2020 Virtual Puget Sound Green Infrastructure Summit

At the beginning of March, the Puget Sound Green Infrastructure Summit was faced with a challenging decision.

As public health concerns grew around COVID 19, Stewardship Partners – in partnership with a Summit Host Committee – needed to decide how to move forward.

And move forward, we did, turning to a virtual platform.

Four weeks and nine individual webinars later, it is inspiring to sit back and take stock of what we’ve discussed and shared with each other in the first virtual version of the Puget Sound Green Infrastructure Summit. From conversations about innovations in green infrastructure, to the role of trees, to the role of equity, this was a vibrant and full summit.  We covered a lot of ground together, uncovered some new ideas and planted them in fertile soil—the minds of innovative and bold leaders.

Woven into many of the webinars was a reminder of where the in-person summit was supposed to take place – Tacoma.  Speakers from Tacoma and the surrounding area highlighted the unique history and culture – as well as highlighted the good work that is underway.  Thank you to those who helped ground us in that place.

We are grateful to all 53 speakers, 336 attendees, our amazing host committee, advisory committee, Stewardship Partners and Cascadia Consulting teams, and of course our sponsors.  Now it’s time to cultivate and grow what we’ve been given. It’s time to rebuild our communities, our infrastructure, and our systems to make them more just, resilient and restorative.

You can find links to all nine recorded webinars on the summit webpage: www.12000raingardens.org/summit

In closing, we have a powerful call to action video from U.S. Representative, Derek Kilmer:

As well as a few inspiring words of gratitude from our title sponsors:

King County Executive, Dow Constantine:

and Boeing’s Director of Environment, Steve Shestag: