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

[mhampton at att.net]

thanks, John.

(Friends Meeting of Austin love it)

The photos are a great addition.

mary




________________________________
From: "jlepps at pc.jaring.my" <jlepps at pc.jaring.my>
To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Sun, July 8, 2012 5:08:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] “How do we assist in accelerating s ustainability in 
every community around where we live? ”

Great news, Karen.

This song struck me as a way to celebrate some of the new consciousness that is 
coming into being:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcG1JNpazN4

John

At 02:47 PM 7/8/2012, 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.  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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>Dialogue mailing list
>Dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net
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