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As part of adult programming, the Rockbridge Regional Library will host a presentation about COREworks on Monday, Sept. 18, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Piovano Room, Lexington branch.
COREworks is a Boxerwood initiative that funds carbonreducing projects in the community using proceeds from an innovative, local carbon offset marketplace.
“More and more people are concerned about the health of our planet, yet it’s hard to know what to do as an individual,” noted Annette Green, Boxerwood’s COREworks volunteer ambassador. “COREworks is one way to make a difference right where we live,” she said.
During the interactive program, Green will offer a primer on calculating your carbon footprint, explain the basics of voluntary carbon offset marketplaces, and highlight what makes the COREworks model distinctive.
“The exciting part is Boxerwood took a big idea and right-sized for Rockbridge, while ensuring that every project provides additional benefits to our community,” she said.
Launched last year, COREworks has already funded several local climate-friendly projects such as reforestation and solarization.
“Many people secure an offset to neutralize pollution from travel,” said Green. “We need to visit family, for example, but flying burns a lot of fossil fuel. Offsets can balance the equation,” she said, “thus enabling us to better align our values with our actions.”
According to Green, those who have secured COREworks offsets include not only individuals, but also institutions. This summer, the congregation of Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lexington became the first church locally to secure offsets as an ecological witness.
“This is something we talked about as part of our commitment to creation care,” explained Ramona Bouzard, a member of the church’s Sustainability Committee.
Acting collectively, the church secured five offsets from the COREworks marketplace, equivalent to removing five metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere.
“These are our first steps, not our last steps. We invite other communities of faith to join us,” she said.
Toward the conclusion of the Sept. 18 program, Bouzard and three other residents have been invited to share personal experiences with COREworks. Panelists also include David Harbor, a property owner who hosted a reforestation project; Morris Trimmer, who has participated in a COREworks verification community review team, and Ginny Johnson, Boxerwood’s COREworks coordinator. There will be time for questions and conversation with those in attendance.
The Sept. 18 presentation at the Lexington branch is the first in a series of COREworks presentations, with others scheduled for the Glasgow branch on Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. and the Buena Vista branch also on Sept. 26 at 3 p.m.
As COREworks ambassador, Green shares information about COREworks with various civic groups and is available for additional engagements.
“Like it or not, we’re all living in a whole new world,” she said. “Many folks get discouraged about what we can do to protect the places and people we love, but getting together for conversation and learning is always a good first step. I love sharing about COREworks – it’s a great new tool in our can-do toolbox.”
For more information, contact COREworks coordinator Ginny Johnson, ginny @boxerwood.org or visit the COREworks website at coreworks. boxerwood.org.
