ON THURS. APRIL 9 from 7–8:30 p.m. at the Ann Arbor District Library Downtown Branch, 343 S. Fifth Ave., those interested are invited to join in on a community-wide conversation about sustainability in Ann Arbor. The City of Ann Arbor and the Ann Arbor District Library are hosting the fourth annual Sustainable Ann Arbor series.

A think tank of local stakeholders, including community organizations, local government staff, businesses, and residents, will join the public to discuss local sustainability efforts and challenges in our community.

The event will include a series of short presentations followed by a question and answer session. The forums offered an opportunity to learn more about sustainability in the Ann Arbor community.

The final event in this four-part series will focus on responsible resource use, one of the 16 sustainability goals from Ann Arbor’s sustainability framework (www.a2gov.org/sustainability).

Speakers will include:

• Bryan Weinert, Policy Advisor and Zero Waste Advocate, Recycle Ann Arbor.
• Aaron Burman, Senior Engineer, Resource Recycling Systems.
• Robert Kellar, Communications Specialist, City of Ann Arbor.
• Steve Mangan, Director of Dining, University of Michigan.
• Nicole Chardoul, Chair, Washtenaw Food Policy Council.

The program will include a series of brief presentations followed by a question-and-answer session. The forums offer an opportunity to learn more about sustainability in the community and tips for actions that residents can take to live more sustainably.

Previous conversations in the series looked at Sustainable Buildings, including a discussion of how to increase efficiency of both new and existing building and projects underway in the community;

Economic Vitality, including current economic development projects, community investment, and business development;

Sustainable Systems, including an overview of city wet weather projects and community-led solutions to increased precipitation.