In 2018, adolescents have inspired dramatic change across the country. Sustainable Marblehead believes Marblehead High School students can create their own impact, this time on the environment. Just as the organization’s name implies, this movement is here to stay.
The environment has consistently been an important issue to Marblehead residents. Marblehead Conservancy just reached their 17th year in providing stewardship for the town’s open spaces, and since 2015, local businesses have no longer used plastic shopping bags. Of course with so many properties nestled against the coastline, it only makes sense that Marbleheaders care about the environment; the ocean is practically the backyard of this town. In 2017, Sustainable Marblehead broke onto the ecology scene, only reaffirming this town’s commitment towards conservation.
In its second year of existence, the organization has already made waves. On October 6, they’ll be hosting their first annual Sustainability Fair. This community-wide event will educate individuals of all ages on methods of positive environmental impact. The fair features over 30 different speakers, activists, and vendors with a wide range of appeal. Interactive gardening demonstrations and fairy house building may interest families, while staff from Congressman Seth Moulton’s office and Representative Lori Ehrlich may attract those of voting age (although Ehrlich will also be presenting awards for Earth Day posters created by Marblehead youth). After all, policy will support the environmental movement as it continues to progress. Sustainable Marblehead’s co-founder, Judith Black, agrees. “Without policy that moves us from a fossil fuel based economy to renewable energy sources, protects our forests, water ways, lands, and respects the natural ecology of the planet, personal choices will not be enough.”
While these sentiments empower voters, they can often be discouraging to those who are not yet of voting age. Only a small percentage of students at the high school will be able to vote in the upcoming elections. The rest of the school population will witness election results, knowing that this time around, they could not affect change. Black thinks otherwise, citing, “Actions, big and small [that] can be part of your daily life,” to create the most effective change. The first step is questioning your lifestyle. “What is your family’s carbon imprint and how can you cut back on it?,” Black asks, “What can you and your family use instead of plastics for everyday tasks, from drinking water to wrapping food?” The Sustainability Fair explores simple solutions that can exponentially affect the environment.
Oftentimes these adjustments sound too good to be true. Yet viral campaigns, such as the boycott of plastic straws, create change almost instantaneously. As Black says, “Every plastic straw you reject is another plank in the bridge towards sustainable living.” It is up to us to build that bridge, with the decisions we make, and the lives we lead.
Efforts to protect the environment can feel overwhelming. Sustainable living is not like that. It is about making a conscious and continuous effort to support the natural world, a habit that should be fun to keep. The Sustainability Fair will maintain this movement’s excitement, with electric vehicle viewing and test drives, surprising solar solutions, and food trucks on site.
So come to Marblehead Charter School on Saturday, October 6, any time from 10am – 2pm to become passionate about the environment. After the fair, Sustainable Marblehead invites you to join one of its four action groups, whether on conservation, education, energy and public policy, or transportation. There will always be more we can do to protect our environment, but right now let’s take this town’s existing passion, and turn it into action.
Visit Sustainable Marblehead’s website at https://www.sustainablemarblehead.org/about-the-fair to learn more about the the generous fair sponsors and the Sustainability Fair, held at the Marblehead Charter School at 17 Lime Street.