Originally blogged by Bob Uva at Seeing the Forest AND the Trees"
I attended the first day of the Regional Innovation Forum 2009 held at the Portland Expo Center on Friday. A blog was created which has some videos and participant comments. I participated in the Social Innovations track which was led by Amy Pearl, Executive Director and co-founder of Springboard Innovation. The track was dedicated to exploring ways that individuals can make a difference in the world by creating innovative solutions to problems. Before going into the specific presentations and discussions held, I want to point out a technique that we were asked to use for introducing ourselves. In the style of her Native American tribe, Jolene Estimo of the Warm Springs reservation, introduced herself to the forum by briefly relating who her parents are and a bit about where they come from. We were asked to do the same in our introductions. I cannot underestimate the value of this technique. It not only opened people up, but added a sense of sacred-ness to our small group discussions.
Social Innovations Track - Morning Session
Amy Pearl got the Social Innovations track going with an inspiring introduction where she pointed out that we are the ones who are the social innovators. We didn't come to the forum to just listen and hear what 'other' people are doing. We came to be the change-makers ourselves. She then introduced two local social entrepreneurs/innovators: Shane Endicott, founder of Our United Villages, and Amy Sacks, founder of The Pixie Project.
Our United Villages can be thought of as a sustainable catalyst organization for community action. After witnessing crime and thoughtlessness in his Portland neighborhood, Shane got together with other neighbors to brainstorm solutions. He told about a kid, I'll call him Dave, who, when neighbors were asked about him, was described as someone to stay away from, always trouble. People seemed to know Dave, but no one seemed to really know about him. So they decided to approach him and ask what it is he would like if he could have anything. When he was approached with this question, Dave anwered "A million dollars, a motorcycle and braces." The neighborhood group knew that they couldn't give him the money, he was too young (fourteen I believe) for a motorcycle, but maybe they could raise the money for his braces. So they did that and a local orthodontist agreed to cut the price of the work from over $4,000 to an even $2,000. And he agreed to do the work even before they had raised all of the money!
Some time after getting the braces, Dave was seen walking down the street with some of his friends, when they approached a house where a woman was cleaning out her garage. Bicycles and other things were in the driveway. As they passed, Dave told the woman that if it wasn't for who she was (part of the neighborhood that had helped him get braces), he would have stolen the bicycles. Shane pointed out to us that although Dave had not been changed in some way, what they had done had changed his relationship with his neighbors. This eventually led to his starting Our United Villages.
An important element of Shane's organization is that it is sustainable. They do not operate on any grant money at all! Instead, he created The ReBuilding Center which salvages construction and remodeling materials donated to the organization. It is (from their website) "the largest non-profit waste-reduction facility (by volume) in North America, diverting 8 tons of reusable building materials from landfills each day." The funds generated from the Center are used to fund Our United Villages projects.
What really sold me on this organization, however, was Shane's statement about how everything they have learned is available to anyone to start community projects or even a rebuilding center in another city for free. He's not about making money off of this but about building a stronger community fabric in our world.
The next local speaker was Amy Sacks of The Pixie Project, an animal adoption center and non-profit pet supply store. Amy has been taking care of neglected animals since her college days and started The Pixie Project because of the large number of pets that are euthanized every year. She also had the idea to make the organization self-sustainable and the pet supply store is the primary funding vehicle for that goal. What I found particularly inspiring besides the great work she's doing for animals, is that she thought of partnering with Outside In, a Portland organization devoted to helping at-risk youth, kids who were or are living on the street. Outside In kids are learning business retailing by helping out in the Pixie Project pet store while some of the animals are watched in the Outside In's Virginia Woof doggy day-care center. Bringing together at-risk youth with at-risk animals! What a beautiful idea!
