Throughout Maurice Carter’s ties to Covington, one thing has remained steadfast – his passion for sustainability and the environment. Carter, who has been mindful of his impact on the planet “for as long as [he] can remember,” has been involved with Newton Trails since 2009 and Sustainable Newton, which he co-founded in 2018.

Carter has long considered himself an advocate for walking, bicycling, recycling, composting and energy efficiency. Growing up with an environmentalist lens in the 1970s, his sustainable habits progressed over the years, something he is passionate about sharing with others.

“I wish people could understand how small things add up to a big difference,” Carter said. “What those things are can be different for every individual. But, on a planet of eight billion people little changes matter. Just find one thing, incorporate that into your routine, and then find a next thing. It could be something as big as solar panels or an electric vehicle, but it could also just be wasting less food that ends up in the landfill or walking to the store instead of driving.” 

Carter’s involvement with Newton Trails began in 2009, 12 years after its establishment in 1997, as a result of the development of what is known today as the Cricket Frog Trail. He went on to serve as chairman of the Newton Trails board until 2013.

In 2018, Carter co-founded Sustainable Newton, a nonprofit organization that “drive[s] solution-oriented local responses to the global issues of climate change and sustainability.” 

He served as Sustainable Newton’s first president for three years due to term limits, but remains active as its current website and social media manager.

Carter served on the Washington Street Community Center’s board from 2009-2013 and continues to support the center’s work. He is currently a part of the board of directors for the statewide nonprofit, Georgia Bikes, which promotes biking and other modes of active transportation.

Carter and his wife, Kim, have been married for 41 years. Though the Carters never had children, their Boston terrier, Princess, has kept their hands and hearts full for the past 14 years. 

Outside of work, Carter’s hobbies include volunteering wherever he feels he can contribute and make a difference. He also enjoys self-supported bicycle touring. Some of his tours include biking from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC, Birmingham to Atlanta, Key West to Port St. Lucie and Buffalo to Albany. 

Despite living in Newton County for over 40 years, Carter still finds charm in the place he calls home.

“Covington has been a great place to get involved and to be connected with so many people… At the same time, though, as Covington has grown, I like that too,” Carter said. “We enjoy having dinner at the bar in City Pharmacy where we see lots of familiar faces, but also newcomers and visitors we get to meet and converse with. It’s fascinating to learn what brings people here and what they like about our community.”