Sustainable Living Fair celebrates 16 years of pioneering environmental education

The Sustainable Living Association is celebrating 16 years at the head of the sustainable living and lifestyle movement in the Rocky Mountain region at the 2015 Sustainable Living Fair.

This year’s fair takes place September 12-13 in Fort Collins at the Old Fort Collins Heritage Park (Northside Aztlan). The fair is filled with educational programs and workshops to provide information and to support ongoing sustainability efforts within the local community.

Since 2000, the Sustainable Living Association has been on a mission to educate communities to make healthy, sustainable choices. In celebration of the 16th year of the largest event of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region, the fair offers a weekend of solution-based, interactive, family oriented events designed to educate people of all ages and backgrounds. The topics include renewable energy, alternative transportation, sustainable and local agriculture, green building, natural health, environmental and social responsibility and local economies. It also includes an array of fun activities and programs for kids and families.

The Fair hosts to 10,000 – 15,000 attendees and features renowned speakers, 150 exhibitors, 50 workshops, hands-on experiences, live music and entertainment, local food vendors and libations – including world class beer, wine, cider and mead.

“We are absolutely thrilled to present the 16th annual fair,” stated Shawn Tierney, SLA executive director. “And we are truly excited about the many new program elements that will be featured this year including a focus on current innovation and ideas, our partnership with the CSU Powerhouse Energy Campus to provide educational tours of their facility and to host some of our workshops, and a vendor section devoted to hemp education, exhibitors, and hemp products to name just a few.”

Keynote Speakers for this year include:

• Robyn O’Brien is a former financial and food analyst who caused an allergic reaction in the food industry when she asked, “Are we allergic to food or what’s been done to it?” Bloomberg and the New York Times names O’Brien as “food’s Erin Brockovich.” She explains how the ever-changing angle of food and health are impacting the food industry and our economy. Her work has appeared on CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, the Today Show, Good Morning America, FOX News, and the Washington Post. Robyn is the Executive Director of AllergyKids Foundation whose mission is to make clean and safe foods affordable for all families. Her work is recognized and supported by renowned individuals, such as, Dr. OZ, Senator Robert Kennedy, Jr., Ted Turner, Bonnie Raitt and Prince Charles. She resides in Colorado with her family. You can listen to Robyn on the Main Stage Saturday, September 12 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. A book signing of “The Unhealthy Truth” by Robin O’Brien will follow.

• Kathleen Baumgardner is a co-founder of the FoCo Café, the first nonprofit restaurant in Northern Colorado. The FoCo Café’s mission is to build the community by providing healthy meals regardless of the ability to pay. Although it is a “pay-what-you-can” establishment, volunteering or participating in the community is another way to earn a meal. FoCo Café uses local, organic and sustainable ingredients. The daily menu selections use these ingredients which are funded by the donation of customers. Kathleen’s research of the needs in Fort Collins built the concept that integrity is valued in every human, participating/volunteering is enlightening, all people need help at some point in their lives and that everyone deserves healthy food. Since opening on Thanksgiving Day of 2014, the continued experience this year will serve more than 20, 000 meals to ALL members of the community. You can listen to Kathleen on the Main Stage on Sunday, September 13 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

• Crotalo Sesamo is the director of Olami Damanhur University in Italy. This university specializes in the fields of spiritual healing, inner research and ancient civilization. Damanhur means “City of Light” and was founded in 1975. Crotalo uses the Damanhurian philosophy which advocates for positive change in social, spiritual, economic, political and organizational relationships in diverse communities. Damanhurians actively work with other communities, countries and organizations and have received recognition from the United Nations as being a model for the future of humanity. Crotalo also serves as an Ambassador traveling throughout Italy, Europe and the United States to educate others on Damanhur’s message of universal peace and creating sustainable communities. You can listen to Crotalo and hear his singing plants on the Main Stage Sunday, September 13 from 2 to 3 p.m.

• Rodman Schley is the executive producer and host of PBS’s Urban Conversion. Urban Conversion is broadcast over 250 PBS stations across the nation. As a serial entrepreneur and an environmental advocate, Rodman humorously educates the public on the environmental problems facing our planet by providing solutions for healing the planet through good examples of practicing and encouraging sustainability. Rodman currently owns 13 businesses in the Denver metropolitan area which he converted to a more sustainable, eco-friendly status to reduce his “carbon footprint” in the environment. You can listen to Rodman on the Main Stage Saturday, September 12 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

To learn more about the Sustainable Living Fair, please visit: www.SustainableLivingAssociation.org