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

[Phyllis Hockley]

Sounds like a plan we can all use to take a look at happenings in our 
communities. And a very hope filled adventure. Many thanks for sharing 
this, Karen.


At 03:47 PM 7/8/2012 -0500, you wrote:

>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. 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>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.th 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.  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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