On September 21, Sun Day, an event dedicated to advocating for a clean environment and renewable energy investments, is going to be held at Fuller Park by the Keene Recreation Center. Running from 1-4 p.m., the event is being hosted by Third Act NH, Clean Energy Team and Monadnock Sustainability Hub.
The event will include both hands-on activities for attendees to participate in, music, a parade and speakers to promote action and protecting the planet.
Third Act, one of the main sponsors behind the event, seeks to engage with people specifically over the age of 60. According to its website, “We’re a community of Americans over sixty determined to change the world for the better. Third Act harnesses an unparalleled generational power to safeguard our climate and democracy.”
Beth Caldwell, a member of Third Act NH, shared the reasons why she finds the event to be important and a step in the right direction. She is also a part of the Clean Energy team which hosts “Climate Cafés” centered in the Keene Public Library.
“The main goal is to create a fun and educational event,” Caldwell said. “With speakers, music, art activities for all ages, a family-friendly parade, climate target, cornhole, and lots of other activities. And also tabling with resources from all sorts of people with different experiences around climate.
Caldwell also mentioned that climate advocates Cynthia Nichols and Rob Werner will be speaking at Sun Day.
Caldwell added, “BADGER, a local company that produces lip balms and sunscreens and all kinds of products,” will also be attending the event.
Caldwell also shared what specifically Third Act and she will be doing at the event.
“We’ll have a table for Third Act information to be passed out,” Caldwell said. “I will be at that table some of the time. At that table we’ll have posters and we’ll have information and be able to let people know what Third Act is doing nationally and locally.”
Caldwell described how she and her husband came to invest in clean energy.
“My husband and I own a small business a couple blocks from here [Keene],” Caldwell explained. “And in 2019, we decided to make a significant investment in solar. We put over two hundred solar panels on our roof. And we also put a ground mount solar array in the parking lot and as a result our solar installation has become a profit center for our business.”
“It turns out that it was a moral choice and a wise financial choice for our business,” Caldwell went on.
Caldwell expressed that she feels this is a good opportunity to educate the younger generation, adding how she had previously worked with KSC alum Chloe March, the former president of Eco-Reps, regarding voter registration efforts at Keene as one such example.
Caldwell reflected on her own experience with Third Act and protests that she has been a part of.
“My first rally was in March of 2023,” Caldwell said. “It was in Central Square, and 45 people showed up. The last rally that I organized was in early April. It was the Hands Off Our Democracy rally, and that was in Central Square, and we had over 2,000 people who showed up,”
Caldwell added that demonstrations are now held on a weekly basis.
Caldwell expressed why this issue is personally important to her and why she feels it is her mission to make her voice heard.
“We have an obligation to everybody who lives on this planet with us,” Caldwell said. “To do what we can, where we are, with what we have, and that’s what I’m trying to do. I think it’s important. Third Act got its name because if you look at your act as a three-act play, and my children are in their second act, then those of us who have passed age 60 are in the third act of our lives.” Caldwell went on, “And when you reach a certain age, most of us find themselves reflecting on what difference have I made with my life. What have my actions created or accomplished? Who have I helped? And I strongly believe that what we do is more important than what we say.”
Chloe Erno can be contacted at
cerno@kscequinox.com