We concluded the morning session by having discussions at each table. At my table, among others I met Louie Piu of the Warm Springs Reservation, Barbara Gerke who twitters @futurenow, Larry Greene of Navigating Our Future. We didn't have much time to get into discussion after the personal introductions but one of the themes that did come out, and which was my inquiry for the discussion group, was how we can cross boundaries, whether they be socio-economic, ethnic, geographic, or other. This topic came up later in a discussion with others in the track and seemed to be of interest to a number of people. I brought it up because I see our American society changing drastically right now. President Obama has essentially laid down the gauntlet and stated that we must work together, across party lines, across all divisions. His reaching out to Iran, e.g., is so welcome after such a dry period in international relations. I can't help but recall the reaction I received in my own neighborhood when last year I went door-to-door handing out a brochure that I had carefully crafted to welcome neighbors to a "discussion course" on global warming. Based on the Discussion Course curriculum developed by the Northwest Earth Institute, I thought that this course would be a great way to engage my neighbors in meaningful discussions as well as give us a friendly place to meet and get to know each other. To my surprise, no one in the neighborhood responded! A couple had conflicts, but hey people, we're neighbors! This wasn't a Democrat vs. Republican thing, which one of my neighbors implied it was. I recall this because in some sense there is a significant privacy boundary that I was apparently trying to cross in getting my neighbors together to discuss global warming and what we each can do about it.
Social Innovations Track - Afternoon Session
The afternoon was where most of the really great discussion took place, although I must say that conversations I had throughout the day, from prior to the forum introduction until the train ride home, were fruitful and inspiring. Amy Pearl introduced several speakers to the Social Innovations session and each of those speakers then took their place at one one of the tables in the room, where we were allowed to go from table to table and participate in discussions and ask questions. This format turned out to be great! Getting a little introduction to the person and their organization or project was perfect for deciding where to spend my time. The afternoon was just like the morning: oriented toward discussion following inspiring presentation, with a lot more time allocated to discussion in the afternoon.
I spent most of my time at the Life By Design table led by it's Program Manager, Karen Shimada. This organization helps people in the latter half of life (us baby-boomers primarily) find their passion, design a plan to achieve their objectives and engage in the community. This approach is very appealing to many of us boomers who have been working for years to raise a family and/or grow in our profession and still feel a need to give back and become liberated from the dog-eat-dog world. At the table were a mix of very interesting people including Jim Newcomer, who has the idea of creating a cadre of experienced business people who can be brought in as consultants to get innovative ventures off the ground (I hope I'm characterizing this correctly!), Miriam Lange, a multi-talented coordinator, trainer and facilitator, an attorney whose name I failed to get who wants to bridge inter-generational communication, Matthew Spicer, an architect and old acquaintence who used to live in the same Massachusetts town as me and Beatrice Benne of ProjectDX, an innovative web-service-based tool for communities to manage sustainable resource usage.
One of the outcomes from this afternoon is that I will definitely be attending the Springboard Innovation Forum on April 8th at the Urban Grind Coffeehouse in NE Portland where there will be presentations and discussions about online tools for social innovation. Randy White, creator of BrightNeighbor.com, will I believe be one of the presenters. Although Randy spoke in the Social Innovations track, I didn't get a chance to sit at his table and talk with him, so that's something I'm looking forward to doing on April 8th.
Following up with Life By Design is another one of my outcomes. I'm intrigued about working with this organization that wants to capture the excitement of baby boomers to give back to the world. With my own experience in software development and training, I believe there are innovative ways in which I can use my skills and interests to make a difference.
I also talked with Laura Peterson, founder and Executive Director of Hands To Hearts International, an organization, from their website, "dedicated to improving the health and well-being of orphaned and vulnerable children and economically-disadvantaged women around the globe." I spoke of what Amon Munyaneza and the Africa Mission Alliance is planning on accomplishing with Hope Village in Rwanda. There seemed to be a lot of synergy between these two organizations and I pointed Laura to the AMA website for further information.
Stephen Schneider Presentation
In the evening, after walking the floor of the Better Living Show, I was rewarded for staying around by hearing the renowned climatologist, Dr. Stephen Schneider of Stanford University speak. What a joy it was to listen to someone who was a joint recipient for the Nobel Peace Prize along with the other authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). His message was that we must continue grassroots and civic involvement to push for greater regulations and to develop sustainable solutions that will reduce the effects of climate change. It is too late (by about thirty years) to avoid negative effects but it is not too late to avoid catastrophic effects which will certainly occur if we don't do anything. Dr. Schneider's talk was so lucid and convincing that I can only point readers to his site, ClimateChange.net to read up on his work rather than try to convey it in as clear a manner as he does in person.
