who we are
Sustainable Tallahassee is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmental, economic, and social sustainability in our Tallahassee regional area through education and collaboration. We are especially involved in the areas of Energy, Transportation, Water, Waste, and Local Food - for today and for future generations.
our mission
Sustainable Tallahassee promotes environmental stewardship and economic development through education and collaboration.
our vision
To be an organization that empowers all citizens to participate in creating a world-class sustainable community to meet the needs of present and future generations.
OUR LEGAL STRUCTURE
Sustainable Tallahassee is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the Federal IRS code, a corporation under the laws of the State of Florida, and a charitable organization registered with the State of Florida's Division of Consumer Services. We are an approved non-profit with the Community Foundation of North Florida and listed in Guidestar. Our Guidestar profile with the Foundation may be accessed at: https://findlearngive.guidestar.org/nonprofit.aspx?orgId=1127600.
how we Began
In 2007, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation selected Tallahassee as a location for a pilot project called the Knight Creative Communities Initiative (KCCI). It involved selecting 30-35 Tallahassee residents to participate as “Community Catalysts” in an intensive training workshop. These “Community Catalysts” were then challenged to develop and implement ideas that would improve Tallahassee’s “sense of place.” (https://kccitallahassee.com/)
One of the KCCI inaugural projects that first year was “Greenovation”. The Greenovation Catalyst team developed a goal that Tallahassee could become a more environmentally conscious city and function as a catalyst for stimulating green industry and green collar jobs.
The Greenovation Catalyst team initiated projects such as Tallahassee’s first Park and Ride program and a recycling program called iRecycle that was rolled out in Leon County Schools in August 2007.
The public response was so enthusiastic that the following year Greenovation formally incorporated as a non-profit and adopted the name Sustainable Tallahassee.
The launch event for Sustainable Tallahassee, Mary Brogan Museum, 2008Our founders included Bill Berlow, writer for The Tallahassee Democrat who later affiliated with Leon County Schools, Mark O’Bryant, CEO of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Nolia Brandt, PhD and owner of Brandt Information Services, David Byrne, with the City of Tallahassee utilities division, Mike McManus, with the Nature Conservancy, Todd Sperry, a commercial builder, Kathy Bartlett with SunTrust Bank, Frank Mayernick, a legislative consultant, and Kristin Dozier, Vice President of Mad Dog Construction who became Sustainable Tallahassee's first President and later became a Leon County Commissioner.
Receiving a significant grant from the Knight Foundation in 2009 allowed our fledgling organization to establish and furnish an office and hire an executive director. And thanks to the generosity of Kim Williams of Marpan, we were able to create this website.
Each year since 2007 there have been new KCCI Community Catalyst teams and projects. While each catalyst team has contributed a significant project to our community, Sustainable Tallahassee is one of only a few that have incorporated and have continued to thrive as we address the evolving challenges of our community to be more sustainable. Our programs and projects keep growing as we seek new opportunities to make our Tallahassee regional community a sustainable place for today and for future generations.