~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Natalie Ronayne
Cleveland Botanical Garden

The Nominator: Barbara Brown, The Louise H. and David S. Ingalls Foundation

How has the nominee implemented sustainable business practices in his or her business or organization and what are the triple bottom line benefits (people, planet, prosperity) of the nominee`s work?
Natalie Ronayne has spearheaded the incredible growth of the Green Corps Program at the Garden. This program provides jobs, teaching experience, business skills, environmental and community stewardship to teens from the inner city on organic urban farms. These young adults learn organic urban agriculture and market all that they grow both within the inner city neighborhoods of the farms and at various farmers markets where they process their own salsa and salad dressing. These organic farms revitalize vacant and compromised lands as well as revitalizing aspects of the neighboring community. Natalie has also instituted sustainable practices within the Garden itself to minimize its carbon footprint. In addition, she has re-organized a Sustainability Advisory Committee within the Garden to also minimize their environmental footprint upon their 10 acres of land in University Circle.

How has the nominee inspired you to implement sustainable business practices?
By introducing various initiatives through the Garden`s education departments and the Green Corps, Natalie has demonstrated a commitment to sustainability throughout the community by their numerous educational programs and workshops. This also includes a commitment with the University Circle Inc. Green Team to promote sustainability practices among the University Circle institutions. She has also reviewed proposals for the Re-imagining a More Sustainable Cleveland Initiative through Neighborhood Progress Incorporated. The Garden has two research projects that are visible to all members of the community as they are exhibited outside the structure of the building. The first is the "low mow" grass strips along East Blvd. which demonstrate the viability and aesthetics of low maintenance ground cover for vacant lots and suburban lawns. The second project is due to a direct collaboration that Natalie formed with Kent State University. This project looks to demonstrate the use of Liquid Crystal technology to make greenhouses more sustainable by reducing energy fuel costs while increasing growth production.

How can someone else translate the success of the nominee? Is the work of the nominee an example or model that others can follow?
Natalie is very inspiring and tireless. The sustainable business practices that she has instituted within the Garden can easily be done at home so that we all can have a diminished carbon footprint. I have mentioned these practices to other non-profit institutions that I am involved with.

How does the nominee actively participate in the sustainability community? How do they collaborate and share their knowledge with others?
Natalie`s works with an incredible staff at the Garden. Each is an example to the community in both their educational programs as mentioned above but also in the enlightening displays of flowers and plant materials used for decoration, urban farming, and revitalizing disturbed properties.