Summary
The Regional Innovation Forum 2009 could be a game-changing and life-changing event for those of us lucky enough to attend. The question is, what will each of us do to make sure that what we learned is not forgotten? My answer to this is to start taking action, now. In addition to going to future events such as the Springboard Innovation Forum on April 8th, I want to bring together others who want to be committed to a sustainable future and create something lasting. Maybe it's an organization that, like BrightNeighbor.com, will use web technologies to reach across divides to bring people together. Maybe the organization will become sustainable by employing creative ways to solve local, community issues and use incoming funds to further more projects, the way Our United Villages does.
I'm compiling my ideas which I'd like to discuss with interested people, those who are seriously interested in making a difference in the world and want to start now.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
The Story of the Rebuilding Center
This story is amazing! Something so beautiful that started with a passion, and no money! Anything is possible!
Reflections From Saturday Afternoon, March 28th
-I want a new way to be an activist.
-The global oneness wombat is cool.
-Check out the Carrot Mob. A revolution in consumer activism.
-Civic engagement. Many roles. "Let's elevate the value of citizen participation."
-Community Engagement in the Climate Era=CE squared
-Portland's Climate Action Plan will be released in April 17th.
-How do you get people to eat less red meat?
-How do you get that real sense of urgency?
-"We have a lot of climate change coming our way, no matter what we do, so let's prepare for that"
-I imagine that moment in Star Wars...But now we need to go into hyper drive. How do we take what we are, which is leading the world, and take the next step to keep green house gases under control"
-The global oneness wombat is cool.
-Check out the Carrot Mob. A revolution in consumer activism.
-Civic engagement. Many roles. "Let's elevate the value of citizen participation."
-Community Engagement in the Climate Era=CE squared
-Portland's Climate Action Plan will be released in April 17th.
-How do you get people to eat less red meat?
-How do you get that real sense of urgency?
-"We have a lot of climate change coming our way, no matter what we do, so let's prepare for that"
-I imagine that moment in Star Wars...But now we need to go into hyper drive. How do we take what we are, which is leading the world, and take the next step to keep green house gases under control"
Open Space Conferencing
What is it?
-People gather called by a common interest, theme, topic opportunity
-But, there are no keynote or talking-head speakers arranged, and no pre-set agenda
-What there is, is unlimited human energy.
-People gather called by a common interest, theme, topic opportunity
-But, there are no keynote or talking-head speakers arranged, and no pre-set agenda
-What there is, is unlimited human energy.
Collective Thoughs & Quotes from Regional Innovation Forum, Saturday March 28th
-Shrinkage, not cool. Especially when it's the Mount Hood glacier. Bill Bradbury is talking about climate change at the Regional Innovation Forum this morning.
-Bill Bradbury was trained on how to talk about climate change by Al Gore.
-Columbia Basin will be too hot for Salmon by 2040.
-Bill Bradbury would be really sad to see Oregon's pinot noir grape disappear due to the global warming that could take place over the next 50 years.
-"The United States is a gas hog...Can we change this? Yes we can!"-Bill Bradbury
-"Oregon has become the solar capitol of the United States" Bill Bradbury
-"Portland is the capitol of green building in America" Bill Bradbury
-"I'm hear to remind you of the opportunity for large scale change" Doug Cohen
-Bill Bradbury was trained on how to talk about climate change by Al Gore.
-Columbia Basin will be too hot for Salmon by 2040.
-Bill Bradbury would be really sad to see Oregon's pinot noir grape disappear due to the global warming that could take place over the next 50 years.
-"The United States is a gas hog...Can we change this? Yes we can!"-Bill Bradbury
-"Oregon has become the solar capitol of the United States" Bill Bradbury
-"Portland is the capitol of green building in America" Bill Bradbury
-"I'm hear to remind you of the opportunity for large scale change" Doug Cohen
Notes From the Higher Education Track, Friday March 27th.
We discussed what gives us hope:
* The Rodale Institute's work that shows that by converting 460,000 acres of farmland to organic production, it would offset 25% of the environmental impacts. (Citation not verified.)
* Hope that the Obama administration will sign the Kyoto Protocol. Hope that new policies are being discussed and drafted for post-Kyoto Protocol measures.
* The new president has a focus on climate change.
* High school students are getting involved by buying locally and learning about the environment.
Questions:
* How can we involve students in the changes occurring within Higher Ed?
* What should Higher Ed do?
