Nonprofit Closing After 18 Years Championing Environmentalism In Anne Arundel County

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Environmental nonprofit Annapolis Green will close at the end of the year.

Founded in 2006, the group was known for its Green Drinks cocktail hours discussing eco-friendly causes. The organization also held a weekly radio show and an annual electrical vehicle expo. The environmentalists additionally lobbied for plastic reduction by converting dozens of restaurants to sustainable straws and utilizing refillable water bottle stations.

"Annapolis Green has motivated residents, organizations, and businesses to stand up for Nature with formidable initiatives that Informed, inspired, and incited real change," Co-Founders Elvia Thompson and Lynne Forsman said in a Wednesday newsletter announcing their forthcoming closure. "As we reflect on the organization’s evolution from a passion project to a cornerstone of the local environmental movement, we can’t help but feel bittersweet to say… good-bye."

Unsustainable funding brought an end to Annapolis Green, but leaders hope to transition their signature events to other organizations.

"While your generous contributions and the grants we received sustained us for many years, we always struggled with funding even though we were successful at obtaining grants," Thompson and Forsman said. "We did not garner the level of support from the public and our local government to make our organization sustainable. We now aim to transition our impactful programs to new homes so that Annapolis Green’s legacy can continue!"

Annapolis Green, located at 92 Maryland Ave., said it "moved the needle on environmental sustainability."

"We are tremendously grateful to our dedicated volunteers, supporters, sponsors, and donors," Thompson and Forsman said. "None of the deep inroads we’ve made would have been paved without you."

Thompson and Forsman said Annapolis Green.

• "Brought together eco-minded people throughout the Greater Annapolis environmental and business communities to get to know one another, collaborate, and learn about critical issues at Green Drinks Annapolis

• "Educated drivers since 2012 on the environmental and financial benefits of electric vehicles at our annual Kick Gas Annapolis EV shows

• "Started with a Straw as our Don’t Suck, #Sip Responsibly initial plastic reduction campaign engaging more than 30 local restaurants to replace petroleum-based plastic straws with alternatives made from paper or plants

• "Partnered with the City of Annapolis to create Plastic Free Annapolis, an initiative designed to educate and support residents and businesses about how to significantly reduce their use of plastic products by replacing them with reusable and compostable alternatives

• "Deployed our NAPTOWN TAP outdoor portable water refill stations starting in 2017 to eliminate thousands of single-use plastic water bottles, hitting a record each year with 2024’s totals equaling the equivalent of 24, 902 bottles at over 72 events at many locations. They are our sponsor-branded Billboards with Benefits

• "Brought sustainable events to our community as The Green REF (Responsible Events & Festivals), now Bay Responsible Zero Waste Events. Starting with Red Right Recycle at the Annapolis Boat Shows in 2013 to our record-setting Zero-Waste Annapolis Rotary Crab Feast, composting more than 15 tons of organic material otherwise destined for landfill! Through the years we assisted many partners in accomplishing Zero-Waste events and will wrap up 2024 with a Win for Sustainability at the Military Bowl

• "Initiated Butt it’s Plastic to draw attention to cigarette litter waste. This led to No Butts in the Bay encouraging the disposal of plastic-laden cigarette butts in any of the 15 branded receptacles we helped obtain and install throughout the City of Annapolis

• "Provided ongoing opportunities for residents to recycle everything from holiday lights to wine corks, giving these a second life as a different product

• "Launched Here We Grow, an initiative designed to encourage people to connect with Nature by installing or updating home gardens to provide beauty, food, and pollinator habitat

• "Hosted a weekly radio show, Living Green on WNAV, informing and educating listeners on key environmental issues affecting our community

• "Provided the community with the only local, comprehensive environmental events calendar

• "Formed Green Reads, a book club about the environment, that sparked intellectual conversations about a wide range of global issues

• "Provided legislative testimony at the state and local level and op-ed pieces for publications about environmental issues

• "Gave our community a home for environmental action at the Annapolis Green House on historic Maryland Avenue (Home for Beautiful and Delicious, Christmas Crab and Pumpkin Spice Compost!)"

Thompson and Forsman said they "were a unique pairing." Forsman had a "hospitality background and steady green cheerleading" that "brought enthusiasm, creativity, and a knack for making greening fun." Thompson "brought the environmental know-how, institutional knowledge, and background in marketing, writing, and design to capture our countless undertakings!"

"Tilly Coyle was our ideal leader this past year, contributing her knowledge, style, and refreshing ideas to our communications and programming," Thompson and Forsman said of their executive director. "Her energy and dedication were appreciated and enjoyed, helping make this final year such a great one."

The final Green Drinks is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Graduate Hotel's Trophy Room.

"A dear friend described Annapolis Green as 'the conscience of the community,'" Thompson and Forsman said. "We hope those words will serve as the organization’s legacy, empowering us all to continue the powerful momentum we achieved toward becoming a more responsible, environmentally sustainable, and thriving community."