local actions neighborhood effects greening your community
DESCRIPTION
Local communities can have a powerful effect on their neighborhood environments, and sometimes all it takes is the action of a few caring individuals. With the introduction of a community garden, cleanups, regular meetings, and other healing steps, everything from neighborhood crime to pollution can begin to be remediated. This panel presents several community leaders who have taken just such steps to revitalize and green their neighborhoods, and will offer case studies of successful change and tips on kick starting community growth in your area.TRANSCRIPT
LOCAL ACTIONSNEIGHBORHOOD EFFECTS
GREENING YOUR COMMUNITY
Introductions Collaborations that inspire Tips to kick start community engagement Thank you/Questions
Peggy DuvetteWiserEarth
Neal PatelSF Bicycle
Coalition
Sudeep Motupalli Rao
Deep-Solutions
Maikhanh Nguyen
Connect the Dots
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF TIME DOES THE AMERICAN SPEND OUTDOOR?
HOW MANY OF YOU SPEND AT LEAST 1 HOUR IN THE LAST YEAR IN YOUR OWN GARDEN/COMMUNITY GARDEN?
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY GARDEN WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF YOUR HOME?
FOUNDED ORIGINALLY IN 1971
OVER 11,000 MEMBERS
CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MEMBER BASED ADVOCACY GROUP
STARTED IN 2002
BULDING COMMUNITY AND CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PLACES
CREATED 9 COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACES, 12 BACKYARD GARDENS, 2 MAJOR MURALS, and many more
CONNECT THE DOTS IS DEDICATED TO HELPING NO PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS MAKE THE TRANSITION TO BEING GREEN
“Jump start” nonprofits towards sustainability
We serve as “personal trainers” in eco-friendly practices
Focus on fundamental conservation practicesEnergy EfficiencyWater ConservationWaste ReductionResponsible Purchasing
Yield deep, immediate impact
Duration: Three months
Environmental benefits• Reduce water use by 992,000
gallons (32%)
• Divert 50,000 pounds of waste from landfills (46%)
• 71% waste diversion
‘890’ is Walden House’s largest adult residential facility with 20 staff providing treatment services to over 110 previously incarcerated men.
Meals are cooked and served three times a day with an on-site laundromat.
Financial savings• Immediate, one-time: $450
• Recurring: $35,000 each year– $14,000 – Water conservation– $21,000 – Waste reduction
• Total Savings
– Year 1 - $35,450
– > 5 years - $175,450
ORIGINATED IN BOGOTA, COLUMBIA AS A DAY TO PROMOTE FREE, HEALTH AND COMMUNITY ORIENTED EVENTS. NOW IN TOKYO, KIEV AND SAN FRANCISCO
LOCAL BUSINESSES BENEFITS FROM INCREASE TRAFFIC
2009: 20,000 RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED
Take action: big or small If you work, volunteer or join a board If you have an idea, check what is already existing to leverage
existing best practices. Talk to community leaders in the field.
Trust – It is the biggest win for Quesada Gardens)
SF Department of Environment
San Francisco Community gardenshttp://www.sfgro.org/sfgardens.php Connectthedotsnetwork.org
Wiserearth.org
Neal Patel - [email protected]
Sudeep Motupalli Rao – [email protected]
Maikhanh Nguyen – connectedthedotsnetwork.org
Peggy Duvette – [email protected]