* How do we teach interconnectedness, such as the African proverb "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
Possible Answers:
* Service-learning: stop talking at students and get them involved in the community. (High School Student)
* Teach universal knowledge, problem-solving, critical thinking
* Systems thinking
* Higher Ed has the responsibility to lead by example by looking throught he lens of sustainability to encourage society to do so.
* Taking advantage of online learning as a sustainable option, looking at how to make it interactive
* Focus on student outcomes
* Integrate across the curriculum and disciplines
* Turn in and return assignments online...difussion through innovation that expands and expands
* Whole systems vs. current research practices focused on narrow topics
* Qualitative research as more valid within academia
* Transdisciplinary degrees
* The Rodale Institute's work that shows that by converting 460,000 acres of farmland to organic production, it would offset 25% of the environmental impacts. (Citation not verified.)
* Hope that the Obama administration will sign the Kyoto Protocol. Hope that new policies are being discussed and drafted for post-Kyoto Protocol measures.
* The new president has a focus on climate change.
* High school students are getting involved by buying locally and learning about the environment.
Questions:
* How can we involve students in the changes occurring within Higher Ed?
* What should Higher Ed do?
* How do we teach interconnectedness, such as the African proverb "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
Possible Answers:
* Service-learning: stop talking at students and get them involved in the community. (High School Student)
* Teach universal knowledge, problem-solving, critical thinking
* Systems thinking
* Higher Ed has the responsibility to lead by example by looking throught he lens of sustainability to encourage society to do so.
* Taking advantage of online learning as a sustainable option, looking at how to make it interactive
* Focus on student outcomes
* Integrate across the curriculum and disciplines
* Turn in and return assignments online...difussion through innovation that expands and expands
* Whole systems vs. current research practices focused on narrow topics
* Qualitative research as more valid within academia
* Transdisciplinary degrees
Friday, March 27, 2009
Regional Innovation Forum-End of Day Notes
Who are we going to be next?
What is the call of the time?
A social learning imperative:
To learn our way forward together;
to build a society that is thriving, green & just
-Doug Cohen
This is a collection of reflections from the dying day. Thanks for such a beautiful and multidimensional time everyone! We'll recreate it all again tomorrow!
Highlights Heard in Passing-
-Everything I learned about the power grid was new for me.
-I really appreciated the story aspect...interesting, richer way to go about doing open sessions.
-It's about "Coming from a place of having enough. Not from a place of fear."
-How can we take this conference back to our homes, our community?
-I appreciate the focus on what track you're interested, not so much who is speaking"
-I'm amazed at how few times, I heard, "Yeah, but we can't do this, we can't do that" I appreciate everyone for that mentality.
-I really appreciate the group learning thing. I learn more from the groups than I ever learned from listening to a single person.
What is the call of the time?
A social learning imperative:
To learn our way forward together;
to build a society that is thriving, green & just
-Doug Cohen
This is a collection of reflections from the dying day. Thanks for such a beautiful and multidimensional time everyone! We'll recreate it all again tomorrow!
Highlights Heard in Passing-
-Everything I learned about the power grid was new for me.
-I really appreciated the story aspect...interesting, richer way to go about doing open sessions.
-It's about "Coming from a place of having enough. Not from a place of fear."
-How can we take this conference back to our homes, our community?
-I appreciate the focus on what track you're interested, not so much who is speaking"
-I'm amazed at how few times, I heard, "Yeah, but we can't do this, we can't do that" I appreciate everyone for that mentality.
-I really appreciate the group learning thing. I learn more from the groups than I ever learned from listening to a single person.
Springboard Innovation Presents...
"What are you going to do with these years. I can't play bingo all the time"
-Michelle McRae
Springboard Innovation has been highlighting amazing innovators at the Regional Innovation Forum all day. I was so grateful to hear of the powerful work of Giving+Learning in Fargo, ND and of Michelle McRae, the program's director.
This is a program that helps refugees from places like Liberia, Burundi and Sierra Leone. She helps these people to find jobs, to learn about the new culture they have fallen into, gain citizenship and even helps them to attain driving licenses, what many of us consider to be a basic and sometimes take for granted. She started after retirement because she wanted something rewarding to do.
All the refugees interviewed appreciated Michelle's listening skills and patience. These skills are important, especially with cross cultural communication. I don't think Michelle could move mountains like she does without these skills.
