Imagine a group of ordinary citizens of various ages, races, and colors putting their heads together to plan more sustainable ways of living — using less of the fossil fuels that produce global warming, while improving our quality of life. Imagine groups discussing and then planning action steps on such topics as transforming public schools, regional transportation, growing food and medicinal plants, capturing and using rainwater, and intentional communities.
Imagine a group of ordinary citizens of various ages, races, and colors putting their heads together to plan more sustainable ways of living — using less of the fossil fuels that produce global warming, while improving our quality of life. Imagine groups discussing and then planning action steps on such topics as transforming public schools, regional transportation, growing food and medicinal plants, capturing and using rainwater, and intentional communities.
On Monday and Tuesday, June 29 and 30, about 40 people gathered at Warren Wilson College for a public meeting. The event was called SOS – Sustainability Open Space, and used the meeting methodology called Open Space Technology. SOS was organized by Chris Weaver of Springbranch and facilitated by Birgitt Williams of Dalar International Consultancy. The “Open Space” format is a way to let participants decide what to discuss rather than using pre-scheduled workshops led by an expert. Breakout sessions are informally organized, and people are encouraged to go from group to group, acting as cross-pollinators. Twenty-two workshops were held Monday, and summaries were typed on a bank of computers. Tuesday, the emphasis was on organizing next steps: each participant received a copy of the previous day\’s summaries, and a listserv was formed so that people could stay connected.
A few continuing projects that grew out of or were introduced at the conference are:
1.“Ashevillage Building Convergence,” led by Janell Kapoor of Kleiwerks, a natural building company ([email protected]). Based on the visionary “City Repair” project in Portland, Oregon, the Village Building Convergence is envisioned as a ten-day event in 2008 involving racially diverse neighborhoods in reclaiming and beautifying communities. Participants would create sustainable, functional, and esthetically pleasing additions such as living roofs, water catchment systems, and murals.
2.Intentional Community Group: leader Sage Linden created a yahoo group listservhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/IntentionalCommunitiesOfAsheville to provide an online space for people to post their community visions and find existing communities, and she plans to organize an intentional community tour in our area for the fall. Contact: [email protected].
3.CulturalCreative Community Center: The “Center for Unlimited Possibilities” has just acquired a 30,000 sq. ft. space at Westgate Mall right next to EarthFare. There will be several aspects to the center which will include:
A daily expo (showcasing artists, healers and alternative/creative businesses)
An auditorium for speakers, concerts, theatre, dances, etc.
Several workshop and meeting rooms and the Chamber of Consciousness, which will provide a complete resource and information hub for the Cultural Creative Community of WNC. Contact: Mary Silva at: [email protected]. or call 828 253 2500.
Citizen-led organizing in practice.
4.Transforming Public School Systems: Lisa Watson, an African-American educator (profiled in the February issue of The Urban News & Observer), plans to develop innovative programming for schools and teachers. Watson hopes to organize professional development training and initiatives that promote emotional intelligence, and behavioral strengths, skills, and strategies for both educators and students. The goal is to enhance relationships between educators and disruptive and difficult students while improving teaching environments, student performance, and retention of good educators.
5.“The Well” Arts for Empowerment was started by Linda Metzner of Asheville\’s Playback Theateras a way to bring performing artists to give workshops based on life stories to at-risk populations such as clients and staff of social service organizations. The group has scheduled a fundraising concert on August 27 and hopes to begin the program in September. Contact [email protected].
Citizen-led organizing has proven fruitful in many communities, especially those, like Asheville, with large numbers of creative artists and entrepreneurs, not just in addressing such challenges as global warming but in restructuring communities to be more people-conscious and less wasteful of limited resources. For more information about any of the projects, contact Chris Weaver at [email protected].
