Philanthropist, activist, educator
www.lauraseydel.com  

Baking soda cleans carpets. Lemon juice washes windows. And warm, wonderful sunshine whitens linens better than bleach. Surprised? You’re not alone. Luckily Laura Turner Seydel will tell you it’s never too late to turn in your toxins. A life-long environmental activist and eco-living expert, Laura’s infectious passion for taking care of our planet has inspired people all over the globe to recycle, ride bikes and re-invent themselves as environmentally conscious consumers.

At last, composting coffee grounds is catching on, but Laura has been part of an eco-friendly family all along. She was taught to conserve energy, waste nothing and respect and care for our world, values she never out-grew. She is now dedicated to raising awareness and promoting sustainability. Her credits include Chairman of the Captain Planet Foundation, Co-Founder of the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Fund, Co-Founder of Mothers and Others for Clean Air, and the recently launched Web site www.lauraseydel.com. Laura’s home, aptly dubbed EcoManor , sports soy-based insulation, pressed hay cabinets, and is LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). You go green girl!
To meet Laura Turner Seydel in person and learn more, attend the Ladies Who Launch Event in Atlanta on  Thursday, November 13. Register now.

What we learned from Laura: Making a difference doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It’s essential that we all help in some way. We have a responsibility to future generations to take care of this planet.

Bio Baby

When I was young we composted, picked up trash, recycled. During the oil embargo in the 70’s my dad was very patriotic about following President Carter’s call to conserve. We walked to school. My dad, Ted Turner, drove a small used Toyota. Talk about setting an example!

Passion or Fashion?

When I graduated from college I interned with Greenpeace. It was a wonderful learning experience but I had worked in retail in college and I thought that was more glamorous. From 1987-1995 I owned my own retail store but was ultimately unfulfilled. Even before I left retail I joined the Georgia Conservancy. I also took a leadership role in my dad’s Turner Foundation, helping fund non-profits across the country. I was right on the pulse of the environmental community.

Laura, 1; Pollution, 0

One of my first projects at the Georgia Conservancy was to champion The Chattahoochee River which was being decimated by the city of Atlanta. They were pumping in partially treated sewage that was being sent down stream. With a seed grant from the Turner Foundation we founded the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers in 1993 and successfully sued the city of Atlanta in 1994, setting national precedent.

Learning By Doing

I’m on the League of Conservation Voters Board. I make sure our elected officials are committed to the environment and are held accountable for their decisions. I don’t think a lot of people, even legislators, realize how serious these issues are. I’ve also been the Board Chairman of the Captain Planet Foundation since 2001. We make small grants for hands-on kids’ projects – restoring wetlands, planting trees, coming up with recycling initiatives, things that have long-term benefits. We’re creating environmental stewards. They’re learning how to care for their world.

Next >>