Today's lesson for me, and words that I here in passing all seem to revolve around the importance of communication, remembering what we know and learning new ways to do it.
-Michelle McRae
Springboard Innovation has been highlighting amazing innovators at the Regional Innovation Forum all day. I was so grateful to hear of the powerful work of Giving+Learning in Fargo, ND and of Michelle McRae, the program's director.
This is a program that helps refugees from places like Liberia, Burundi and Sierra Leone. She helps these people to find jobs, to learn about the new culture they have fallen into, gain citizenship and even helps them to attain driving licenses, what many of us consider to be a basic and sometimes take for granted. She started after retirement because she wanted something rewarding to do.
All the refugees interviewed appreciated Michelle's listening skills and patience. These skills are important, especially with cross cultural communication. I don't think Michelle could move mountains like she does without these skills.
Today's lesson for me, and words that I here in passing all seem to revolve around the importance of communication, remembering what we know and learning new ways to do it.
Echoes From the Morning, Friday March 27th
"More than half of the world does not qualify to take a loan from the existing financial institutions"-Mohammad Yunus
"Powerful listening is a gift."
"Story telling and dialogue is holistic"
-Jolene Estimo
1. What are your strengths?
2. Who are you sitting next to?
3. How are you connected?
4. What might you do together?
5. You're it.
The way of tribal introductions:
State "In order to live my life fully..."
your name, your role, place & gift to the community #RIF
Your inquiry to the community.
"The tribal form of introductions at the Regional Innovation Forum is helping to open people so much & shift the energy. It's astounding" #RIF
"Powerful listening is a gift."
"Story telling and dialogue is holistic"
-Jolene Estimo
1. What are your strengths?
2. Who are you sitting next to?
3. How are you connected?
4. What might you do together?
5. You're it.
The way of tribal introductions:
State "In order to live my life fully..."
your name, your role, place & gift to the community #RIF
Your inquiry to the community.
"The tribal form of introductions at the Regional Innovation Forum is helping to open people so much & shift the energy. It's astounding" #RIF
Live From the Regional Innovation Forum
"The Future is Here--It's just not widely distributed yet."
Hello Fine Folks,
Today I'm blogging live from the Regional Innovation Forum in Portland, Oregon. You can follow my #RIF tweets on twitter.com/lilbutterfly
I've been asked to blog the RIF principles, so here they are:
1. Educate & innovate the community regarding the rights & privileges of participative democracy.
2. Right to be responsible for common good.
Peace,
Liz Grover
Hello Fine Folks,
Today I'm blogging live from the Regional Innovation Forum in Portland, Oregon. You can follow my #RIF tweets on twitter.com/lilbutterfly
I've been asked to blog the RIF principles, so here they are:
1. Educate & innovate the community regarding the rights & privileges of participative democracy.
2. Right to be responsible for common good.
Peace,
Liz Grover
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Regional Innovation Forum Keynote Speaker: Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dr. Stephen H. Schneider
If you wish to attend Dr. Schneider's Keynote speech at the Regional Innovation Forum in Portland, Oregon on March 27th, please check out our website and buy your tickets here. Dr. Stephen H. Schneider is the Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies, Professor of Biological Sciences, Professor (by courtesy) of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a Senior Fellow in the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University. Dr. Schneider received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Plasma Physics from Columbia University in 1971. He studied the role of greenhouse gases and suspended particulate material on climate as a postdoctoral fellow at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. He was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in 1972 and was a member of the scientific staff of NCAR from 1973-1996, where he co-founded the Climate Project.
Internationally recognized for research, policy analysis and outreach in climate change, Dr. Schneider focuses on climate change science, integrated assessment of ecological and economic impacts of human-induced climate change, and identifying viable climate policies and technological solutions. He has consulted with federal agencies and/or White House staff in the Nixon, Carter, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton and G.W. Bush administrations.
