Fighting for Food, Home, and Earth: What Do We Do Now? A moderated discussion with local leaders

Tuesday April 8, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Doors Open: 6:00
The Guthrie Center, 2 Van Deusenville Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230
Free (please reserve a space ONLY if you are definitely attending)
A reception will follow the panel.

Email and phone: farms@berkshirecommunitylandtrust.org, 413 429 1176

Please join the Berkshire Community Land Trust for a panel with local leaders; “Fighting for Food, Home, and Earth: What Do We Do Now? The panel will follow a brief annual meeting and announcements.

Moderator Erik Bruun, will lead a discussion with Bob Climo (GB Bagel & Deli), Shannon Smith (Berkshire Agricultural Ventures), and Jonathan Schrag (Deputy Climate Chief, MA Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience)

A reception will close the evening. Everyone is welcome, you need not be a member to attend, but please do make a reservation.

This evening’s moderator Erik Bruun is the President of SoCo Creamery. He has also led an investment company specializing in emerging markets and has been a reporter, editor and writer, publishing several books, including Our Nation’s Archive. He was the founding president of the Railroad Street Youth Project for ten years and has taken leadership roles in several community organizations, and currently serves on the board of the Community Development Corporation of the Southern Berkshires.

Panelists:

Bob Climo trained at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and then worked as a demonstration chef for Canyon Ranch. An active member of the community Climo accepts BerkShares at his business, served on the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, and volunteering for a variety of organizations and causes. Bob uses his business to support the local community in a variety of ways including supporting the Diaper Drive, providing lunches for the council on aging and emergency services and has addressed the housing crisis in the Berkshires by providing housing for his staff.

Shannon Smith is the Director of Lending and Finance for Berkshire Agricultural Ventures. Her interest in regional food systems came from years of stewarding a community garden and being a member owner of the Park Slope Food Coop. She believes that equitable access to financial resources for small food producers is key to building community resilience and healthier nutritional outcomes. Prior to working with BAV, Shannon held various underwriting and consulting roles in institutional investments, private lending, and financial technology. Shannon earned a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. She also holds a B.A. in Public Policy and Economics from Duke University.

Jonathan Schrag, Deputy Climate Chief, Director of Investment for Decarbonization and Resilience, Executive Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience has developed expertise as a climate and energy policy strategist in senior roles across government and consulting. As the Deputy Climate Chief for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts he focusses on finance and project delivery for clean energy and resilience. He worked as a consultant to craft the Massachusetts Attorney General’s position on the future of natural gas, served as the Deputy for Regulatory Policy within the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities, deigned resilient microgrid programs for the state of Connecticut, and served as the first administrator of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the first cap and invest program in North America.