It's Time to Register!

Greensburg GreenTown, GreenTown Joplin, and the St. Louis University Center for Sustainability invite you to attend our inaugural conference addressing the all-important issue of sustainably recovering from disaster. On Monday & Tuesday, October 29-30, on the St. Louis University campus, we will be gathering together many of the  leaders in this arena and working to optimize the resources available to the people working in our field. We look to the conference to be an inspiring place to learn, network, and share experiences. You can check out our confirmed speakers here. (Please note that we are still in the process of finalizing a few of the sessions; these are not yet listed.)

Students may attend the event for free; all that we ask is that you pre-register, here. For paying customers, please note that our Early Bird Registration deadline is coming up September 27. If your company would like to exhibit at the event or to partner with us as a sponsor, we invite your participation. (Clicking on the corresponding pages will enable you to read about the many benefits associated with a being a part of this event.)

A few highlights of the program include:

• Residents from Greensburg and Joplin will tell their inspiring comeback stories and their decision to build super energy efficient homes, post-disaster.
• Mike Smith, a leader and innovator in the field of meteorology, will give a plenary talk entitled Miracle at Greensburg.
  
• Representatives from the Federal government (FEMA, NREL, and the Department of Defense) will give an insider's view of the recovery process.
• City leaders will discuss the decisions that Greensburg and Joplin have made related to incorporating a sustainable vision into their community's comebacks.
• There will be sessions addressing the psychological and social aspects of recovery from disaster.
• The documentary Joplin, Missouri: A Tornado Story will be presented, with special commentary from the film's director and producer.
• There will be a work session where folks from disaster communities can meet with experts in the field of sustainability to brainstorm ideas and strategies for their rebuilding process.
• And much, much more.

The nascent field that is sustainable disaster recovery is an exciting one, in that it takes the misfortune of a disaster and transforms it into an opportunity for the affected areas. There is profound power when human beings are able to take tragedy and redeem it into something beautiful that will have a lasting positive impact on a community for generations to come. Sustainable disaster recovery channels grief and loss into a proactive response and serves as tribute to those who lost their lives. We see unparalled opportunity for our culture to embrace more sustainable ways of living and using resources, ultimately benefiting the well-being of future generations.

This conference is poised to become an annual event that is a place where those working to make rebuilding communities stronger and more successful come together to share ideas, experiences and inspiration.

Please join us at this inaugural event designed to give greater form to the “industry” that is sustainable disaster recovery and make it an even more powerful force in years to come.