What have I done to protect environment and improve quality of our lives

By Dorsey Moore

The focus of my life's work is creating sustainable communities. For past 25 years I have worked in the nonprofit, business and government sectors making local communities more sustainable places to live, work and play.

The focus of my life's work is creating sustainable communities. For past 25 years I have worked in the nonprofit, business and government sectors making local communities more sustainable places to live, work and play. The interrelated common threads that run through my personal and professional lives include preserving open space, sustainable agriculture, local economic development, empowering under-resourced young adults, environmental justice, and valuing the diversity in our local community.

Professional Experience I started my career in 1987 as the Recycling Director for Denison University as a student. I led an awesome team of students to develop the school's Recycling Program into a national model. From 1990-93, I developed municipal policies and programs for the City of San Jose's Environmental Services Department helping businesses set up recycling programs that encouraged more efficient use of material resources.

From 1993-2005 I served in several positions with the San Jose Conservation Corps (SJCC), a green career technical training and charter high school for under-resourced young adults. As the Deputy Director of Operations of the SJCC, I was responsible for program development and management. During my tenure I managed recycling programs, environmental conservation projects and taught environmental studies. Specific environmental projects included urban street tree planting, construction of community gardens, riparian corridor restoration, trail construction and maintenance, park restoration, graffiti abatement, storm water pollution prevention, and urban blight reduction. Most of these projects and programs were for local public agencies.

The SJCC was recognized as a national model in 2003 by the National Youth Employment Coalition and the United States Department of Labor. Additionally, the SJCC received the Acterra Business Environmental Award in 2005 for Social Equity for Sustainability.

From 1997-2000 while I was working at the San Jose Conservation Corps, I also started and operated San Jose Pedicab (bicycle taxi), a zero-emission transportation business in downtown San Jose that employed 15 young adults. San Jose Pedicab was designed to be an individualized compliment to the mass transit system.

In 2007, I started Sustainability for All (SfA), a consultancy that enables businesses, organizations and governments to develop economically viable strategies and capital resources that achieve community sustainability. Since its inception, SfA has provided strategy and development services to organizations throughout California. SfA works with the community organizations to help them align their training and program implementation infrastructure with new emerging industries in energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation. SfA has also helped develop and operate weatherization programs for low-income residents, photovoltaic solar installation projects and rainwater harvesting projects among others. For more information, please visit: http://www.sustainabilityforall.com.

Volunteer Activities I have served on the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority + Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) since 2005. During my three year tenure as chairperson the CAC completed two important reports: Bay Area Agricultural Lands Conservation Organizations Study and Draft Agricultural Land Conservation Recommendations. These documents helped the Board of Directors understand the importance of the agricultural part of the OSA mission and how OSA can position itself to be a leader in driving regional policies and programs that not only encourage protecting the remaining agricultural land we have left, but also increase the long-term sustainability of the organization.

In my spare time I also volunteer for Santa Clara County Parks in the adopt-a-trail program. My running club has maintained the 6.5-mile long New Almaden Trail in Almaden Quicksilver Park since 2003. I am passionate about trails because of the importance in how they influence the user experience of open spaces.

Education In 2007, I earned my MBA in Sustainable Management from the Presidio School of Management and a BA in geology/geography from Denison University in 1990. I also hold a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from San Jose State University. Additionally, I have a State of California Basic Trails Program Certificate for Management and Maintenance and a certificate in facilitation from the Odyssey Performance Enhancement Network. I have also completed coursework in grid-tied solar programs, straw bale construction, rainwater harvesting, composting and greywater management.