Philly

“Ask Why Not”: How Saleem Chapman Motivated the Entire SustainPHL Room

Saleem Chapman, Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Sustainable Business Network, received the inaugural SustainPHL Local Advocate award on August 18th, 2016.

However, he pumped the crowd and motivated us to get off our tails and do something more than the ordinary:

“I wouldn’t be the advocate you have believed me to be if I didn’t take this opportunity to challenge us to push further, to expand the reach of our cause. Because our success is dependent not on the changing of minds of those in high office, but a critical mass of ordinary people committing themselves to extraordinary acts of courage. And there will be a certain amount of people who will doubt their capacity to bring about change and I tell you to tell them this: Continue to do what you’ve always done, to continue to dream more, to imagine something better, to think about what lies beyond the clouds of uncertainty because what will ultimately define us, what our path for equality demands is that we do not simply look at the way the world is and ask why but that we look at the way the world should be and ask why not.

Watch Saleem Chapman’s Full SustainPHL Speech:

Julie Hancher

Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake.

Recent Posts

Earth week: Winner of SBN’s Food Saver Challenge, Swarthmore’s Solar purchase & more

Read the latest sustainability news. Earth Day was Monday is every day, and was celebrated…

2 days ago

Four Ways to Improve Recycling in Philly

Recycling in Philly is broken. Here’s how Mayor Parker’s administration could fix it. Recycling in…

3 days ago

The EPA’s Efforts in Climate Action, Public Engagement, and Earth Month Initiatives

We sat down with Adam Ortiz, EPA's Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator to chat about transparency and…

1 week ago

Is My Recycling Being … Recycled?

Philadelphians' skepticism about the City’s waste policies has led to an abysmal recycling rate. Here’s…

2 weeks ago

City is driving more EVs, new PFAS regulations, car-free MLK is back!

Read the latest local sustainability news. Can you believe the solar eclipse was this past…

2 weeks ago

How to find a green job in 2024

With more companies embracing the triple bottom line, finding a career that matches your values…

3 weeks ago