The Green Dream Becomes a Reality
The best success stories are when dreams are finally realized. Add a positive environmental twist and you have Beachwood’s “The Green Dream.” This dream officially came to fruition with a public ribbon cutting and official unveiling of The Ultimate Green Classroom at Beachwood High School in October. The Ultimate Green Classroom is no doubt America’s “greenest” classroom and has quickly become the national model for a green classroom.
Marketing students from Beachwood and Mayfield participated in a Junior Achievement program sponsored through Mayfield’s Excel Technical Education Career Consortium. Under the direction of Marketing Teacher Greg Perry, The Green Dream started out as a marketing project that has turned into a frenzy of global recognition for what students have done to inspire a movement of green capabilities in a classroom setting.
Twenty marketing students put together a very successful eco-friendly expo in spring 2008. Nearly 70 companies showcased environmentally-friendly products and services at the Beachwood Community Center, attracting more than 2,200 people.
As a result of generating more than $150,000 in revenue from donations, corporate sponsorships and partnerships, the students used these funds from the expo to create “The Ultimate Green Classroom.” This space, while being green-friendly, healthy and non-toxic and featuring items and key donations noted in the room, is a model of function, elegance and modernity that all who enter will appreciate.
Features of the classroom include eco-friendly office furniture, flooring, ceiling tiles, lighting, appliances, custom cabinetry, paint, counter tops, glass tile, air cleaner, window coverings, repurposed art/décor, office supplies and technology. As an educational showroom, as well as the business and marketing classroom, the students hope that the space will inspire others to use green building and furnishings in their homes, businesses, schools and institutions.
Perry estimates that this project has garnered 3.5 million people’s attention from seeing or reading about The Green Dream. From the students’ website www.greendream.org, to a spot on PBS, and numerous national conferences, the Green Dream’s story continues to be shared and replicated by other organizations.
Most importantly, these dreamers aren’t done yet. Phase II will continue this year with the new marketing class working towards even bigger goals for their spring expo on April 17 at Beachwood Community Center. The students are hoping to attract 150 green businesses and organizations from around Ohio and more than 6,000 attendees. Anticipated revenue will go towards additional energy efficient utilities, green amenities in their classroom and an outdoor learning environment.
For more information on, contact Greg Perry at 216-831-2080 x236, gwp@beachwoodschools.org or visit www.thegreendream.org.