[Dialogue] “How do we assist in accelerating sustainability in every community around where we live?”

[Karen Snyder]

What if the question of our time is “How do we assist in accelerating sustainability in every community around where we live?”  Here is a summary of the journey of working with colleagues in Chicago to answer this question – colleagues new and old, colleagues in non-profit organizations, public agenices and for-profit companies, colleagues young and old.  Participating in the journey to date, the following comes to mind.

In this century at the ICA office in Chicago, sustainability has surfaced as important for the future direction of ICA services.  Intriguing stories surfaced about global movements where people have been engaged for five to forty years in rethinking community to include the earth and all its resources, plants, animals and mineral life (e.g., Transition Movement, Global Village Movement, Natural Step).  As we considered creating yet another demonstration of community in Uptown, simultaneously we asked ourselves what would it take to create demonstrations in every community of Chicago, applying to Transition US to be recognized as Transition Chicago (listed as #83 of 119 official Transition US initiatives – see http://transitionus.org). 

The story evolved as we began talking with people across the city, asking them to identify sustainable initiatives that they are a part of or know about.  It quickly became clear that a remarkable revolution of change and empowerment is happening, often unrecognized within the community or even the people actually engaged in the initiative and below the media radar.  We found that instead of doing another demonstration, what was needed was to ‘listen and learn’ what is going on, assist in highlighting success that is already present, and then discern roles needed to help in acceleration. It could be said that all Chicago communities are already in transition towards a new future.  

The year-long Identifying Phase of ‘listening and learning’ began last summer as student interns from Oklahoma City University documented two communities.  In the fall a professor at DePaul University involved his two classes (55 students) in researching sustainable initiatives in fifteen communities.  By January five other Chicago universities had 150 students researching 38 communities.  This summer forty students from six Chicago universities, three community colleges, and eight national universities have spent the last seven weeks collecting information from the remaining 22 Chicago communities. 

Tomorrow is the launch of the Connection Phase, an exciting time of inviting community people engaged in sustainable initiatives to participate in acceleration through highlighting their achievements, sharing, networking and participating in the September 15th Sharing Approaches that Work event in Chicago.  After the Share Fair, the Engaging Phase will focus on the question of acceleration.

What have we learned? 500 sustainable initiatives were identified by June 1st with yet another 500 since identified or yet undiscovered.  Community gardens are cropping up everywhere.  New LEED certified buildings (police, fire stations, schools, homes) have been built – or retrofitted.  Businesses are changing their practices to be more energy efficient, more resourceful.  Restaurants are being recognized for being ‘green’ as they provide healthier food choices.  Schools are creating curriculums that teach children – who teach their parents – about sustainability. Youth grow and sell food they raise, create and lead workshops in eating healthy.   Incredible blessings for the future are hidden like gems for those who have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, the questions to ask, and the answers remembered!

The youth through elders engaged in identifying and connecting initiatives  work out of the ICA building where people are dreaming about what it will look for the building to be off the grid by 2020.  In the past colleagues added energy efficient windows, a ‘green’ bricked parking lot, and transformed the Lumumba Room into a green space.   In 2012 six wind turbines are being added to the roof, sensor lighting has been added throughout the building, the second story roof has been resurfaced to be ‘green’, a new kitchen creates community spirit, and food is being grown in the kitchen greenhouse and conference room window.  The building serves as one of the Uptown community's sustainable initiatives.

Personally I am joy-filled as I participate in this work.  While on a learning curve, I am in the midst of unlearning much of the past.  As a facilitator, I am learning to use less paper and fewer procedures while being challenged to use more visuals and tell motivating stories.  I am impatient with my personal slow change in habits to make a smaller earth footprint (e.g., when asked at the grocery store, “Do you want paper or plastic?” I again agonize knowing I want neither – but the bags I brought for bagging are in the car!)  The student interns visiting communities when it is 100 degrees are an inspiration in their intelligence and commitment to this work.  There is a sense of being surrounded by Those Who Care.    

This is all to say that I perceive that just as important as raising the ‘right’ question(s) for our time is to reveal where the question is already abundantly being answered - as well as tell how we are participating in creative and significant responses to it.  Some researchers say that the best way to change hearts and change behavior is to point to what is possible!

Peace, 

Karen
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