803: Brett Davis on Waste Prevention: Transforming Mardi Gras for a Sustainable Future

IN THE EPISODE

In this episode of The Impact Report, Bard MBA in Sustainability candidate Tricia Travis interviews Brett Davis, founding partner of the nonprofit Grounds Krewe. They discuss the environmental challenges of New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebration, including the 2.6 million pounds of litter generated annually. Davis explains Grounds Krewe's initiatives to make the festivities more sustainable, such as the Sustainable Throw Catalog and recycling programs. The conversation explores the economic and cultural complexities of changing Mardi Gras traditions, community engagement strategies, and signs of progress like one parade krewe banning plastic beads for 2025. Travis, who recently joined Grounds Krewe, shares her perspective on the organization's educational outreach and the positive response from youth. Host Renay Loper joins for a follow-up discussion, delving deeper into the cultural significance of Mardi Gras and the hopeful signs for a more sustainable future in New Orleans.

Bard’s Graduate Programs in Sustainability cultivate leaders who break through existing systems, innovating solutions to critical social, environmental and economic challenges. 2023 marked the 20th anniversary of the first graduating class from M.S. in Environmental Policy degree at Bard CEP and the 10th graduating class from the Bard MBA in Sustainability program. The 2024 graduating MS EP, MS CSP, MEd and MBA classes brought the Bard GPS alumni community to over 500!

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Brett Davis:

Brett Davis is the Founding Director of Grounds Krewe, a New Orleans based non-profit with a mission to lower the waste impact of the city’s many festivals and special events. His organization has a specific focus on transitioning the world’s largest free and unsponsored celebration, Mardi Gras, away from its overuse of imported, toxic, disposable plastic parade “throws” that are often neglected and create millions of pounds of unnecessary trash in his community's streets, storm drains and landfills.

Tricia Travis:

Tricia Travis was raised in New Orleans and attended Tulane University. Her passion for sustainability was sparked while living near the beach in Los Angeles, where she witnessed a daily influx of trash washing up on the shores. This experience, combined with her love for music festivals and Mardi Gras, inspired her to envision how a sustainable events culture in New Orleans might come to be. She is currently pursuing an MBA in Sustainability at Bard College. Outside of her professional endeavors, Tricia enjoys traveling, live music, yoga, soccer, and exploring nature.

Renay Loper: 

Renay is a Clinical Faculty in Organizational Leadership for the Bard MBA in Sustainability, where she focuses on JEDI Transformation in the workplace. Previously, she was the Vice President of Program Innovation at PYXERA Global where she served on the Executive Leadership Team, led five country offices, drove the development of new business and programs, co-led the organization's work on inclusive circular cities, and advised corporate clients on their social impact strategies. Renay also led the organization’s ARC (Antiracist Collective) initiatives, which included internal and external efforts toward dismantling unjust systems. To this end, Renay created Rhetoric to Action, a series of conversations to bridge sectors toward collective action around social and racial justice.

Prior to PYXERA Global, Renay led the grassroots exchange and education grant portfolio at the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership, and has served in a variety of leadership roles in higher education, nonprofit, and business prior to that. Renay is an avid speaker and facilitator, has authored and edited numerous publications, including a resource journal, Student Affairs Professionals Cultivating Campus Climates Inclusive of International Students (Jossey Bass). Renay serves on the board of directors of nonprofits including Community Change, Harpswell Foundation, and Girl Rising.