Step It Up 2007

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Event Report

Step It Up Worcester, with a Green Up

Worcester, MA

April 14, 2007

Watch A Slideshow of Pictures From This Event

For full size pictures click on any picture below.

By:Richard Kerver

After months of organizing work, the crew pulls off a most excellent event!

Some of the 800 plus folks who came out, on the bridge over Elm Park Pond

By:Marty

The weather held out for us on this momentous day. Over 800 people gathered at the historic Elm Park in Worcester, to join the national movement with a festive celebration and call to action. It was a landmark event for Worcester, giving community members, students, and citizen-activists hope for a real and local mobilization against climate change.

We enjoyed a day of music, speakers, vegan food and convention-style tables, showcasing the broad network of businesses, organizations,and other groups concerned with sustainability issues, including local environmental and social justice groups, renewable energy providers, a veggie-oil co-op and diet change advocates.

During the day , several dozen attendees signed up for the GreenUp program, a green energy option provided by NationalGrid. The funds provided by a matching-grant program will fund Worcester's Climate Action Plan.

Attendees at SIU Worcester cram onto the historic Elm Park Bridge, shouting "Green Up!"

folks from ClarkU represent

bikes!

By:Marian Hazzard

Information booths, music, food

Two hybrids and their people in Grafton, MA

By:Chris Banker

Photos from Step It Up 2007 in Worcester

Two volunteers serving free samples of vegan ice cream to attendees.

A Worcester college student offers information about vegetable oil powered cars, the Worcester Vegetable Oil Cooperative and his experiences with converting cars for himself and friends.

A group of cyclists ride from the Stone Soup Communuity Center to Step It Up as part of a Critical Mass ride.

Soul Movement performing

By:Chris Banker

More photos from Step It Up 2007 in Worcester

Sunta Africa brings some Soul to the Step It Up Movement

Afro-DZ-ak of Soul Movement adds some melody with his trumpet.

Sarah G of Soul Movement plays some smooth flute melodies.

and then picks up her guitar and rocks out.

By:Chris Banker

More photos.

Mojo Carcia of Soul Movement groovin' on guitar.

Tim Burden (Soul Movement) keeps the beat.

Luke Bass laying down the bassline.

Afro-DZ-ak assists on the vocals.

By:Chris Banker

Photos of The Bee's Knees.

Ed Barnett, lead guitar/vocals
John Donovan, bass/vocals
Joe Giotta, drums/vocals
Michael Thibodeau, rhythm guitar/vocals

The Bee's Knees take the stage and rock the crowd.

By:Chris Banker

Photos of the Worceser Country All-Stars

The Worcester Country All-Stars showcase their bluegrass style

And get the crowd dancing.

By:Chris Banker

More event photos

A cyclist parks his bike at the "Bicycle Valet Parking", provided by Worcester Earn-a-Bike, a community bike shop.

A couple sits down to enjoy a tasty vegan meal provided by Quan Yin Restaurant.

Worcester college students representing The Consortium of United Students (COUS-COUS), an organization uniting social activism groups at colleges throughout Worcester.

An Earn-a-Bike volunteer explains the philosophy of the program and how people can get involved.

By:Chris Banker

More photos

Student volunteers helping to tie-dye Step It Up t-shirts.

Quan Yin Restaurant of Worcester advocates a vegan lifestyle by providing outstanding vegan meals. You wouldn't believe the shrimp or chicken are not meat.

Event organizer Marty Driggs of Worcester (left) talks with another volunteer.

Worcester Mayor Konstantina Lukes gives a speach on global warming and what we as individuals and a city can do to help.

By:Christina Triplett

The Worcester Vegan Society presented information on veganism and the ties between meat consumption and global warming.

The Worcester Vegan Society presented information on veganism and the ties between meat consumption and global warming.

Co-founder Christina works the Worcester Vegan Society table (her dog Roxy helped of course ;)

Co-founder Stephen works the Worcester Vegan Society table. He also worked the Expose Exxon/free soy ice cream table.

By:Richard Kerver

After months of organizing work, the crew pulls off a most excellent event!

By:Jan K.

Mass Audubon co-sponsored the Step It Up event at Elm Hill Park in Worcester, MA. They helped create environmental awareness by hosting fun hand-on activities for families, such as making animal track plaster molds.

Mass Audubon's Broad Meadow Brook natural history instructor Claire Breyton (left) assists with making animal track plaster molds.