To Everything, There is a Season

I met Laura Allers-Lowry when I first moved to St. Louis and started working with earthday365 (then known as St. Louis Earth Day) in January 2010. Laura was working for 3Degrees Pure Power, a program that provides the opportunity for local utility customers to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates.

St. Louis Earth Day (SLED), which then consisted of Cassandra (Phillips) Hage full-time and myself part-time, needed an office space. Cindy Bambini, who served on the SLED Board of Directors, invited us to sublet their office space in Downtown St. Louis. And that, is where I met Laura.

Kathy Dolson and Laura (right) at the St. Louis Earth Day Festival.

I remember the Laura I met ten years ago exactly the same way I appreciate her as a friend and co-worker today – enthusiastic, kind and caring, intense, engaged, passionate, thoughtful, loyal, and dedicated. As Program Director Bob Henkel puts it, “Laura’s laughter lifted our lives and left our lamentations languishing.”

Laura (left) with John Risberg (center), current President of the Board of Directors.

Laura joined the earthday365 team in September 2014 to serve as an events planning specialist; over the years she has supported the “Do-It-Yourself” aspect of our Recycling On the Go program, coordinated the Recycling Extravaganza, planned our “Taste of Green” fundraising event, launched an intern program, and of course, led the production of one of the largest Earth Day celebrations in the country – the St. Louis Earth Day Festival.

Of her work, Laura shares:

“I am very proud of everything I’ve accomplished in the past 6 years at earthday365, in collaboration with staff, board members, and volunteers. We have all worked hard as a team to create something special each year.

“The people I have met through this opportunity have been significant in my growth and success during this chapter of my life. I cannot begin to name all of them here, but they know who they are, and know that I appreciate their friendship. I am still only a phone call away.

“I believe that Earth Day really is Every Day.”

Laura will be leaving earthday365 in February 2020 to focus on supporting her family during a season of change. We are grateful for the time and energy she has dedicated to earthday365 over the past six years. She will be missed, but like she says “I’m still only a phone call away.”

– Jeanette Reynolds, Interim Executive Director (11/2019 – 02/2020)