Presentation by Sea Islands 2050 to the Beaufort County Association of Realtors on August 28, 2012. “building bridges toward comprehensive community” Sea Islands 2050 is a start-up nonprofit organization, started as a citizen action group and founded by President, retired Marine Colonel Mark Mykleby, and Vice President, real estate developer Bob Turner, good friends and longtime residents of the sea islands. In 2010, Mark was working at the Pentagon as a special strategist for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mullen in developing a strategic narrative on sustainability as a national defense imperative, while Bob was monitoring trends as a nationally-recognized leader in New Urbanist principles and sustainable real estate development. With these backgrounds, they would often discuss the future of the sea islands community with concern for its longterm vision, seeing the same problems here at home as those they were addressing at a national level. They chose to take action, gathering a diverse group of professionals from the area: local non-profit leaders and county school district administrators, Chamber of Commerce members and military representatives, private fishermen and DNR officials. The group began a series of monthly meetings with roundtable discussion of the many aspects of the sustainability of the sea island region. Over 18 months of meetings, the group came to find that most times, the longterm vision for the community was something they could all reliably agree on. The need for a formal organization, charged to work toward this sustainable vision, became clear and so Sea Islands 2050 was born. The leaders chose 3 sectors to launch their pilot initiatives: energy, food, and education. From these, the SmartGrid System and Innovation Institute, the Sea Islands Sustainable Community Food System, and the Sea Islands Community Empowerment Program are underway, and additional initiatives in transportation, economic growth, natural resources, and more are being developed. Sea Islands 2050 works with the leaders of our community and the experts in their fields to create meaningful changes that will systematically improve the sustainability of our region, so that the sea islands might be a national model of sustainability by the year 2050. The mission of Sea Islands 2050 is to develop, advocate, and implement the goals and supporting strategies needed to achieve full-spectrum sustainability. Partnering with local organizations, parallel initiatives, key stakeholders, and fellow communities, Sea Islands 2050 cultivates collective investment in a common vision, focusing on the critical environmental, social, and economic issues impacting the long-term potential of our region and its citizens, present and future.

1. THE VA ST P OS SI BILI TIE S OF
O U R G R E AT F U T U R E
WILL BECOME REALITIES
・ only・
IF WE MAKE OURSE LVE S
RESPON SI BLE
FOR THAT FUTURE.
~ G i f f o r d P i n c h o t , 1 s t C h i e f o f t h e U . S . F o r e s t S e r v i c e a n d 2 8 t h G o v e r n o r o f Pe n n s y l v a n i a
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2. ・original participants・
BEaufort 2050 c. 2009 - 2011
Al Segars, D.V.M. Fred Leyda, Human Services Director
Alison Thomas, Chairperson: Riverview Charter School Garrett Budds, Director Land Protection: Beaufort CountyOpen Land Trust
Allen Patterson, President: Beaufort Home Builders Association Janet Gresham, CEO Beaufort County Association of Realtors
Anthony Baxter, Educational Consultant James Glasson, Director Human Services: USCB
Bob Turner, President: Habersham Land Companies Jon Rembold, Ward Edwards Engineering
Bob Guinn Kim Statler, President: Lowcountry Economic Network Alliance
Carlotta Ungaro, President: Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce Lolita Watson, Beaufort County Human Service Alliance
Chief Alagba Olaitan, Oyotunji African Village Madilyn Fletcher, University of South Carolina
Deborah Riley, Regional Coordinator Catholic Charities Mark Mykleby, National Security Expert
Demetri Baches, Managing Director: DPZpacific Pat O’Neal, Brigadier General US Army Ret.
Frank Roberts, Ret. Police Detective, Mariculture Farmer Ross Roberts, USMC Ret.
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3. ・mission statement・
Sea Islands 2050
The mission of Sea Islands 2050 is to develop, advocate, and
implement the goals and supporting strategies needed to achieve
full-spectrum sustainability. Partnering with local organizations,
parallel initiatives, key stakeholders, and fellow communities, Sea
Islands 2050 cultivates collective investment in a common vision,
focusing on the critical environmental, social, and economic issues
impacting the long-term potential of our region and its citizens,
present and future.
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4. ・vision statement・
“We envision the Sea Islands as a model of sustainability
by the year 2050, a place where 100,000 families can live
happier and healthier lives through sustainable growth.”
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5. ・from The New America Foundation・
Full-spectrum Sustainability
• creating a v ibrant local economy and genuine prosperity
• addressing global climate change
• using resources within sensible limits
• protecting ecosystems
• restoring and conserv ing ecosystem serv ices
• securing social and env ironmental justice
• grounding local action in env ironmental literacy
• building resilience
• engaging citizens
• protecting public health and welfare
• contributing to local and national security
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6. why sustainability?
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7. why the beaufort county association of realtors?
Currently:
22,087 unbuilt parcels, 15,708 vacant parcels
in Beaufort County
credit: At 2,800/yr new migration growth (average 2001-2009),
Lowcountry Economic Alliance ~ a decade of capacity.
Lowcountry Economic Assessment Final Report, October 15, 2011 source: Beaufort County Stormwater Manager Dan Ahern
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8. ・our immediate areas of impact・
Energy
education Food
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9. ・how to help・
Get involved!
• participate as a member in Sea Islands 2050
• support Sea Islands 2050’s work in the community
• partner with Sea Islands 2050 on an initiative
• connect Sea Islands 2050 with those who can help
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10. Sea Islands 2050
・building bridges toward comprehensive community・
follow us at:
www.seaislands2050.org
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