Caught Green Handed: Jim Gordon

Published November 4, 2020

The fourth winner of the Caught Green Handed initiative is Jim Gordon, Applications Programmer Analyst for University Libraries.

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Jim Gordon.

Jim was nominated by Don Erb, Director of Sustainable Operations Integration for UB Sustainability.

Don says:

"Jim is very involved in the community and volunteers his time on both UB and WNY Projects. He is an active member of the PSS Sustainable Living Committee and chairs its subcommittee on Alternative Transportation. Jim cares about people. He wants everyone he knows or doesn't know to not just survive but thrive.

In one of his most recent projects Jim will be working with others to create a video for non English Speakers on how to use alternative transportation. The video will be visual only in order to not rely on spoken words that the viewer will not understand. This project beautifully marries the three spheres of the triple bottom line of sustainability. By evening the transportation playing field for new arrivals to our country Jim's target audience can get to work or seek medical care satisfying both the economic sphere and the social sphere subcategory of wellness. The use of alternative transportation is near and dear to Jim's heart and here he and his colleagues explain how the user will help themselves but also help the planet."

Jim explains what being green means to him:

"This project matters to me on many levels. I think Buffalo thrives on immigration, equity, and inclusion. Buffalo’s history includes waves of immigrants, including my grandparents. My grandparents did not read or write English. My mother was fond of telling my sister and me about my grandmother who asked a bus driver if she was boarding the bus to downtown. The driver pointed to the destination header and said, “Yes. Can’t you read?” My grandmother replied, “NO!”

Today, thousands of fresh immigrants to Buffalo from Somalia, Nepal, Burma and other countries face the same barriers. They need assistance learning how to get from refugee shelters and their homes to doctors and other destinations. Translators are not always available. I am lucky to be able to provide assistance in this way."