Nearly too large for the Cascade Banquet Center at the Oregon Zoo, a crowd of 420 gathered on October 25 for the annual celebration of community development organizations.

In the opening presentation, “Walking the Green Path”, Kate Allen of Enterprise Community Partners brought attention to the variety of green building practices CDN members are using.  From safer building materials to ecoroofs and stormwater treating landscapes, no aspect of building and rehabbing escapes the opportunity to make a better environment for our residents.  CDC housing even has toilets that use rainwater!

The featured speaker Denis Hayes from the Bullitt Foundation highlighted the Pacific Northwest, and Portland in particular, as leading the way into a greener future.  Denis was a key organizer of the first Earth Day inspiring changes in people and institutions that profoundly affect our lives.  In her introductory comments Kate Allen shared a story from Doris Koo whose lifepath was changed by the ideas central to Earth Day: Stewardship of the earth and a livable planet for everyone.  Denis continued to challenge and inspire the crowd to keep “Walking the Green Path.”

To read more about the 2007 Conference, click here.

For a list of the 2007 Awards Winners, click here.

To become a 2008 banquet sponsor or get more information, contact Karen Walker at (503) 335-9884 or via email.