Zero Waste Connections - Fall Fundraiser 2022

Earth Matter's Fall Fundraiser!

Please join us in support of our year-round efforts to advocate & educate for zero waste practices & composting, across NYC!

Our event will kick-off with a reception with refreshments, alongside guided farm tours for those of you looking to get an inside scoop into the happenings here at Earth Matter.

Tickets are suggested price of $100 but no one will be turned away!

To get a sliding scale ticket, press the DONATE button to register and donate any amount you are able to contribute.

To follow, we are joined by an esteemed panel of speakers:

FAUZIA ABDUR-RAHMAN - owner and operator of Fauzia's Heavenly Delights's Heavenly Delights. Fauzia started her business 27 years ago after encouragement from her mother and husband. Being born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, her food represents the perfect fusion between well known Caribbean staples and New York City street food staples. Fauzia has served this fare on Governor's Island for the last faithful 13 years! And has been a Zero Waste Island partner with Earth Matter since the program's inception.

ROSE LIVINGSTON - elementary school Sustainability Coordinator at the United Nations International School. Rose is passionate about teaching people how to be more sustainable and advocating for the environment. As a sustainability coordinator, she developed and facilitated the school's recycling program, founded the schools compost and gardening clubs, facilitates compost and garden education for City Parks department, and is cofounder of a healthy food program in East New York. She holds a Master Composting certificate from NYCS, along with a Certificate of compost operation from EMNY.

DAN MARTENS - North American VP for Novamont NA. He has experiences in food scrap collection programs in San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto. Currently, Dan serves as chair of the bioplastics division of PIA in Washington DC. He is a Board Member of Canadian Compost Council and spreads the word for Home Composting as a UConn Master Composter. With the NRDC Food Matters program, Novamont hosted 5 US cities to study Northern Italy’s food waste reduction and composting policy and processes. Dan has served on several Canadian Federal Level environmental working groups. Past board member positions include BPI, and a 5-year USDA funded Washington State Study on mulch films in agriculture. Novamont is a global leader in biopolymer research and production supporting circular bioeconomic models at the EU level. Novamont is headquartered in Novara Italy.

JACQUIE OTTMAN - expert on green marketing and zero waste. In the past few years, Jacquie has funneled her passions into reducing food waste through culinary means. The author of eight books, including The New Rules of Green Marketing: Strategies, Tools and Inspiration for Sustainable Branding, and If Trash Could Talk: Poems, Stories, and Musings, she is immediate past chair of the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board and is the editor and founder of WeHateToWaste.com.

ANDREW TYRELL - Operations Manager at Park City Compost Initiative & owner/ operator at Black Rock Compost Company (both in Bridgeport, Connecticut). Andrew's recent passion for composting was a result of participating in Earth Matter's composting programs. This experience inspired and afforded him the opportunity to start a small business - Black Rock Compost Company, which exemplifies closed loop practices and advocates for sustainability and food justice awareness.

DIOR ST.HILLAIRE - worker-owner at GreenFeen OrganiX and Executive Co-Director at BK ROT. As chair of the Bronx Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB), Dior is passionate about Environmental Justice in the South Bronx and adds a unique approach to reimagining New York City's waste management system. With a focus on local policy, green job creation through local organics processing, and creative marketing techniques she is excited to become a 2022 Urban Design Forum, Forefront Fellow. Dior has a background in education in New York City schools, and uses Hip Hop to teach Environmental Sustainability. To deepen this understanding, she is currently enrolled at The New School, obtaining her Master of Science degree in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management with a concentration in policy. At GreenFeen OrganiX, she supports the team with composting, microhauling, programming, and organics advocacy. At BK ROT, she is responsible for overseeing microhauling operations and youth programming.

Dior is our keynote speaker & moderator for this event!

In addition, Earth Matter will be hosting a silent auction! Please check it out online!

Items are available for bidding online (up until 12PM EST on October 7th), with last-chance bidding available to our ticket-holders at the live event that evening, 5pm-7pm!

All proceeds to support Earth Matter's Zero Waste Island Initiative!

Thank you to our event's generous sponsors: