assets.  Through face to face meetings and various forms of social media, the group will cohesively mobilize its efforts based on community input.

While relying on the open and free sharing of information and resources between industries, organizations and individuals may seem utopian to some, the group is betting that it’s the new face of environmentalism…and business.  Some participants may contribute knowledge for workshops, others, volunteer hours for large projects and still others, accommodations for events.  TGC envisions a wellspring of opportunities and is currently developing a ‘Green Swap’ program to link up the community’s resources to its needs.  One of TGC’s founders harps on the fact that there remains a major disconnect between organizations close in geographic proximity but worlds apart due to a lack of communication, resulting in an abundance of waste, both material and financial.

TGC hopes that it can pull together these loose ends to act as a clearinghouse of information and an interactive platform to engage its community members in practicable solutions to the environmental afflictions facing all of central Ohio.  Of course, not all of the city’s problems will be solved overnight, so the group will coordinate ongoing hands on workshops, panels, meetings, mixers and online collaborations throughout the city to promote sustainability for the betterment of its local environment, community and economy.  All of this is provided by-and available at no cost to-the citizens of Columbus Ohio.

While its online network is being developed, TGC welcomes everyone to visit the website for further information.  You can learn about the organization, contact its founders and toss out some ideas at www.ThinkGreenCbus.com.  Think Green Columbus would love to hear from you!