Actively involved with the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), an initiative of the United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Organization since its origin in 1988, Dr. Schneider was co-author of "Uncertainties in the IPCC Third Assessment Report: Recommendations to Lead Authors for More Consistent Assessment and Reporting"in 2000 and the cross-cutting theme paper #4: "Assessing the Science to Address UNFCCC Article 2" in 2004. He has been a contributor to all four IPCC Assessment Reports and is currently a Coordinating Lead Author of Working Group II Chapter 19, "Assessing Key Vulnerabilities and the Risk from Climate Change." For the 2001 IPCC Third Assessment Report (TAR) and the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), Dr. Schneider has also been a member of the Core Writing Team for each of the Synthesis Reports, which integrate the contributions of Working Groups I, II and III. The 2007 IPCC Fourth Assessment Report will be used by governments world-wide as the most up-to-date, credible document regarding climate change science, impacts, adaptation, vulnerability, and mitigation until 2012. After decades of work, Dr. Schneider, along with four generations of IPCC authors, received a collective Nobel Peace Prize for their joint efforts in 2007.
In 1991, Dr. Schneider was awarded the American Association for the Advancement of Science/ Westinghouse Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology for furthering public understanding of environmental science and its implications for public policy. In 1992, he was honored with a MacArthur Fellowship for his ability to integrate and interpret the results of global climate research through public lectures, classroom teaching, environmental assessment committees, media appearances, Congressional testimony and research collaboration with colleagues. In 1998, Dr. Schneider became a foreign member of the Academea Europaea, Earth & Cosmic Sciences Section. He was elected to membership in the US National Academy of Sciences in 2002. Dr. Schneider received the Edward T. Law Roe Award of the Society of Conservation Biology in 2003. He and his spouse-collaborator, Terry Root, jointly received the 2003 National Conservation Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation and the Banksia Foundation̢۪s 2006 International Environmental Award in Australia.
Dr. Schneider is Founder and Editor of the interdisciplinary journal, Climatic Change, Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather and author of The Genesis Strategy: Climate and Global Survival; Global Warming: Are We Entering the Greenhouse Century?, The Coevolution of Climate and Life and Laboratory Earth: The Planetary Gamble We can't Afford to Lose. Â In addition, he has authored or co-authored over 400 scientific papers, proceedings, legislative testimonies, edited books and book chapters, and over 200 book reviews, editorials and other pieces for popular media.
Dr. Schneider teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Earth Systems, Civil Engineering, Biological Sciences, the Senior Honors Seminar in Environmental Science, Technology and Policy, and the doctoral program, The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Environment and Resources (IPER), as well as guides the work of Ph.D. candidates, post-doctoral scholars, and other researchers. He has served as Co-Director of the Stanford Center for Environmental Science and Policy (CESP) from 2002 to 2007 and Co-Director of IPER, from 2003 to 2005.
Currently, Dr. Schneider is counseling policy makers about the importance of using risk management strategies in climate-policy decision making, given the uncertainties in future projections of global climate change and related impacts. In addition to continuing to serve as advisor to decision-makers, he consults with corporate executives and other stakeholders in industry and the nonprofit sectors regarding possible climate-related events and is actively engaged in improving public understanding of science and the environment through extensive media communication and public outreach.
A Call to Leadership and Collaboration for Regional Sustainability and our Community’s Livable Future
There is no limit to the creative solutions that can be devised to build our sustainable communities. Yet the scale and urgency of change required offers new dimensions and challenges. We must think beyond traditional boundaries and embrace new ways of working together. Join us at the Regional Innovation Forum, where you can learn, engage and connect to many initiatives and solutions for accelerating regional change.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many -- and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.-–President Barack Obama
"If we wait for government, it’ll be too little, too late...If we act as individuals, it’ll be too little...But if we act as communities, it might just be enough, just in time." -Transition Network
An Era of Change
We have entered an era of unprecedented change. Change that is overdue, and no longer merely ideal, but necessary, if we are to alter the course that has put our planet in peril. The destruction and unrestrained use of natural resources serves and yet threatens our way of life—perhaps our very existence. And the current implosion of our economic system well demonstrates that unrestrained economic growth benefiting a few at the expense of many is not sustainable.
The hallmarks of our industrial civilization are crashing down around us. Our lifestyles and consumption habits were built on a foundation of alienation, oppression and debt. It is time for a new moral imperative that speaks to the sanctity of the earth and its precious resources, the value of human life, and the vision of a whole world, of interconnected communities and personal interdependence.
It is time for our communities to reinvent our futures in sustainable models that will serve people efficiently, effectively and with justice. A new social covenant and foundation of a just democratic society requires that these models serve not only this generation, but future generations, without depleting and destroying the planet.
