EarthDayHTX

Speaker Series Agenda

Earth Day HTX Speaker Series Agenda   Earth Day HTX Festival Activities

Speakers listed in alphabetical order.

Agenda times (below the photo gallery) are:
April 17 at 9:00 | 10:00 | 11:00 | 1:00 | 2:00 | 3:00 |
April 18 at 9:00 | 10:00 | 11:00 | 12:00 | 1:00 | 2:00
April 19 at 10:30

Page last updated March 22, 2023 6:55 AM

Aaron Ambroso Philip Bedient Matthew Berg Jim Blackburn Kasi Brown Robert Bullard Steve Costello Elena Craft Aura Cuellar Lesli Cummings Emily Dalecki Gavin Dillingham Helen Drummond Peter Eccles Marc Eichenbaum Theresa Escobedo Bret Fanshaw Laurian Farrell David Fields Yvonne Forrest L'Merchie Frazier Lex Frieden Gary Glasscock Laura Goldberg Jaime Gonzalez Jennifer Hadayia Carol Haddock Nicholas Hadjigeorge Katharine Hayhoe Colley Hodges Necole Irvin Olivera Jankovska D. January-Bevers Bill Kelly Eleonor Kramarz R. Krishnamoorti Ilan Levin Luke Metzger Paul Nelson Kelli Ondracek Jennifer Ostlind Paula Paciorek Minal Patel-Davis Thomas Pommier Angel Ponce Kristi Rangel Keith Reihl Jonas Risen Roy Rodney Michelle Salim Lauren Stadler Steve Stelzer Jane Stricker Matthew Tejada Harry Tenenbaum Sylvester Turner Jordana Vasquez Richard Vella M. Wallace-Brown Tommy Wan Beth White Mark Wilfalk Kimberly Williams Fred Wu Priya Zachariah

April 17, 2023 - 9:00 a.m.

Main Auditorium – Julia Ideson Library
Being a Climate Mayor in Texas: A Conversation with Mayor Sylvester Turner

Sylvester Turner - Mayor of Houston
Mayor Turner will discuss his tenure as Chair of Climate Mayors in 2022 and his involvement in the organization that includes 750 U.S. mayors who demonstrate climate leadership. Mr. Turner has served as mayor of the City of Houston since 2016. He was instrumental in launching the city’s first-ever climate Action Plan providing evidenced-based recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and preventative measures to address the negative outcomes of climate change.

Katharine Hayhoe – Professor of Political Science, Texas Tech University
Dr. Hayhoe will moderate and converse with Mayor Turner about climate change and what his experience has been as a climate mayor. Dr. Hayhoe is a climate scientist focused on establishing a scientific basis for assessing the regional local-scale impacts of climate change on human systems and the natural environment. She is the chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor.

April 17, 2023 - 10:00 a.m.

10 a.m. Main Auditorium – Julia Ideson Library
Transportation 101
Interactive Workshop

David Fields - Transportation Planner, Planning Department - City of Houston
Kimberly Williams - Chief Innovation Officer - METRO
Peter Eccles - Director of Policy and Planning - LINK Houston
Beth White - President & CEO - Houston Parks Board
Moderator: TBD

10 a.m. Main Reading Room - Julia Ideson Library
Houston’s Water Future:  Meeting the Needs of Houston’s Growing Population and Customers Equitably
Conversational Panel

Carol Haddock – Director - Houston Public Works
Yvonne Forrest - Deputy Director - Houston Water
Paula Paciorek - Division Manager - Houston Public Works
Moderator: Matthew Berg - CEO & Principal Scientist - Simfero Consultants
Unconfirmed: Greg Eyerly, Phillip Goodwin, Venus Price, Veronica Davis, Samir Solanki

April 17, 2023 - 11:00 a.m.

Main Auditorium – Julia Ideson Library
Charging Infrastructure: The Future of E-Mobility in Houston
Conversational Panel

Lesli Cummings - Director of Fleet, Shop Services, and Radio Communications - CenterPoint Energy
Thomas Pommier - Deputy Assistant Director - Mayor’s Office of Resilience & Sustainability
Moderator: Harry Tenenbaum - Director of Commercialization & Infrastructure - Evolve Houston
Gary Glasscock – Director – Houston Fleet Management Dept.
Hertz

11 a.m. Main Reading Room - Julia Ideson Library
Community Resilience in Action: Resilience Hubs, Microgrids, and Measuring Success
Conversational Panel

Priya Zachariah - Chief Resilience and Sustainability Officer - Mayor’s Office of Resilience & Sustainability
Paul Nelson - Founding Principal - Resilient Cities Catalyst
Jordana Vasquez - Senior Manager, Climate Resilience & Equity - Resilient Cities Network
Margaret Wallace Brown – Director - Houston Planning and Development Department
Jennifer Ostlind - Deputy Director - Houston Planning and Development Department
Moderator: Dr. Gavin Dillingham - Former VP of Research, Clean Energy - Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)

April 17, 2023 - 1:00 p.m.

