by Julie Watkins
Our nonprofit has seen tremendous growth over these last few years which is an amazing feat considering it is run by a small group of volunteers already dedicated to full-time careers. We've seen what we can accomplish given limited resources and time and now we are ready to see what good things we can do given the opportunity. Successes in our events like Northeast Florida Veg Fest and No Meat March get bigger and bigger each year and we need to build on that momentum and mobilize people throughout the year. We are hoping by entering One Spark we can do the unimaginable here in our little corner of the world and forever change the landscape of Florida, figuratively and literally.
We want to host an effective Southeast Conference that will accomplish positive changes in three main areas: the environment, animals and our health. In order to succeed we will be reaching out to leaders, activists, civil servants, lawmakers, city organizers and people hungry for change inviting them to gather in Jacksonville, Florida in 2015. If change is going to happen, we need to demand it, our voices need to be unified and strong and we can do that by connecting and stay connected year after year. The goals of the conference are:
- To exchange information and connect with leaders and their members in an effort to grow our combined network list exponentially.
- To build morale and show individuals that hundreds of other people are fighting for similar causes.
- To solve problems that have gained traction in other cities/states and determine the most effective way to translate those successes in other regions.
- To initiate policy on key issues that will be followed and carried out by all participating organizations, businesses and individuals.
- To execute a 5-year business plan that will tackle the most pressing causes facing the Southeast.
- To designate time periods in each of the five years that will be devoted to one particular cause and then work together towards its resolution.
- To inspire continued efforts in establishing local and statewide change year round.
- To share success stories over the course that the 5-year business plan is in effect.
 The first Northeast Florida Veg Fest was hosted in Riverside Park in 2010. It opened to an attendance of about 2,500 people and organized a community hungry for change. Now in its fourth year, the Veg Fest draws a crowd of 8,000 and has been instrumental in watching eco-friendly and compassionate businesses develop and grow in Jacksonville. It helped to unify a veg community and allow our voices to be heard throughout the year. |  The first No Meat Make took place in March of 2011. It was created to invite those curious about exploring a plant-based diet to sign a pledge for 31-days and forgo meat during the month of March. In its first year, No Meat March touted about 500 participates who were sent daily emails with recipes, information and guidance. In 2013, just two years later, No Meat March went international with little to no advertising budget. Now people from all over the world sign up for the challenge reaching thousands of homes. |
What are the most pressing issues facing us in the Southeast? Here is our preliminary list, but we plan to build on this once a survey is collected from all the potential participants.
1. To replace unhealthy, high-fat foods in public school lunches with healthier, yet delicious options.
2. To help steer industry away from single-use plastics and Styrofoam.
3. To remove greyhound racing from the gambling industry.
4. To phase out inherently cruel delicacies which are foie gras and veal.
5. To see an end to the use of electrical prods and bull hooks on animals.
6. To even the playing field and end bait and canned hunting.
7. To protect our health and drinking water by ending water fluoridation.
8. To minimize harmful environmental practices in businesses looking to get established in the Southeast.
1. To replace unhealthy, high-fat foods in public school lunches with healthier, yet delicious options.
2. To help steer industry away from single-use plastics and Styrofoam.
3. To remove greyhound racing from the gambling industry.
4. To phase out inherently cruel delicacies which are foie gras and veal.
5. To see an end to the use of electrical prods and bull hooks on animals.
6. To even the playing field and end bait and canned hunting.
7. To protect our health and drinking water by ending water fluoridation.
8. To minimize harmful environmental practices in businesses looking to get established in the Southeast.
Please, won't you join us on our journey? Continue to follow The Girls Gone Green while we try and solve the many environmental, animal and health problems by proposing viable solutions that can be adopted on a city and state level.
1. Register on the One Spark website or APP - it's FREE
2. Bookmark The Girls Gone Green project (#20336)
3. Come on out and VOTE from April 9th through April 13th!
2. Bookmark The Girls Gone Green project (#20336)
3. Come on out and VOTE from April 9th through April 13th!
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COME CHECK OUT OUR FAST PITCH @ ONE SPARK
WHEN: FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014
TIME: 6:30PM
WHERE: HEMMING PLAZA, 135 MONROE STREET WEST, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32202
Help us get to where we want to go and come hear us pitch our idea now that we are an official One Spark creator!
On Friday, April 11th at 6:30 p.m. in Hemming Plaza, Julie Watkins, Executive Director of The Girls Gone Green will take the stage for a brief 5 minutes to try and convince you why our nonprofit deserves to be awarded.
If you can't make our pitch no worries, we will be out there all day Wednesday through Sunday (April 9-13) at Main Street Park! Please swing by our tent, take pics with our mascots, try some free samples and most importantly - VOTE FOR OUR PROJECT!
What sets your Project apart from what is currently available?
Not many organizations fight for healthy eating habits and protection of the environment and animals as passionately as we do. We are a volunteer-run organization working with a limited budget. Successes include the growth of our Northeast Florida Veg Fest every year since 2010, turning our local campaign, No Meat Meat, into an international initiative, raising awareness about health and nutrition, phasing out Styrofoam in restaurants at the beaches and more. We are ready to take these wins and experience gained to a bigger platform which will make an even bigger difference.
Why are you and your team the best people on the planet to handle this project?
We are driven by our hearts and our need to make our community better, cleaner, healthier and more humane. Five ladies have been able to effectively tackle issues that come with a lot of stigma, and we've done it with a positive attitude. We have seen our local community transform since starting our nonprofit and we are ready to spread that transformation beyond our city limits.
CLICK HERE TO RSVP TO THE ONE SPARK PITCH!
On Friday, April 11th at 6:30 p.m. in Hemming Plaza, Julie Watkins, Executive Director of The Girls Gone Green will take the stage for a brief 5 minutes to try and convince you why our nonprofit deserves to be awarded.
If you can't make our pitch no worries, we will be out there all day Wednesday through Sunday (April 9-13) at Main Street Park! Please swing by our tent, take pics with our mascots, try some free samples and most importantly - VOTE FOR OUR PROJECT!
What sets your Project apart from what is currently available?
Not many organizations fight for healthy eating habits and protection of the environment and animals as passionately as we do. We are a volunteer-run organization working with a limited budget. Successes include the growth of our Northeast Florida Veg Fest every year since 2010, turning our local campaign, No Meat Meat, into an international initiative, raising awareness about health and nutrition, phasing out Styrofoam in restaurants at the beaches and more. We are ready to take these wins and experience gained to a bigger platform which will make an even bigger difference.
Why are you and your team the best people on the planet to handle this project?
We are driven by our hearts and our need to make our community better, cleaner, healthier and more humane. Five ladies have been able to effectively tackle issues that come with a lot of stigma, and we've done it with a positive attitude. We have seen our local community transform since starting our nonprofit and we are ready to spread that transformation beyond our city limits.
CLICK HERE TO RSVP TO THE ONE SPARK PITCH!
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