About COA
Change of Atmosphere (COA) is a non-profit organization devoted to human awareness and positive planetary change.
Mission:
Our mission is to educate, establish, and empower community with the tools and vision required to build sustainable societies. Utilizing festivals, events, bio-fuel educational tours, and multimedia presentations, Change of Atmosphere is working to re-establish the pioneering spirit of American culture through the concepts of sustainability.
COA is a project of the Foundation for Global Sustainability.
COA focuses primarily on education towards sustainability as it relates to bioregional applications of energy and food systems. Our modern industrial society has centralized our production of food and energy. This undoubtedly has lead to many great achievements and the abundant possibility of the 21st century. Inevitably, with every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Not only are the current centralized systems a burden on our natural world, they also have severed our connection to the natural world.
Vision
Change of Atmosphere is grounded in a vision of the world abundant with peace, harmony and co-existence. COA believes we all have the ability to understand the interconnection of the world through every breath and choice. COA believes the ingenuity and pioneering spirit of humanity will, in our lifetime, break the ideals of greed, violence and irresponsibility that have riddled our history. Our beliefs are driven by our Sustainability Code of Ethics which are grounded in equality for all species of today and the future.
Sustainability Code of Ethics
- A cooperation and mutual respect for all living things
- A desire to improve the current condition and direction of human society, re-directing our society's energy and values towards community and planet
- Lead by example; teach others about the importance of a healthy planet as it relates to the health and well being of individuals, communities and future generations
- A commitment to alternative energy and transportation methods
- A commitment to food systems and products that are organic, local, and free of GMO's, hydrogenated oils, hormones, antibiotics and pesticides
- A focus on developing communities towards bioregionalism and utilizing local resources wherever possible
- A commitment to support fair trade/living wage conditions
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History
Change of Atmosphere (COA) represents the collective and combined effort of many people from across the world. COA exists because of the perseverance and dedication these individuals have offered directly and indirectly over the course of the last 10 years. All have contributed and offered their own piece to the organization, and COA is immensely grateful.
The very early beginnings of Change of Atmosphere (COA) can be traced to Rollins College in 2000. Here, some of the first collaborations, events, and community education occurred between COA staff then working together as Eco-Rollins. While the understanding of education for sustainability in community events was just being realized, the organization of COA for the next several years incubated as an idea and conversation.
Within these incubation years, COA members individually experienced various forms of education and entertainment which helped to develop and hone the foundation of COA’s innovative and creative approach to education for sustainability. Such experiences include cross-country education tours, student organizing, children’s theatre, inner-city environmental education, community workshops, and issue focused outreach.
In June of 2006, new energy and inspiration brought COA to life as a formal project of the Foundation for Global Sustainability (FGS) based in Knoxville, TN. As a project of FGS, Change of Atmosphere has been privileged to provide educational support and programs at the following events:
Summer 2007
Langerado, Sunrise, FL
Virgin Festival, Baltimore, MD
Gathering of the Vibes, Bridgeport, CT
Echo Project, Atlanta, GA
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Meet the Team
James Gooch holds a BA from Rollins College in Environmental Studies and a minor in Sustainable Development with field research in Costa Rica, Peru, and England. Since college, James has worked with a variety of organizations on a full range of environmental issues – as a community organizer with TN Clean Water Network, a research analyst and outreach coordinator with Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and since 2003 as a scientist with the Clean Air Task Force, developing air quality monitoring studies to support public health initiatives for communities across the country. James is on the board of directors for the Foundation for Global Sustainability in Knoxville, TN and the OCEANS Scholarship Foundation in Cocoa Beach, Florida. James has been the Solar Stage manager at Bonnaroo 2006 and 2007 and was co-organizer of Change of Atmosphere’s inaugural (2007) summer. Currently, James works to develop Change of Atmosphere as a creative and educational organization.
Jill Franklin holds a BA from Rollins College in Environmental Studies and Theatre Arts, and has Sustainable Development field research experience in Dominica and Peru. As a tour actor/ director with Missoula Children’s Theatre, Jill traveled the globe for two and a half years promoting the development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts. Then after hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, Jill became a community organizer with Environment Georgia, and soon after a student organizer with New Hampshire Public Interest Research Group and Environment New Hampshire. Jill worked as the assistant PlanetRoo Coordinator at Bonnaroo 2007 and was co-organizer of Change of Atmosphere’s inaugural (2007) summer. Currently, Jill is a project coordinator for Change of Atmosphere and looks for exciting and innovative ways to promote sustainability through experiential learning.
Nick Algee is appreciated in the grassroots community for his strategic thinking, creative networking and boundless energy. Nick is co-founder of both Energy Action Coalition and Southern Energy Network, efforts aimed at empowering the student clean energy movement, where his work played a principle role in the development of both organizations. He recently left his position as Director of Community Relations for Renewable Choice Energy where he helped the company through a crucial growth period by expanding the company’s marketing reach, residential program, product development, and maintained client relations with key partners such as Whole Foods Market and Vail Resorts, the nations top 100% wind power purchasers. For six years Nick has also played a key role in the development of PlanetRoo, the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival’s eco-focused area, increasing his participation from year to year. Nick also sits on the Board of Advisors for Our Future Now.
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Board of Advisors
Coming soon!!
Foundation for Global Sustainability
The Foundation for Global Sustainability is Change of Atmosphere's fiscal agent. The Foundation for Global Sustainability has helped to incubate a host of prominent grassroots organizations such as: Hellbender Press, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project, and Tennessee Clean Water Network.
