Green Drinks KC is an opportunity to meet up for friendly, lively conversation with an interesting mix of like-minded people. The goal of Green Drinks KC is pretty simple: good times shared among people working in, or interested in, environmental and sustainability issues. These monthly events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have made friends, developed new ideas and had moments of serendipity. Most Green Drinks KC events feature plenty of time to socialize and network as well as a guest speaker with discussion on a different topic. There is no pressure or commitment required. Show up to Green Drinks KC when you can, discuss what's on your mind and leave when you want.

History of how Green Drinks KC got started:

Beau Baker, a KC local and environmentally-passionate man, discovered Green Drinks International on-line.  Beau was an avid recycler who coordinated recycling centers throughout Kansas City for a local environmental non-profit.  He had a creative mind for community activism and education regarding the environment. 

Meanwhile, Laura Sterchi had just moved back to Kansas City after living in the environmentally pro-active states, California and Colorado.  In hopes of connecting with other environmentally-minded people in KC, she started a small group that met at a tea shop in Westport.  That same year, while in San Francisco for a green building conference, she was introduced to Green Drinks International.

Back in Kansas City, Beau found Laura's environmental group through the meetup.com site and came to their casual meeting one evening.   They talked about Beau's interest in starting a Green Drinks chapter and how they could merge Laura's existing, small group with Beau's new Green Drinks venture.

While Beau has since moved to Colorado, Laura is still an active organizer along with Dan Wancura.  Several people have contributed to this group's growth and success since 2006. Past organizers include: Jim Horlacher, Kelly Gilbert, Season Burnett, Dayna McDaniel, Cynthia McKay, and Annie Latham among others throughout the environmental community in Kansas City.  We all work together to provide connection for like-minded people and environmental education in Kansas City.

History of Green Drinks International:

In 1989, at a pub called the Slug and Lettuce in Northern London, Edwin Datschefski was sitting with his green design colleagues Yorick Benjamin and Paul Scott when he noticed an enviro-minded acquaintance at a nearby table. As it turned out, the friend was sitting with a few of his own eco-conscious mates, so they pulled some tables together. And so a movement was born. The concept evolved into Green Drinks and now it’s global. In 2001, Datschefski created an official Web site, and it has since spread across the world. See www.greendrinks.org for the latest city count and a list of countries.

We hope you join us for a Green Drinks gathering soon!

Cheers!