Mission Statement
The Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow is a community-based network of programs working towards social, environmental, and economic justice and equity in our region. NEST catalyzes and convenes new initiatives and partnerships, and does outreach and education to build a stronger and more resilient Southern Tier.
History
NEST (Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow), was formally known as the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition (BRSC) and was formed in mid-2008 following a series of community forums on sustainability and a community visioning session. NeST currently connects with countless local organizations, businesses, and individuals through its events, programs, listservs, and Facebook.
Organized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we have been refining the strategies we need to take to achieve the promise of improving the quality of life in the eastern Southern Tier of New York today, without compromising the quality of life of future generations.
Guiding Principles
That future is more local than global as we transition to an ecological/complex systems model to address our challenges.
In governance, politics and community development we are moving toward multi-cellular/molecular inter-locking and adaptive living networks collaborating at ever increasing speeds to achieve well-being.
Growth is no longer the prime measurement of progress. well-being, equity, prosociality, and improved quality of life for all are the new metrics we are concerned with.
Wealth creation requires a multi-disciplinary approach that starts at the neighborhood/community level. wealth creation is comprised of seven forms of wealth capital that, in addition to financial capital, include built, individual, intellectual, natural, political and social capital
Creating a society of stakeholders is one of the keys to unlocking our true potential for interconnection and living inter-dependently.
Board of Directors
Chris Burger, Chair
Jamie Atkinson, Treasurer
Dave Currie
Erik Jensen, Secretary
Peter Knuepfer, Vice Chair
Robert Lofthouse
Christopher Rounds
Adam Flint
Director of Clean Energy Programs
Adam Flint is Director of Clean Energy Programs at the Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow (NEST), which he co-founded in 2008. From 2011-2013, he ran the Energy Leadership Program at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, where he coordinated the Southern Tier Green Jobs Green New York program. He has worked as an educator in the Southern Tier for more than twenty years, including posts as Assistant Professor of Sociology at Hartwick College and as lecturer in Environmental Studies and Latin American Studies at Binghamton University. Adam co-founded the Tier Energy Network of the Southern Tier, and also, the NY Energy Democracy Alliance, where he coordinates Community Owned Shared Renewables Working Group, and represents the Alliance on the Energy Democracy Project, a national initiative to create shared technical, best practice and expert resources to serve the needs of the movement.
From supporting low income families to make their homes energy efficient, to working to make community shared solar accessible regardless of income, social and environmental justice has been a driving value throughout his career. He leads up NEST’s clean energy careers pathways initiative, which seeks to create a system of information, education, training and employment to serve people in a wide variety of life circumstances and institutions, including k-12, people with challenges to employment and those looking to make career changes. His latest initiative, Binghamton Community Power, is an alliance of housing, healthcare, community and clean energy organizations and individuals doing energy education and engagement for community empowerment.
Hailley Delisle
Associate Director
Hailley Delisle is the Assistant Director of Clean Energy Programs for The Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition (BRSC). Her career started out with BRSC under the Southern Tier Solar Works program as an Energy Corps Intern back in 2015. From there she went to work as a Program Associate for Catskill Mountainkeeper’s RenewableNY program. She played an integral role in helping RenewableNY exceed campaign goals for the number of kilowatts installed in Sullivan County. She also worked as an Outreach Coordinator for a Community Solar Developer in New York. She is graduate from Binghamton University with a degree in Environmental Studies and a Master’s in Sustainable Communities. In her off time, she enjoys taking photographs, hiking, and spending time with her dog, Hazelnut.
Ebony Hattoh
Community Ambassador
Ebony L. Jackson is a Binghamton entrepreneur and mother whose main goal is to improve her community. Ebony has experience with at-risk youth and families, community activism, marketing, and business startup. Ebony comes to the Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition (BRSC) as an Ambassador for Community Solar doing outreach, education, and providing technical assistance for the REVitalize Shared Community Solar project. Ebony graduated from Binghamton High School & Davis College in Johnson City, NY. Ebony has a degree in Bible Studies & Theology; she enjoys traveling, many genres of music and cooking gourmet meals.
Eleanore Colton
Sustainable Energy Coordinator
Eleanore Colton is a transplant to the Binghamton area, originally from Rochester, NY. She graduated in May 2021 with a BA in Environmental Policy and is pursuing an MS in Sustainable Communities. She has been with the Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow since January 2020, starting as an intern and gaining knowledge and responsibility. She most enjoys interacting with the community through the Heatsmart Program, webinars and recently, in-person events. She has a puppy named Bubba and enjoys time outside, hiking and working on Bubba’s fetch skills. He is great at chasing the ball, not great at bringing it back. She most recently completed a Department of Energy Collegiate Geothermal Competition and helped her team design a community geothermal system around SUNY Broome. Her passion is clean energy and working to create healthy, equitable, and thriving communities.