SEA EcoSuite in St. John, Virgin Islands
Interview with Angela D. Coleman, Founder of Sisterhood Agenda, Inc. and award-winning social entrepreneur, blogger, and published author.

The Grand Opening of the Sisterhood Empowerment Academy (SEA) Headquarters, located in St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands, welcomed local residents, project advisors, community advocates, and supporters on Friday, August 18, 2017. SEA is a nonprofit organization focused on uniting women and girls around the globe to a centralized place of knowledge, healing, support, and self-determination, The opening marked the completion of the 1,680 square feet facility, and the end of the two year process to complete the permaculture design and green construction - comparable to LEED certification or equivalent standards. The design includes sustainable features and natural inspired architecture; located steps from the the Caribbean Sea with great views and sea breeze, constructed with premier local building materials, consist of a salvaged shipping container in its building structural frame, etc. The facility is built out with interior/exterior meeting rooms, multimedia center, library, two rentable eco-suites, and an outdoor organic garden. The donated building materials, such as the windows and doors, and locally purchased buildings materials (which avoided transportation cost) contributed to the reduction of overall development cost for this building project. SEA facility is a model of affordable and sustainable development within its location.
Q: How will the SEA facility contribute to your Sisterhood Empowerment Agenda programming?
The facility provides an intimate setting to conduct training sessions, and provide support and direct services to global partners. The multimedia center will help facilitate enhanced online communication and online meetings. The space is available for girls and women to gather, and embody health, healing, grace, power, growth, self development, and beauty; it’s important to have a space to embrace who you are. The SEA program has identified resources for development such as the sister circle, camp, and wellness activities. SEA products are also available for sale on the website - oils, soaps, herbal bath teas, and published works. It will be interesting to see how people will be inspired visually by being in proximity to a body of water, and experience the healing properties of the sea at the SEA.


Q: What are the sustainable features of the facility?
The facility consist of sustainable features in the building materials and systems, water collection and use, energy, and site location. Building materials such as the windows and doors were donated, other building components were assembled from salvaged materials such as cabinets, pavers, wood, railings, mats, and chairs, and the structure includes a salvaged 40’ shipping container. Only local building materials were used. Other eco-friendly materials include low VOC paint from Sherwin Williams, and PVC shower curtains. Two large cisterns with a built in UV filter and sedimentation system are used to collect rainwater for laundry, shower, faucet, toilet and garden use. Porch lighting, water heating, and interior lighting is powered by solar energy. All appliances are Energy Star certified. The facility’s proximity to the sea allows for trade breeze to flow through the windows and for natural ventilation, minimizing the use of conditioned air. The site is also located walking distance to Cruz Bay Beach and Frank Bay Beach. There were minimal disturbances to the natural landscape in constructing the building; and native plants were planted along the perimeter of the site along with an organic fruit, vegetable and herb garden.


Q: How much was saved in building the facility after cost savings from donations?
About 70%; the donated building materials significantly reduced our construction budget. Most of our expenses were in the cost of labor.
Q: Explain the relationship between the SEA program and the Healing Trifecta - sea, air and sun?
According to research and confirmation from health professionals, there are health benefits from the tranquil ocean, fresh air, and the warm sun - the Healing Trifecta. I believe the SEA, through its programs and building attributes, has a comparable effect; inspiring women wellness and personal healing.


Q: SEA has been selected as the 2017 recipient of the Energy Globe Award. Congratulations on the project’s success! In what category is the SEA project being recognized for?
The SEA facility is awarded for The Energy Globe Award, a prestigious environmental award, for innovative sustainable building practices. It is awarded annually to new sustainable projects that focus on energy efficiency, renewable energies, resource planning, youth initiatives and other environmental issues. The awards for these many projects are presented in their recipients’ individual countries in cooperation with its partners. Sisterhood Agenda is internationally recognized for its eco headquarters, the SEA: Sisterhood Empowerment Academy on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.