Main Reading Room - Julia Ideson Library
Solar Energy for All: Accelerating Investment Without Leaving Anyone Behind
Conversational Panel

Bret Fanshaw - West Region Director - Solar United Neighbors
Fred Wu - Director, Community Engagement, U.S. Solar – iChoosr
Emily Dalecki - Renewable Energy Markets & Policy Analyst - National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Moderator: David Robbins

Main Auditorium - Julia Ideson Library
Building Optimization: Modernizing Houston Buildings for a Green Future
Deeper Dive Panel

Nicholas Hadjigeorge - Assistant Chief Policy Officer, Utility Regulation - City of Houston Administration & Regulatory Affairs
Heath Wierck - Staff Analyst - Building Code Enforcement, Public Works - City of Houston
Byron King - Building Official, Public Works - City of Houston
Moderator: Steve Stelzer - Program Director CE Green Building Resource Center - Houston Public Works

April 17, 2023 - 2:00 p.m.

Meldrum Reading Room - Julia Ideson Library -
Carbon Capture and Clean Hydrogen: Opportunities and Challenges for Houston
Conversational Panel

Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti - Chief Energy Officer - University of Houston
Laura Goldberg - Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Communications & Community Engagement - Center for Houston’s Future
Jane Stricker - Senior Vice President, Energy Transition & Executive Director, Houston Energy Transition Initiative - Greater Houston Partnership
Moderator: Eleonor Kramarz - Executive Director - Energy Transition Consulting - S&P Global

Main Reading Room - Julia Ideson Library -
Houston Recycling Collaborative: Can Chemical Recycling Reduce Pollution and Advance the Circular Economy?
Innovative Opportunities Panel

Mark Wilfalk - Director – Solid Waste Management - City of Houston
Michelle Salim - Advanced Recycling Program Manager – ExxonMobil
Moderator: TBD

Main Auditorium - Julia Ideson Library -
LEEDing Architecture and Construction in Houston’s Portfolio 
Deeper Dive Panel

Richard Vella - Assistant Director – General Services Department - City of Houston
Greg Quintero - Senior Project Manager – General Services Department - City of Houston
Synthia Walton - Senior Project Manager – General Services Department - City of Houston
Jonas Risen - Lead Designer/Associate Principal - Page Southerland Page
Keith Reihl - President and Owner - Reihl Engineering

April 17, 2023 - 3:00 p.m.

Main Auditorium - Julia Ideson Library
Green Jobs in Houston
Spotlight Chat

Dr. Michael Edwards - JD – HCC Northeast President (Invited)
Moderator: TBD

April 18, 2023 - 9:00 a.m.

Main Reading Room - Julia Ideson Library
Anatomy of a CRSO (Chief Resilience and Sustainability Officer)
Conversational Panel

Priya Zachariah - Chief Resilience and Sustainability Officer - Mayor’s Office of Resilience & Sustainability
Aura Cuellar - Vice President Energy Transition – Shell
Laurian Farrell - Regional Director, North America - Resilient Cities Network

Main Auditorium - Julia Ideson Library
Water Water Everywhere: Flood Mitigation, Preparedness and Policy
Conversational Panel

Steve Costello - Chief Recovery Officer - Mayor’s Office of Recovery - City of Houston
Philip Bedient - Herman Brown Professor of Engineering Director, SSPEED Center - Rice University
Jim Blackburn - Professor in the Practice of Environmental Law Co-director, SSPEED Center - Rice University
Dr. Loren Hopkins - Senior Staff Analyst - Houston Health Department
Moderator: Carol Haddock - Director - Houston Public Works

April 18, 2023 - 10:00 a.m.

Main Auditorium - Julia Ideson Library
Disproportionate of Climate Change on Impact People with Disabilities
Spotlight / Keynote

Panelists address how the disability community lacks knowledge, resources, and services to effectively respond to environmental change, the difficulties they experience during evacuations, and how the disability community needs to be considered and taken into this conversation around climate change and climate change risks.

Dr. Lex Frieden - Professor of Health Informatics and Rehabilitation - The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Dr. Frieden has served as chairperson of the National Council on Disability, president of Rehabilitation International, and chairperson of the American Association of People with Disabilities. He was instrumental in conceiving and drafting the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

Angel Ponce - Director, Mayor’s Office of People with Disabilities - City of Houston
Ponce serves as an advocate for the rights and needs of residents with disabilities. He is the liaison between the City of Houston mayor, city council, city departments, and other public and private entities on matters pertaining to people with disabilities. In 2004, Ponce suffered a spinal cord injury resulting from an automobile wreck and is a wheelchair user.

April 18, 2023 - 11:00 a.m.

