An EPA afternoon: participatory community learning and education

First, there's still time to participate in the EPA's Environmental Justice Conference here in Detroit--it's free, they take walk-ins, and your participation is meaningful!  Go here to see where it's at and what's going on tomorrow:  http://www.cleanairinfo.com/ejconference/agenda.htm

This is a mix of summary and commentary on today's events from the afternoon EPA Federal work group session.  I participated in the community organization working group, and later attended the panel for "The Detroit Story".

Interesting news came out of the ongoing EPA Environmental Conference today. This afternoon we realized that people all over the U.S. are striving to organize, but there's a lot of organizational fragmentation.

[More after the page break]

Detroit Frack Ban Resolution status: unanimously passed!

The resolution didn't get on Tuesday's agenda, but it has been well represented and
voted on today (Friday the 22nd) during the noon session.

I called Chris Corrigan of the Detroit Food and Water Watch office at about 1:30 today and learned that the Detroit City Council passed the ban by unanimous vote.  This is literally a watershed event.  Most of the communities upstream in the Rouge River watershed (Westward from Dearborn out to Superior/Salem Townships, and North out to Rochester Hills, Bloomfield/West Bloomfield Townships, and Novi) get their municipal tap (drinking) water from the Detroit river--which the Rouge drains into.

As far as I could reckon, Food and Water Watch, Dearborn/Dearborn Heights League of Women Voters, the SEA, and Akinpelu twins were in attendance on Tuesday.  Details forthcoming as we find out what happens next. Those who spoke got their concerns for safety and its regional relevance to Southeast Michigan across--it piqued councilman Brown's interest and he expressed his thanks to all of the youth who came to represent their solidarity in the issue.  

Congratulations for your leadership Detroit, it's a major step forward in citizen and environmental protections.  Also, please be vigilant in following through--you can propose similar resolutions in your hometown too!

That said, I believe the city of Detroit and groups like Food and Water watch will also need to look in earnest toward something creative and solutions oriented for responsibly meeting energy and employment needs.  They've got very bright talents in the area, and it's time to make it known that Detroit's leadership is happening from all directions at all levels of Southeast Michigan.

Footage and Photos from 10/10

The Cool Cities Dearborn Sierra Club brought together several groups to host events on 10/10 as initiated under 350.org.

Dearborn's Community Television Channel also got footage of some of our activities and interviewed us:

http://dearbornvideo.org/videos/271/dearborn-journal-#243

I'm finally uploading pictures from 10/10!  It was a great event with upwards of ~45 people joining us to enjoy the outdoors for the Global Work Party Climate Action Day to walk, learn about the area, put bottled water to the test against tap (LWVDDH report no significant difference in preferences, but tap is 1,000 times cheaper!), paint pumpkins and gourds, and meet other community members.

Jenni Dunn of the Dearborn/Dearborn heights League of Women Voters at the blind tap vs. bottled water taste test table. Find out more about their actions and findings at their blog post on the 10/10 tap water taste test! 

Attendees gather for opening remarks on environmentally conscientious recreation, sustainability, and climate action from Ian Tran and Shannon Morrow before touring the Environmental Interpretive Center rain gardens, natural areas, and Rouge River Henry Ford Estate.

Pumpkin!  Apple from Apple Charlie's!  Cider and donuts also came from Apple Charlies, and we had attendees use compostable cups as planters for wild mountain mint (Pycnathemum pilosum) seeds collected by SEA--it was a leave-no trace event so all other items were composted or taken back for recycling/reuse.  The Fordson High School Environmental Club came forth in strong numbers and hosted the pumpkin painting table.

350.org participants gathered in all kinds of shapes, we made an Evergreen 1Sky, and the Sierra Club have signs up.

Several local parents hiked with their children, literally!

Dearborn Sustainability Round Table II

The next Sustainability Round Table is Wed. August 25th 6:00-8:00 pm at the University of Michigan-Dearborn's Environmental Interpretive Center, hosted by the Sierra Club Cool Cities Dearborn Group.

The immediate objectives of this meeting are:

1. Envision the benefits from current sustainability initiatives for individuals
2. Envision the benefits from current initiatives in sustainability for the community as a whole

Longstanding objectives of these round table meetings are to:

1. Increase sustainability awareness
2. Organize interest in sustainability
3. Foster informed coalition building and network development in the city
4. Cultivate a more vibrant and sustainable community in the Metro Detroit area

Once again:

Come when you can and go when you must.


