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Event Details
- When: Thursday, Feb.19, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Location: Grand Rapids Brewing Company
- 1 Ionia Ave. Grand Rapids, MI 49503
- Contact: 616-451-3051
- Learn more on the WMEAC website
The West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) is the local host for Green Drinks in Grand Rapids. Green Drinks is a self-organizing network that is active in over 600 cities in the world. The event is an informal networking session and cocktail hour for people working in the environmental field and those looking for connections to work in the environment field. The next meeting will be Feb. 19 from 5-7 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Brewing Company. The company is the first USDA certified organic brewery in Michigan.
Jennifer Smith, a volunteer on WMEAC’s event committee, first attended Green Drinks in 2008 when she was a soon to be a graduate. There she met Dave MacKenzie, the owner of LiveRoof, a leading supplier of practical and sustainable green roof products that sells its products globally. She was hired by the company and continued working there for three years.
Smith says she had been looking for ways to get more involved in her community. She was looking for an opportunity that wasn’t just doing manual labor or helping with a long term event. Green Drinks was something she had to make a commitment to and utilize her skills for.
“Green Drinks is an easy way to meet like-minded people within the sustainable community in Grand Rapids. It’s a laid back atmosphere and the venues are fun. You’ll meet a variety of people from designers to students to lawyers that specialize in patent law,” Smith says.
David Heitz, a designer for the architectural firm Hooker De Jong, has regularly attended the monthly events for the past eight years. Heitz says what keeps him going to the events is meeting new people and gaining ideas that could help him in his business.
“I met a young man there who was looking for a job at an architectural firm and he came in for an interview and still works for us after four years. It’s a good opportunity for those looking for a job position,” Heitz said.
Green Drinks takes place on the third Thursday of each month at a different Grand Rapids location. February's Green Drinks is at Grand Rapids Brewing Company. In March, Green Drinks will be at Rockford Construction. The company will be providing free drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
More information about the event can be found on the WMEAC website.
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