COMMUNITY INVITED TO SUSTAINABLE RESTON FORUM

All Are Welcome at October 22 Event

RESTON, VA — Everyone is invited to a community-wide kick-off event, Looking Back and Moving Forward to a Sustainable Reston, scheduled for October 22. The event will inaugurate a multi-year effort involving a coalition of Reston civic organizations to build on Reston’s original values and make its future one of sustainable practices that will safeguard its natural beauty and environmental stewardship.  There will be open discussions and opportunities for all to generate ideas and work together.  In the first year of the initiative, residents are encouraged to “pledge” their commitment to sustainable practices; the goal of the first year is to have 12% of Reston households “pledged” by Founders Day in April, 2012. 

The Sustainable Reston Forum will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods. Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins will open the forum and Michael Shuman will be the keynote speaker. Sustainability champions in the areas of “Transportation,” “Home and Lifestyle,” “Environment,” and “Buying Local” will give remarks and lead discussions.  Additionally, the 2011 Reston Sustainability Awards will be presented by Sustainable Reston.

The forum begins an outreach program that will provide the community the educational foundation to understand sustainability and what it can mean for Reston. Takeaways will include action steps that community members can take to use sustainable practices. The Forum launches the community toward its target goal: 12% of Reston households pledged to sustainable practices by Founders Day, April 2012.

Sustainable Reston is a project of the Fairfax Coalition for Smarter Growth. The community-wide sustainability forum is co-sponsored by civic organizations including Sustainable Reston, Fairfax County, the Reston Association, the Reston Community Center, the Reston Citizens Association, the Reston Historic Trust, the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, the Reston Town Center Association, and Reston Interfaith.

About Sustainable Reston

The community sponsors of the Sustainable Reston Forum have  a strong vision for making Reston a more sustainable community: Building on our traditions, values and leadership, Reston of the 21^st Century continues to be a diverse and healthy community that fosters stewardship of natural beauty and has a vibrant, resilient economy.  More information is available at www.sustainablerestonforum.org.