Feel free to bring informational materials about your organization, its programs and initiatives, as well as a dish to share (it's also a potluck for sustainability).
We hope attendees will have a clear understanding of the local groups
currently at work, as well as the regional initiatives which may
influence events happening within the Dearborn area.

The first round table was focused on organizing interest and
perspectives in sustainability--essentially to establish principles of
sustainability through broad community input.  Attendees, interested individuals, and organizations shared their individual initiatives and interests.

Please RSVP to Mary Ann Baier (313) 561-7351 email maturtle (at) gmail (dot) com


Meeting Preview:

The meeting will start with an interpretive walk of the natural area
and mushroom farm led by members of the Student Environmental
Association at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, introductions from
the Sierra Club Cool Cities Group and David Norwood, the
Sustainability Coordinator of the City of Dearborn will be a featured
guest speaker.  Round robin introductions of individuals and
organizations will be followed by a break out discussion on how
everyone's initiatives enrich individuals and the community as a
whole.

We intend to document the findings from this discussion, and
there is potential for them to be integrated into future proposals and
plans for the city or University.


Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Ian D. Tran
President, The Student Environmental Association at the University of
Michigan-Dearborn

Invitation: Dearborn Sustainability Round Table June 16th

To whom it may concern,

I've been working closely with the Dearborn Sierra Club Cool Cities Group to bring institutional, not-for-profit, corporate, academic, governmental, and community leaders together for comprehensive sustainability efforts in the Dearborn area.

We cordially invite you to join us for a moderated round table discussion in room 1225 of the University Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn on Wednesday June 16^th, 2010 from 6:00-8:00 pm.

This event is open to all, please RSVP to Mary Ann Baier: maturtle (at) gmail.com

Come when you can, go when you must.  If you believe this invitation may be suited for other individuals or organizations, please share it with them.

Our immediate objectives for this meeting is to increase sustainability awareness and foster informed coalition building and network development in the city.  We hope attendees will have a clear understanding of the local groups currently at work, as well as the regional initiatives which may influence events happening within the Dearborn area.

Among our longer-term goals, we aim to organize interest in establishing a sustainability panel for the city and formalize the University of Michigan-Dearborn's task force to coordinate efforts in sustainability to increase meaningful impact locally and globally through the community.

Feel free to bring a dish to share (it's also a potluck for sustainability) as well.

Below is the agenda overview:

-Greetings
-Introduction and objectives
-Organizational introductions, activities, accomplishments, goals
-Local event opportunities
-Mingle, network, etc.

-Next steps and meeting closure

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to meting you,

Ian D. Tran

--

President, The Student Environmental Association at The University of Michigan-Dearborn

http://sustainableum-d.blogspot.com/

http://www.rcampus.com/Clubhomeshellc.cfm?xsite=sealeader

Questions for Sustainability Fest?

Do you have questions about Sustainability Fest? We'll answer what we can and get to work with finding answers right away if we don't have them yet (answered to the best of our knowledge and ability).

Can't attend sustainability fest but want to share your thoughts with our speakers and guests? Post your questions here and we'll do our best to represent your comments and concerns at the event.

Who might you want to ask questions to? Here are some topics to consider and the people who we'll investigate with:

Sustainable food systems: Professor Lohr is presenting "The Environmental Crisis on Your Plate" Monday Oct. 19th at 7:30 pm in Kochoff Hall of the University Center.

What are some company philosophies for social, environmental, and economic responsibility?

Larry Crittenden of the U.S.Green Building Council and the many other "Triple Bottom Line" organizations will answer your questions at the panel discussion during the Sustainable Connections Career Expo Wednesday Oct. 21st from 1:30-4:00pm in Kochoff Hall of the University Center.

What the heck does art have to do with sustainability?

Ask any of the artists (including me!) who will be presenting their works Wednesday Oct. 21st from 12:00-3:00 at the Sustainable visions art exhibition, and at 4:00 you have the unique opportunity to experience social sustainability in-concert as performers regardless of your prior musical experience (even if you've had none). Check out Rzewski's "Sheep of Panurge" to see how you can participate: http://icking-music-archive.org/scores/rzewski/mouton.pdf