Presentations
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An integral piece of Central Florida Earth Day are three unique presentations, workshops, panels, and activities in the Presentations Tent. Come hear from an inspiring group of leaders and visionaries assembled to speak from diverse perspectives on a wide-range of issues facing our community, state, nation, and world.
The presentations are moderated by Shannon Blair of Solutionary Species. If you are interested in being a speaker at Earth Day, please fill out the Speaker Application. |
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11:00 a.m. Impacts of Constitutional and Charter Amendments
Speakers will discuss how the Earth is affected by constitutional and charter amendments, as well as society’s other land use decisions. Chuck O'Neal, of Speak Up Wekiva, will talk about the Rights of Nature movement and how it delivered the Right to Clean Water amendment to the Orange County Charter which serves as the basis for legal actions against urban sprawl and as the model for a statewide constitutional amendment. Gretchen Robinson, of Friends of Split Oak Forest, will talk about the fight to prevent a toll road from being built through Split Oak Forest. Kelly Semrad, Candidate District 5 Commisioner, will talk about the 2024 charter amendments that Orange County citizens may get to vote on in November.
Chuck O'Neal is chairman of NoTo2.org and President of the environmental organization Speak Up Wekiva, Inc. Chuck wrote an early draft of the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act. He served as Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and as First Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Florida. Chuck brought legal action to stop the ill-conceived hunting of the Florida Black Bear and has fought to protect Florida's springs and aquifers from all sources of pollution.
Gretchen Robinson is a high school math teacher, Air Force veteran and environmental and education activist. She graduated from the University of Arizona and the James E. Rogers College of Law in Tucson, Arizona. She has lived in and around Orlando since 2010, and serves on the board of directors of Friends of Split Oak Forest and the Florida Wildlife Federation as well as the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association.
Dr. Kelly Semrad is the Vice Chair for Save Orange County, a sustainable smart growth initiative organization. She also serves as the Co-Chair for the Orange County District 5 Neighborhood Advisory Council where she was a recipient of the District 5 citizen of the year award. She is a former member of the OC Redistricting Committee.
Chuck O'Neal is chairman of NoTo2.org and President of the environmental organization Speak Up Wekiva, Inc. Chuck wrote an early draft of the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act. He served as Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and as First Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Florida. Chuck brought legal action to stop the ill-conceived hunting of the Florida Black Bear and has fought to protect Florida's springs and aquifers from all sources of pollution.
Gretchen Robinson is a high school math teacher, Air Force veteran and environmental and education activist. She graduated from the University of Arizona and the James E. Rogers College of Law in Tucson, Arizona. She has lived in and around Orlando since 2010, and serves on the board of directors of Friends of Split Oak Forest and the Florida Wildlife Federation as well as the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association.
Dr. Kelly Semrad is the Vice Chair for Save Orange County, a sustainable smart growth initiative organization. She also serves as the Co-Chair for the Orange County District 5 Neighborhood Advisory Council where she was a recipient of the District 5 citizen of the year award. She is a former member of the OC Redistricting Committee.
1:00 p.m.: How to Advocate for the Environment
Discussing ways environmentalists can advocate for their causes when dealing with the government. How climate change and politics impact our environment.
Commissioner Emily Bonilla was elected in November 2016 and re-elected in 2020 to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. Her district runs from parts of Downtown Orlando to East Orange County through Bithlo and Christmas. Commissioner Bonilla is honored to serve her district because she has the opportunity to improve the lives of residents by focusing on smart growth, economic development, protecting the environment, supporting local service organizations, and listening to the people.
Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, has represented Florida as a public servant for 38 years. In 1978, he was elected the youngest person in the City of Altamonte Springs history, serving as Commissioner and Mayor for 14 years. In 1992, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives where he served for 8 years. In 2000, Mr. Constantine was elected to the Florida Senate representing the citizens of Orange and Seminole Counties. He served until November 2010, only ending his distinguished Senate career due to term limits. In 2012 Lee Constantine was elected to the Seminole County Commission, District 3.
Anna Eskamani is a bold fighter for Florida families and everyday people. Born and raised in Orlando, she is the daughter of working class Iranian immigrants who came to this country in search of the American Dream. Anna went to public schools, the University of Central Florida, and is a nonprofit professional seeking her PhD in Public Administration,
The first member of Generation Z to be elected to Congress, Maxwell Alejandro Frost is proud to represent the people of Central Florida. In Congress, Frost is committed to representing the people of his hometown in Orlando and Central Florida and being their voice in Washington, D.C. Frost is laser-focused on working to deliver change and results on issues of housing affordability, healthcare, abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, transportation, justice reform, climate change, and more.
Commissioner Emily Bonilla was elected in November 2016 and re-elected in 2020 to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. Her district runs from parts of Downtown Orlando to East Orange County through Bithlo and Christmas. Commissioner Bonilla is honored to serve her district because she has the opportunity to improve the lives of residents by focusing on smart growth, economic development, protecting the environment, supporting local service organizations, and listening to the people.
Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, has represented Florida as a public servant for 38 years. In 1978, he was elected the youngest person in the City of Altamonte Springs history, serving as Commissioner and Mayor for 14 years. In 1992, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives where he served for 8 years. In 2000, Mr. Constantine was elected to the Florida Senate representing the citizens of Orange and Seminole Counties. He served until November 2010, only ending his distinguished Senate career due to term limits. In 2012 Lee Constantine was elected to the Seminole County Commission, District 3.
Anna Eskamani is a bold fighter for Florida families and everyday people. Born and raised in Orlando, she is the daughter of working class Iranian immigrants who came to this country in search of the American Dream. Anna went to public schools, the University of Central Florida, and is a nonprofit professional seeking her PhD in Public Administration,
The first member of Generation Z to be elected to Congress, Maxwell Alejandro Frost is proud to represent the people of Central Florida. In Congress, Frost is committed to representing the people of his hometown in Orlando and Central Florida and being their voice in Washington, D.C. Frost is laser-focused on working to deliver change and results on issues of housing affordability, healthcare, abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, transportation, justice reform, climate change, and more.
3:00 p.m. Climate-Friendly Food Choices
This presentation will outline the climate benefits of making plant-based food choices and dispel some of the common misconceptions around the production of meat, dairy, and eggs. In particular, the impact of grazing will be addressed, as well as a comparison of local meat vs. less meat.
Dawn Moncrief is the Founder and President of A Well-Fed World (awfw.org), a hunger relief and environmental protection organization that supports plant-based feeding and farming projects in 94 countries. Dawn holds two master's degrees from The George Washington University and presents throughout the US, UK, Europe, and Africa. Her research and writing highlight the ways in which the use of animals for food exacerbate global hunger, resource-depletion, and climate change. Plants-4-Hunger.org
Dawn Moncrief is the Founder and President of A Well-Fed World (awfw.org), a hunger relief and environmental protection organization that supports plant-based feeding and farming projects in 94 countries. Dawn holds two master's degrees from The George Washington University and presents throughout the US, UK, Europe, and Africa. Her research and writing highlight the ways in which the use of animals for food exacerbate global hunger, resource-depletion, and climate change. Plants-4-Hunger.org
