Within the COVID pandemic-imposed severe-lifestyle shifts, then Elemental Impact hosted the inaugural Regenerative Working Group (RWG) monthly call in April 2020.
Originally formed as the Global Regenerative Land Economics Initiatives (GRLEI) within the auspice of Lambda Alpha International, the RWG intentions were to broaden definitions of land economics to include environmental and social equity considerations and implications. The inaugural RWG members were LAI members.
LAI is the honorary global network for thought leaders in all fields related to the preservation and sustainable development of land.
To maximize impact, the GRLEI was moved under Elemental Impact's umbrella of initiatives and renamed the RWG. If not already member, new RWG participants accepted a LAI-member nomination. As Holly served on the LAI Executive Committee, an unofficial relationship between the RWG and LAI was maintained.
Early RWG Structure
The inaugural RWG Executive Team crafted the RWG Vision, the Focus Areas, and Commitment as follows:
Vision: to explore challenges related to stated focus areas from a holistic approach where the community, environment, and local economies benefit from commentary, discussions, and proposed projects.
The RWG seeks to be a thought leader in supporting complete and equitable communities.
Focus Areas:
- Infrastructure – explores the built environment including a city’s water & sewer systems, water-treatment plants, public utilities, as well as corporate, government, and educational districts | campuses. Additionally, focus is on the availability of and access to affordable housing within a community.
- Environmental Resources – explores the impact of existing and proposed projects and infrastructure within urban and rural communities on energy sources, soil health, local greenways, open spaces, waterways, and resident access.
- Social Equity – explores ways to promote complete communities that include equitable access to housing, transportation and transit, education, employment, human services such as healthcare and safety, and other amenities such as parks.
Commitment: the RWG is committed to action, whether in the form of drafting educational documentation (articles, white papers, website copy), global webinars, and/or projects designed for community impact. RWG members must actively participate.
The Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine article, Global Thought Leaders Embrace Regenerative Land Economics, details the vision, scope, and challenges & impact for each of the three focus areas. Prepared by RWG intern Jahin Kahn, the RWG PPT presentation was designed to support the introductory blog article.
Global Webinars. Interview, & Tour
On July 23, 2020, Brad joined the LAI Global Webinar Pandemic Awakening featuring local and international authorities on epidemiology, the environment, and macroeconomics; Brad spoke on the environmental impact from pandemic quarantines and subsequent reopening of businesses, schools, and the community as a whole.
On July 23, 2020, Brad joined the LAI Global Webinar Pandemic Awakening featuring local and international authorities on epidemiology, the environment, and macroeconomics; Brad spoke on the environmental impact from pandemic quarantines and subsequent reopening of businesses, schools, and the community as a whole.
The RiA Magazine article, Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective, gives a synopsis of the empowering webinar; the entire dialogue is available on YouTube at this LINK.
In addition, EJFA produced a 36-minute dialogue with Simon, Junglenomics: Nature’s Solutions to the World Environment Crisis, for their YouTube channel.
Effective January 2024, Holly accepted the position of LAI Global Water-Land Series Group (Group) Co-Chair. Immediately, Holly orchestrated the Introduction to Water and Land Economics Global LAI Webinar hosted on June 13, 2024.
The RiA Magazine article, Introduction to Water and Land Economics, provides an in-depth overview of the webinar; the entire webinar is available for viewing on the LAI YouTube page at this LINK.
On May 17, 2024 an entourage of RWG members visited the 4Roots Farm Campus (4Roots) in Orlando to learn about their innovative approach to food production and distribution as well as their recently launched Culinary Health Institute.
The RiA Magazine article, Ei Tours Resume with 4Roots Campus Tour, provides an overview of the inspiring tour; the Holly Elmore Images-photo gallery, 05-17-24 4Roots Farm Campus Tour, provides a pictorial recount of the 4Roots tour.
Growth
After residing in Atlanta for 40 years, Holly returned to her hometown, Sarasota, FL in 2021. Simultaneously, the RWG embarked on an evolutionary process with global-thought leadership the predominant focus.
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| May 17 RWG Tour Group |
With the LAI Global Initiatives official launch in 2023, LAI addresses many of the original GRLEI / RWG focus areas within its various subcommittees; the Group Holly Co-Chairs is a Global Initiatives subcommittee. Thus, it was time for the RWG to reconvene within its global-thought leadership roots.
Upon discovering that they lived a mere hour apart in Florida, Table2Farms (T2F) Visionary & Founder Bridgett Luther and Holly reunited and rekindled their close bond. Bridgett and Holly originally met at the 2015 National Zero Waste Business Conference hosted in Los Angeles. In April 2023, Bridgett joined the the RWG as well as the Ei Advisory Council, and Holly serves as a T2F Principal.