This imagined future requires all of us to systematically rethink our lives, our institutions and our communities. It demands new ways of collaborating, breaking down traditional walls, refusing to accept barriers and re-engaging with each other. It requires new technologies and new systems. If we do it well, it will provide new jobs, a stronger economy and richer, more livable communities. But we cannot just do things better and faster, and there is no time for incremental change. The current crises require transformational change that cannot come quickly enough.
The urgency and scope of the change needed calls for an all-hands-on-deck moment in history. In his inaugural address, President Obama spoke to our need to step up: “For as much as government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies…. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship.”
Envisioning the types of structures needed to catalyze and manage effective community change is our first and perhaps greatest challenge. These structures must be dynamic, responsive, and continually evolving. They will be learning organizations. They will be characterized by ethical leadership, transparency and inclusiveness. They will be shaped by the spirit of selflessness, the possibility of creativity and innovation, and the power of moral conviction and intellectual courage. And the work that is accomplished will offer every citizen the hope of meaningful engagement in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and will guarantee to meet every person’s needs for food, clothing and shelter, health, education and employment, with regard to preserving resources for future generations. These principles form the foundation of the 21st century sustainable communities.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many -- and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.-–President Barack Obama
"If we wait for government, it’ll be too little, too late...If we act as individuals, it’ll be too little...But if we act as communities, it might just be enough, just in time." -Transition Network
An Era of Change
We have entered an era of unprecedented change. Change that is overdue, and no longer merely ideal, but necessary, if we are to alter the course that has put our planet in peril. The destruction and unrestrained use of natural resources serves and yet threatens our way of life—perhaps our very existence. And the current implosion of our economic system well demonstrates that unrestrained economic growth benefiting a few at the expense of many is not sustainable.
The hallmarks of our industrial civilization are crashing down around us. Our lifestyles and consumption habits were built on a foundation of alienation, oppression and debt. It is time for a new moral imperative that speaks to the sanctity of the earth and its precious resources, the value of human life, and the vision of a whole world, of interconnected communities and personal interdependence.
It is time for our communities to reinvent our futures in sustainable models that will serve people efficiently, effectively and with justice. A new social covenant and foundation of a just democratic society requires that these models serve not only this generation, but future generations, without depleting and destroying the planet.
This imagined future requires all of us to systematically rethink our lives, our institutions and our communities. It demands new ways of collaborating, breaking down traditional walls, refusing to accept barriers and re-engaging with each other. It requires new technologies and new systems. If we do it well, it will provide new jobs, a stronger economy and richer, more livable communities. But we cannot just do things better and faster, and there is no time for incremental change. The current crises require transformational change that cannot come quickly enough.
The urgency and scope of the change needed calls for an all-hands-on-deck moment in history. In his inaugural address, President Obama spoke to our need to step up: “For as much as government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies…. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship.”
Envisioning the types of structures needed to catalyze and manage effective community change is our first and perhaps greatest challenge. These structures must be dynamic, responsive, and continually evolving. They will be learning organizations. They will be characterized by ethical leadership, transparency and inclusiveness. They will be shaped by the spirit of selflessness, the possibility of creativity and innovation, and the power of moral conviction and intellectual courage. And the work that is accomplished will offer every citizen the hope of meaningful engagement in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and will guarantee to meet every person’s needs for food, clothing and shelter, health, education and employment, with regard to preserving resources for future generations. These principles form the foundation of the 21st century sustainable communities.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Welcome!
The Regional Innovation Forum brings together engaged citizens and community leaders from every sector to explore the systemic challenges facing our region that require coordinated effort between individuals, communities, organizations, and local, regional and national policymakers. Oregon’s deep roots in sustainable innovation and activism provide a platform for the all-encompassing societal change that is required to build a sustainable future.
Imagine a conference where the content is inspiring and the quality of conversations is transformational. Imagine a region leading the way for the nation, sharing our insights with other communities, and prospering. Dynamic leaders will make this happen. Will you be one of them? Learn more at our website.
Imagine a conference where the content is inspiring and the quality of conversations is transformational. Imagine a region leading the way for the nation, sharing our insights with other communities, and prospering. Dynamic leaders will make this happen. Will you be one of them? Learn more at our website.
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