Grey to Green Festival Features MacArthur “Genius” Award-Winner

The second annual Grey to Green Festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, in Wick Park on Youngstown’s North Side from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rep. Tim Ryan and Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams will kick off the festival at 10:30 a.m. in the Wick Park Pavilion. At 11 a.m., Will Allen, of Growing Power (growingpower.org) will present his vision for urban agriculture
and local food production. Allen, a 2008 recipient of the MacArthur “genius” award, has developed a $250,0000 food-growing and distribution system in inner-city Milwaukee. At 3 p.m., Allen will be part of a panel of regionally and nationally recognized speakers who will discuss ‘food racism’ and the economics of urban agriculture.

The entire festival is free and open to the public and will feature displays and information booths by “green” non-profits in the area, as well as vendors, locally sourced food, live entertainment, and earth-friendly activities for children.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal last year, Youngstown’s 2010 Plan has a large “grey-to-green” component, which provides for protection of the current green space in the city, such as public parks, and also encourages the positive use of green space that is created by the shrinkage of the city—for example, vacant lots being used for food production or planted in trees to provide carbon offsetting and natural beauty. Grey to Green is designed to increase awareness of environmental issues in general, the grey-to-green component of the 2010 plan, and the revitalization plan for Wick Park. Located in the heart of the city near Youngstown State University, Wick Park is a lovely Victorian-era greenspace populated primarily by large oaks and ringed with a fitness trail, wide sidewalks, handsome old mansions, and broad avenues. The plan for the park focuses on drawing more activity into the interior, creating diverse habitat for plants and animals, and encouraging biophilia and a closer tie to nature in the city.

Participants will include Youngstown State University; The Raymond John Wean Foundation; Grow Youngstown; Art Youngstown; Youngstown CityScapes; Defend Youngstown; Treez Please–A Community Reforestation Project; the Green Team; Oakland Center for the Arts; Youngstown Litter Control and Recycling; Commonwealth Inc.; the Northside Farmers Market; TCT Renewable Energy; Lien Forward Ohio; The Villa Shoppe; Mill Creek Metroparks; YSU SMARTS; Children’s Center for Science and Technology; Animal Charity; the Alliance for Climate Change; TimeBank Mahoning Watershed; the Audubon Society, and other environmental organizations and businesses.
























There will also be a Drop and Shop, where people can bring their unwanted household items, drop them off, and take something else if they wish. (Contact seellis@ysu.edu, or 330-941-2238, for information about items accepted).


Also, Scott Loveland from TCT Renewable Energy will be providing an educational presentation on wind power at 2 p.m. at the Unitarian Church directly across the street from Wick Park.

Children’s activities will include a visit with Dora the Explorer as well as numerous arts and crafts activities. Rob Joki and the Magic Carpet Children’s Theater will also be premiering a new play with an environmental message. SMARTS will be on hand with their children's drumming circle. Entertainment for adults will include various bands, acoustic performers and dancers. Locally sourced food will be available for purchase.
More information is available at www.greytogreenfestival.org


The following is the schedule of events. Check back often for possible changes and additions.
10:00- 10:30 Caledonia Mission
10:30 -11:00 Mayor and Tim Ryan Opening Remarks

11:00 - 1:00 Will Allen At Pavilion

12:30 - 2:00 Polycultures: Food Where We Live (see description below) at the UU
PolyCultures: Food Where We Live is a documentary film and multi-media production project produced by LESS Productions in conjunction with the New Agrarian Center, in Cleveland. The film gets its title from the word “polyculture” which describes farm systems that mimic natural systems with diverse and interdependent elements. Polyculture is the opposite of “monoculture”- a description of the one-dimensional industrial farming systems that dominate much of Northeast Ohio.

1:00 - 1:45 Magic Carpet Theater (at Pavilion)

2:00-2:30 Dr. Ray's Amazing Sideshow of Science (at Pavilion)

2:00-2:45 Scott Loveland from TCT Renewable Energy speaks a the UU

2:30-3:00 Gospel Choir (at Pavilion)

3:00-3:30 McKelvy Raygun (at Pavilion)

3:P00-5:00 Panel Discussion at the UU with Will Allen

3:30-4:00 Brandon Martin/EOS Belly Dancers at the Pavilion

4:00-5:00 Sam Goodwill (at Pavilion)

There will also be poetry readers and Nin Andrews reading throughout the stage at the Pavilion

Nature Walks through Wick Park by Bill Whitehouse at 1-2:30 and 3:00-4:30 (starting at the Pavilion)

Ed Hallahan, area artist and art educator, has exhibited his art work both regionally and nationally. At the Grey to Green Festival he will show tree inspired sculptural work that is carved and constructed from wood and placed back into the natural tree environment where the trees support and present the sculpture and the sculpture re-presents the trees to us who view it.

In addition, the Youngstown Historical Center will present "History Kids" with a September 12 program titled "An Architectural Adventure." Students from 1 and 3pm will tour both Wick Park and downtown Youngstown to study buildings, their famous occupants and style of architecture. History Kids is for students 8 to 14. The cost of the proram is $10.00 for Ohio Historical Society members and $12.00 for non-members. Advance registration is required. Contact Keith Mann at the Youngstown Historical Center at (330) 743-5934.

The following is a list of vendors and exhibitors at the Grey to Green Festival
VENDORS

US Green Building Materials
The Green Building Pros Ltd.
EOS Whole Fitness and Bellydance
Eco-Central
Audubon Society
Bill Youngman
Cats Paw Herbs
Vegetarians of Greater Youngstown
Divine Scentsations Inc.
Mahoning Valley Green Party
Firemother Designs
Energy Detectives
Mahoning River Education Project
Naturehaven Paperworks
Yo-Ho Studio
Mill Creek Metro Parks
Commonwealth Inc
Scrap Heap Sculpture
Dr. Ted Suzelis ND
The Villa Shoppe
YSU Smarts
Amber Foster
Treez Please
Green Team
Youngstown Litter Control and Recylcing
Lien Forward
Wick Neighbors
TCT Renewable Energy
Habitat for Humanity
Restore
Art Youngstown
City Scape
Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative
Grow Youngstown
YSU – Geology Department -Ray Beiersdorfer - Gem Table Exhibit
Etruscan Press
RJ Wean - Neighborhood Success Grants
Children’s Center for Science and Tecnology
Animal Charities
Youngstown for the Alliance for Climate Protection
Eco-Watch – Stephanie Spear
TimeBank Mahoning Watershed
Volunteer Services
YESS –
HIRAM - Environmental Group
Lynn Anderson
Shaklee
CDA – Community Development Agency
Engaging Diamonds
Pride Youngstown
Goodness Grows
The Wind Chime Lady