nnie Young is a locally and nationally recognized orator who motivates listeners about environmental justice, social change, sustainable development, urban ecology issues, community-building stories and real-life experiences. Ms. Young's repertoire is based on life-long lessons, working with people to build community in both rural and urban settings. Over 30 years experience in grassroots organizing and social change efforts have helped her form the basis of the messages she shares with her audiences. Her experiences help community members, leaders and elected officials to discuss practical solutions in facing complex issues within our communities. With a focus on sustainability, she shares information about the Three E's and how they can address the environmental deprivation occurring across the country, especially in urban neighborhoods.

The Three E's:

Environment, Economics and Social Equity, as the three legs of the stool called Sustainability, are intertwined into Ms. Young's comments. Her passion for representing the inner city, and those who often aren't included or are ignored, links to the importance of including all stakeholders in long range planning for communities.

Ms. Young is also a citywide at-large commissioner on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Elected to office in 1989, she is serving her fourth term, chairs the Operations and Environment Committee, and sits on the Planning and Administration and Finance Committees of the Board. In her Park Board position, she is dedicated to serving as a steward of the land and making the Park Board services available to all the citizens of the city. She believes that the Parks are playing a vital role in providing to citizens that quality of life which they deserve and must keep, in order to maintain Minneapolis as a wonderful place to live.

Relevant work and volunteer experience:

National Scheduler for the David Cobb/Patricia La Marche Green Party 2004 Presidential Campaign, which then "morphed" into the RECOUNT OHIO Project amid questions about irregularities, possible fraud and civil rights issues.

Vice-Chair, Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota, a fledgling non-profit in its 2nd year, which addresses the environmental issues and policies presently facing citizens in predominately low-income communities of color in the Twin Cities area.

Environmental Coordinator for the Women's Cancer Resource Center in Minneapolis, specializing in environmental links to cancer and other health related issues.

Member of the Board of Directors and Vice-Chair for the Phillips Community Energy Cooperative, a spin-off project of The Green Institute, which is addressing energy conservation, energy needs, products and services for the 2500+ members of the cooperative in the Phillips neighborhood.

Serves as a small business consultant, event and logistics planner, motivational speaker and presenter on environmental and community organizing issues.

Former Associate Director, founder and start-up Project Coordinator of the Green Institute. (See also here.)

Served as the Community Affairs Specialist for the Hiawatha Lake Business Association.

Served on the Governor's Minnesota Roundtable on Sustainable Development, a 2-year appointment by the Governor (1996-1998) (click for their Five Principles and their full report).

Recognition and Awards:

NRP - 10 year Anniversary Volunteer Award and recognition award for founding of the Green Institute, Feb. 2001

Chrysalis 25 Shining Women Award - 1999

League of Women Voters - Citizens and Democracy Recognition - 1999 Renew America and President's Council on Sustainable Development - 1999

Planet Neighborhood Visionary Feature: www.planetneighborhood.org , WBC public television- 1999

Featured in several publications:

Sustainability in Action: Profiles of Community Initiatives Across the United States, September 1995; revised 1997

Corporate Report Magazine, "Annie's Vision," January, 1998;

Minnesota Women's Press, Profile, September 1, 1999;

Siren newspaper, "Dreaming in Green: Creating Jobs and Saving the Environment at The Green Institute," Nov. 1999 (download or view here - a hefty (858KB) Word document, being full of scanned images);

Minnesota Women's Press, 15th Anniversary Edition, "What's Ahead in 2015? - 15 Women Reflect," March 29, 2000.




onsidered charismatic and motivational, Ms. Young integrates urban design and planning issues, energy efficiency, renewable energy, reuse and recycling, job creation, youth involvement, democracy (electoral politics), community organizing, and building community into her work. She has a strong commitment to working with youth and mentoring students in the area of environmental leadership.

Ms. Young is committed to social change and environmental justice. She has a broad understanding of sustainable principles, especially in the area of job creation and economic development. A sense of place, the values of family and home, along with her psychic, spiritual and intuitive visioning work, provide the context of her work toward shifting the paradigm in the 21st Century towards a peaceful, just and sustainable place to live, work and play.