Main Auditorium - Julia Ideson Library
There is No Planet B: Some Specific Houston Environmental Justice Challenges
Presentation

Roy J. Rodney, Jr., JD - Managing Director - Rodney & Etter, LLC
Desmond Taylor - Senior Communications and Policy Specialist, Mayor’s Office - City of Houston
Dr. Elena Craft - Senior Director, Climate and Health - Environmental Defense Fund
Ilan Levine - Associate Director - Environmental Integrity Project
Moderator: Matthew Tejada - Deputy Assistant Administrator for Environmental Justice - US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Main Reading Room - Julia Ideson Library
Houston’s Wilderness and the Interconnectedness of Things – Urban Heat and Urban Nature
Presentation

Kelli Ondracek - Natural Resources Manager, Houston Parks and Recreation Department - City of Houston
Jaime Gonzalez - Director, Houston Healthy Cities Programs - The Nature Conservancy
Helen Drummond - Chief Executive Officer - Houston Audubon
Colley Hodges - Sustainability Manager - Houston Zoo
Moderator: Deborah January-Bevers - President and CEO - Houston Wilderness

April 18, 2023 - 12:00 p.m.

Main Auditorium - Julia Ideson Library
Spotlight / Keynote

Dr. Robert Bullard - Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy - Texas Southern University
Often referred to as the father of environmental justice, Dr. Bullard is an award-winning author of eighteen books that address sustainable development, environmental racism, urban land use, industrial facility siting, community reinvestment, housing, transportation, climate justice, disasters, emergency response, and community resilience, smart growth, and regional equity. He is the founding director of the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University and received his Ph.D. degree from Iowa State University.

April 18, 2023 - 1:00 p.m.

Main Auditorium - Julia Ideson Library
Do It for Improvement: Environmental Monitoring
Presentation

Dr. Elena Craft - Senior Director, Climate and Health - Environmental Defense Fund
Jennifer Hadayia - Executive Director - Air Alliance Houston
Luke Metzger - Executive Director - Environment Texas
Lauren Stadler - Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research Faculty, NEWT - Rice University
Moderator: Dr. Loren Hopkins - Senior Staff Analyst - Houston Health Department

Main Reading Room - Julia Ideson Library
Houston’s Environmental ARTivism: The Power of Art in Resilience and Placemaking
Deep Dive Panel

Theresa Escobedo - Civic Art Program Manager – Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs - City of Houston
Aaron Ambroso - Founder - Houston Climate Justice Museum
Kristi Rangel - Artist - Witness series
L’Merchie Frazier - Director of Education - Museum of African-American History, Boston
Moderator: Necole S. Irvin, JD, MPH - Director, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs - City of Houston

April 18, 2023 - 2:00 p.m.

Main Auditorium - Julia Ideson Library
Coalition of Community Organizations (COCO) Presents: Places Too Often Left Behond – Using EPA’s Environmental Justice Tool
Workshop

Dr. Robert Bullard - Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy - Texas Southern University
Matthew Tejada - Deputy Assistant Administrator for Environmental Justice - US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Meldrum Reading Room - Julia Ideson Library
Climate Change and Migrations, Homelessness
Deep Dive Panel

Minal Patel Davis - Director, Mayor's Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence - City of Houston
Marc Eichenbaum - Special Assistant to the Mayor for Homeless Initiatives, Mayor’s Office - City of Houston

Main Reading Room - Julia Ideson Library
Youth Climate Advocacy: Houston’s Environmental Youth: Finding a Voice in a Whisper, Doing Small Things in a Great Way
Presentation

Tommy Wan - Youth Working Group, Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability - Student, University of Texas
Kaschondralynn (Kasi) Brown - COBOR Committee - Student, University of Southern California
Moderator: Olivera Jankovska - Director of Education, Mayor’s Office - City of Houston

April 19, 2023 - 10:30 a.m.

Opening Ceremony – Hermann Square @ City Hall
Festival Kick Off

Ariana Lee – Houston Youth Poet Laureate
Ms. Lee will be introducing Mayor Sylvester Turner to kick off the Earth Day HTX festival on April 19 at 10:30 a.m. in Hermann Square @ City Hall. Ariana is a current senior in high school from Houston, Texas. She serves as the 7th Houston Youth Poet Laureate and is a member of Meta-Four Houston, the city’s official youth slam poetry team coached by poet Blacqwildflowr and Houston Poet Laureate Outspoken Bean. She has been recognized by the National YoungArts Foundation and is an alum of The Adroit Journal and Kenyon Review young writers’ programs.

Sylvester Turner – Mayor of Houston
Mayor Turner will discuss the city’s Climate Action Plan and its successful projects during the last seven years. Mr. Turner has served as mayor of the City of Houston since 2016. He was instrumental in launching the city’s first-ever climate Action Plan providing evidenced-based recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and preventative measures to address the negative outcomes of climate change.