TRANSITION ROGERS PARK
Transition Houston, in Houston, Texas, is working on a
Transition film series with Rice University and a Permablitz
program of neighborhood per- maculture workshops.
cates find they can interest people in things like gardening, says Richard Olson, director of the Berea College Sustainability and Environmental Studies program. “We talk to them about heirloom seeds and what their grandparents grew and if they’d like to learn canning. We get them involved without even mentioning transition or sustainability.” Interest in climate-readiness is
spreading: Austin, Texas, has an ambi- tious plan to make city facilities, ve- hicles and all other operations carbon- neutral by 2020. Louisville, Colorado, now has a car share program. Charlot- tesville, Virginia, is creating a trail sys- tem for walking and biking to connect schools, parks and other public spaces. Greensburg, Kansas, a city of fewer
than 2,000, was leveled by a tornado in May 2007. Residents have decided to rebuild as green as they can, requir- ing all city buildings to meet the U.S.
Green Building Council’s LEED plati- num rating for top-level environmen- tally friendly construction. They’ve also formed the group Greensburg GreenTown to increase public education about green living, make resources available at the library and distribute educational materials through online and telephone classes and events. Green building initiatives also are
spreading, thanks in part to Architecture 2030, a nonprofit based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which calls for an im- mediate 50 percent reduction in fossil fuel consumption in new buildings and renovations, and sets a goal of carbon- neutral design by 2030. The U.S. Con- ference of Mayors adopted the program in 2006. These communities hope they
can lead the way toward the big changes we’ll need, both nation- ally and internationally, to respond to climate change. “Working at the community level to build resilience is the strategy that has the most chance of success,” observes Olson. “It’s not going to take until our grandchildren’s generation to see if we’ve succeeded. I think in 10 years we’ll see if we’re going to have a chance.”
For more information visit Transition
US.org.
Tara Lohan is a contributing writer to YES! Magazine, a senior editor at AlterNet and editor of the book, Water Consciousness.
TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY
foundation of the larger Transition Towns Movement. Residents are working to create a community-led response to challenges of energy, climate change and the economy through self-reliance, relocalization and rela- tionships. Some of their initiatives include:
T
Education – Through small group meetings, film series and community-wide events, TRP is raising awareness of the urgent need to move beyond fossil fuels.
Shared Skills – TRP created the People’s College of Transition Skills as a way to share resources and talents. Educational events planned for this fall include urban food forages and workshops on permaculture, food preservation, rooftop gardens and cold frames—all with home-grown talent.
Group Work – TRP has catalyzed groups based on members’ passion that create positive projects. The Gardening Group has brought together gardeners and social service orga- nizations through its Howard Street Gardens initiative, providing an opportunity to share knowledge and break down stereotypes. A sec- ond garden is in the works and will be ready for planting next spring. This fall, the Heart and Soul Group is planning a community build- ing workshop and the Local Commerce Group will host a workshop on money.
Partnering with Others – TRP is partici- pating in a community-wide initiative that will bring an urban farm and greenhouse to Rogers Park as an initial step in creating a local food system. Partners include Loyola University, community-based organizations and the local city alderman’s office.
Celebration! – TRP takes time to celebrate life and relationships through potlucks, song circles and other social gatherings.“We know that if we work together, not only can we lessen our impact, but we also can live more fully and justly,” says Transition Rogers Park organizer Pam Richart.
Contact prichart@EcoJusticeCollabo
rative.org to learn more or visit Transition
RogersPark.org to get involved.
natural awakenings October 2010 25
ransition Rogers Park (TRP), an initia- tive in one of Chicago’s most diverse neighborhoods, is built upon the
Photo credit: Pam Richart
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