When it comes to green drinks, mojitos or green tea – not architecture, sustainability or the environment – are a likely first thought. But an event organized by two University graduate students may change that idea.
GREEN DRINKS
WHAT: | A social networking event aimed to establish connections between green individuals and organizations valign=”top”> |
WHERE: | Davis’ Restaurant, 94 W. Broadway |
WHEN: | Tonight, 8 to 10 p.m. | ||
COST: | Free |
Green Drinks, a social networking event that focuses on establishing connections and collaboration between individuals and organizations with a penchant for being green, is set to make its debut tonight. The event, Green Drinks’ first in Eugene, is open to the public.
University graduate student Brooke Standifer decided to host a Green Drinks event here after hearing about Portland’s event.
“I thought it was a great idea, but I didn’t want to drive all the way to Portland,” said Standifer. “I felt that if I was interested and willing, then there’d be other people around here that would be, too.”
She was right. The first person to sign on was Sylvan Cambier, a graduate student in the School of Architecture and Allied Arts, who quickly became as involved as Standifer was with the project.
“There’s a lot of effort being put behind improving collaboration between (the architecture school) and other parts of the University,” said Cambier. “This is an opportunity to network around sustainable design and promote interdisciplinary collaboration.”
Standifer, who began studying for her master’s in architecture but switched to business administration, said that when she got to the business school, she realized the similarities between what students in the two schools were doing, and she thought, “Why aren’t we talking more?”
Wendy Mitchell, associate dean of the Lundquist College of Business, agrees. “I think a lot of students take classes together, but don’t really know each other,” she said. “This is a great opportunity for students to collaborate.”
Mitchell, who plans to attend Green Drinks, hopes the relationships built at the event will foster more collaboration in the future. “Students know who to call” for their future projects, she said.
Cambier and Standifer are already involved in fairly similar projects. Standifer is a member of Net Impact, an MBA group that looks at environmental business and law initiatives, and Cambier is a member of Design Bridge, a student-run group that completes various green building projects around the community. They both want a way to improve networking for green projects locally.
Part of the allure of the event is its laid-back setting. “We’re not pushing, selling or promoting anything. We’re just trying to start a conversation and hope that something comes of that,” said Standifer.
Events such as this originate from GreenDrinks.org, which describes the organization as “simple,” “unstructured” and “a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts.”
Among those scheduled to speak at the event include Frances Bronet, dean of Architecture and Allied Arts, and Margie Paris, dean of the Law School.
This isn’t the only Green Drinks event happening in Eugene, either. The Helios Resource Network, a non-profit organization that provides small loans and grants to promote sustainability in the Pacific Northwest, is holding its own after the University’s.
Green Drinks is not just an event for students – anyone is welcome to attend. Most in attendance will likely be interior designers, green consultants, architects and University faculty, though all that’s required for attendance is interest. “People will be given the chance to meet others that are interested in sustainability in a casual setting,” Cambier said.
Green Drinks will be from 8 to 10 p.m. tonight inside Davis’ Restaurant at 94 West Broadway in downtown Eugene. Minors are permitted only between 8 and 9 p.m. and there is no cost to attend.
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