Ringling College of Art & Design Professor of Environmental Studies and Planetary Ethicist Tim Rumage joined the RWG as well as the Ei Advisory Council in May 2023. Tim is instrumental in guiding the RWG evolution.
Era of Impact
On July 11, 2024, Holly signed the trademark-transfer documents and released the use of Elemental Impact to an independent third party. Signing the documents was Holly's final act as Elemental Impact Founder & CEO.
On July 11, 2024, Holly signed the trademark-transfer documents and released the use of Elemental Impact to an independent third party. Signing the documents was Holly's final act as Elemental Impact Founder & CEO.
With perfect timing, the Elemental Impact-trademark transfer marked the end of the Era of Regeneration and the entry into the Era of Impact!
Ei Eras flow within seven-year cycles: Era of Recycling Refinement (2010 inception - June 2017,) Era of Regeneration (June 2017 - June 2024,) and Era of Impact (June 2024 - June 2031.)
Thus, the Era of Impact emerged as the Ei business model evolved away from projects, pilots, and initiatives and to Ei Educates.
Within the Ei Educates-business model, Ei embraces three focus areas/concepts: Collective Consciousness, Soil & Water: the foundation of life, and What We Eat Matters.
RWG's global-thought-leadership roots align perfectly with the Ei Educates business model and the new focus areas/concepts.
The RiA Magazine article, Era of Impact, welcomes the Era of Impact and gives a synopsis of the prior eras.
Evolution
Once within the Era of Impact, the RWG Executive Team decided to cleanse membership of inactive members and embark on recruitment of diverse professionals eager to participate in global-thought leadership. The original RWG tagline remains exceptionally valid:
Once within the Era of Impact, the RWG Executive Team decided to cleanse membership of inactive members and embark on recruitment of diverse professionals eager to participate in global-thought leadership. The original RWG tagline remains exceptionally valid:
Global thought leaders supporting complete and equitable communities.
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| Charles & Durga at the Nov 15 event |
In January 2024, Durga published the acclaimed book, Asta-Ja for Prosperity, Pride, and National Integrity, as a compilation of his over-a-dozen articles and papers on the Asta-Ja Framework. At the October monthly RWG, Durga shared the Asta-Ja Framework with his fellow Ei Advisors. By popular demand, the November RWG meeting topic was a Q&A with Durga. At the December meeting, the RWG committed to supporting Asta-Ja via the 2025 formation of the Ei Asta-Ja Nepal Taskforce.
On November 15, 2024 Durga was inducted into LAI by fellow Ei Advisor Charles Reith, Ph.D., a LAI FL Suncoast Chapter member, at an impressive event hosted at University of Louisiana, Lafayette. After Charles' introduction and his induction ceremony, Durga gave a superb presentation on A Journey to Ecological and Environmental Sustainability based on the Asta-Ja Framework he developed over the past decades.
The RiA article, Asta-Ja: Nepal Vision 2040. celebrates Durga's LAI-member induction, gives an overview of his impressive presentation, and introduces Nepal Vision 2040.
In early November, LAI Madrid Chapter member Marina A. Olmos, a renowned architect who focusses on sustainable design and building practices, joined the RWG and Ei Advisory Council.
As of January 2024, the Ei RWG Executive Team consists of the following members:
- Bernadette Austin, CivicWell CEO
- Brad Bass, Ph.D., Senior Policy Analyst, Employment and Social Development Canada
- Bridgett Luther, Table2Farms Founder & Visionary
- Durga Poudel, Ph.D, Professor at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- Holly Elmore, Earth Impact Founder & CEO
- Marina A. Olmos, aLL Global Project Management Partner
- Ron Thomas, renowned urban planner, retired
- Simon Lamb, economist and Junglenomics author
- Tim Rumage, Ringling College of Art & Design Professor of Environmental Studies
The RWG goal is 12-, yet no more than 15-, active members.
With renewed and evolved vigor, the Ei Regenerative Working Group is staged for tremendous successes within the Era of Impact.
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Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work.
About Earth Impact:
Earth Impact (formerly Elemental Impact) (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration (June 2017 - June 2024). Focus areas included Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.
The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity and SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. What We Eat Matters is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.
As Ei enters the Era of Impact (June 2024 – present,) gears shift to a new business model, Ei Educates. Though education was always integral to Ei’s important work, the primary focus was on projects, pilots, and initiatives supported by Ei Partners. The Regeneration Era focus areas carry over into the Era of Impact.
The Holly Elmore Images Rewilding Urban Landscapes-album folder documents two active pilots: the Native-Plant Landscape Pilot and the Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot. The Ei Pilots serve as an educational program.
MISSION:
To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.
Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.
The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:
Ei is a creator, an incubator.
Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.
Ei brings the possible out of impossible.
Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.
For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | holly@earth-impact.org.
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