Jay Swoboda believes that building “green” homes is not only the right thing to do, it is sound business practice.
Swoboda, a 2002 graduate in Arts & Sciences, is an entrepreneur who is showing the St. Louis community a burgeoning market for green, modern, precision-built homes in urban neighborhoods.
Swoboda will talk about his experiences at 4 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Danforth University Center Room 276 in a program called “Gonzo Entrepreneurship: Creating Better Social Environments while Keeping a Roof over your Head.”
Caring deeply about homeless issues came early to Swoboda, whose experiences include creating a newspaper for homeless persons to sell for profit and directing the Homeless Empowerment Project.
He also worked for the regional Individual Development Account program and with Justine Petersen Housing.
Swoboda and alumnus Nate Forst make up two-thirds of EcoUrban Homes, and their mission is to change the landscape of the city.
One of EcoUrban’s three display models has received the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certified designation in St. Louis.
Equally important, EcoUrban homes are affordable and help preserve unique urban neighborhoods such as Benton Park West and Tower Grove East.
For more information on either of these Assembly Series programs, visit assemblyseries.wustl.edu or call 935-5285.