Jenn DeRose Leaves the Green Dining Alliance

After nearly four years of working for earthday365 and the Green Dining Alliance, I am announcing my departure from the GDA.

During my tenure as Program Manager for the GDA,  our fledgling program has doubled in size, we’ve added two Green Dining Districts, won an award from the EPA, created a membership program for individuals, diverted several hundred tons of material from the landfill, and educated hundreds of people about sustainability in the restaurant industry. The very best part of my job has been the partnerships and friendships I’ve developed with restaurant owners, managers, chefs, and servers, sustainability professionals, service providers, community leaders, and environmental advocates in our region. I am very grateful that I’ve had the chance to get to know these great people as we’ve worked together to build a more sustainable St. Louis.

I’ve accepted a position at Missouri Coalition for the Environment as the Known & Grown Manager – I will be working to support and promote local, environmentally responsible farmers within 150 miles of St. Louis. The Known & Grown program hopes to eventually work with restaurants, and there are plans to partner with the Green Dining Alliance in the future. In other words, I’ll still be around and involved with the STL food scene and the GDA.

I am handing over the reigns of the GDA to the incredibly wise and capable Victoria Donaldson. I’ve known Victoria for years as a friend, co-worker, and collaborator. I will be actively following the upward trajectory of both the GDA and Victoria and rooting for their continued success.

I am lucky to say that I’ve loved my job with earthday365 and the Green Dining Alliance for these last four years. This experience has shaped me into the person I am, and I would not have traded it for anything.

Please consider supporting the Green Dining Alliance by joining the Green Dining Club, donating to earthday365, and asking restaurants to go green.

Thanks for everything!