A Collective Shift

I find that nearly every topic discussed this semester ties back to the graph portrayed in Limits to Growth.  This rings particularly true when you think about how the realities of the human perspective impact the concepts discussed in Roseland’s chapter on “governing sustainable communities” and shared/consensus decision-making (190-206). 

Having worked in the government sector for 5 years, I know how difficult it is to get positive public input, or even any public involvement at all.  We would advertise, speak on the radio, meet at flexible times and do everything we could possibly do, next to knocking on doors and having personal interviews, and still few people would show up.  Of the few that would show up, they appeared because they opposed what was happening.  We knew there were tons of people in the community in support of our projects, yet those people never came.  How do you get people involved and interested in what is happening in the community?

The good news, based on the graph, is that the focus of individuals is first on family, and then on business, city, and neighborhood.  The majority of people may not be willing to march in Washington for a particular issue, but they are pretty likely to care when it impacts the community in which they have a home and raise a family.  In order to get people involved, they must be aware about what is happening in the community and that is where education and public awareness campaigns come into play. 

Roseland writes about employers giving employees flexibility and incentives to increase the time they and their families devote to community activities (191).  What a great idea!  We all face a series of pressures and problems that require attention and action.  Having your employer give you time to be involved and stay aware allows you to take time to be a part of you community.  My husband’s employer, Cummins, Inc., has a program just like this.  The EEC program (Every Employee, Every Community) requires him to spend 4 hours a year volunteering in our community.  Though 4 hours doesn’t seem like much, when you stretch the 4 hours to the 6,000-7,000 employees in Bartholomew County, that makes a huge difference.

No, we don’t live in a perfect sustainable world like Ecotopia or Annaresas, as described in the articles covered in Wheeler.  But, this is the only world we have and we each need to do our part to be involved in our communities and have a positive impact as we each strive to make the world a better place!  Why?  Because, that is all we can do!  So, as we move forward in school, work and life “Remember Earth” and “Remember your Community”, we need them both in order to live happy, healthy and sustainable lives!

Event 3: GreenTown: The Future of Community

On November 17, I attended the GreenTown Conference in Terre Haute and it was well worth the drive.  Not only was it a great networking opportunity, but I heard some really good presentations:

• Rebuilding Greensburg Green by the Mayor of Greensburg Kansas, Bob Dixson.  95% of Greensburg was leveled by a tornado in 2007.  However, the capitalized on the tragedy by aiming to rebuild a sustainable city.  From LEED certified buildings to the use of wind energy and native plants, the City is coming back better than ever!

• My favorite presentation for the day was by Richard Jackson titled, "Making Healthy Places: Designing and Building for Health, Well-being and Sustainability."  He discussed how the many diseases of the 1900's were cured through changes in the built environment (clean water, air, sewer systems, etc.)  Now, the epidemics of our century (asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity) must be cured the same way- by creating places where people can be healthy.

• I was really looking forward to the presentation by Mia Birk on "Creating a Bike Friendly Culture".  However, technological difficulties kept Skype from working.  Luckily, I have seen her speak before, so hopefully I didn't miss out on much.

• I was lucky enough to not only hear Scott Russell Sanders speak but to also get to have an hour long conversation with him.   What a neat man!  He has this excellent way of presenting that inspires you to continue working towards the changes you hope to see in the world.  For his presentation, he discussed the shortfalls of looking at our society solely in the "consumer" mind frame.  Instead we should focus more on care taking.  

All presentations hit directly on the many topics we have covered this semester.  It was really neat to see what is happening out there and to be around of many like minded individuals.

Personal Project – Local and Re-used

I am about ½ way through the second book for my personal project.  This one is called, “the Eco-nomical Baby Guide” by Joy Hatch and Rebecca Kelley.  The key to a sustainable/green baby is, “to simply avoid purchasing so many of the ‘must have’ gadgets and devices on the market.”  I’m not going to lie; this is especially difficult when you are attempting to register for gifts.  I often find myself overwhelmed with the idea, and I just click on items in hopes that I fill my registry and can be done with this madness. 

The book suggests that if you are eco-nomical you can end up spending only approximately $1,000 on baby gear when the national average is $7,000.  $7,000- are you kidding me? $7,000 on stuff you may only use once.  So, I push forward… hoping to spend much less than $1,000.

My husband, Clint, and I attended the Bloomington Handmade Market and The Green Nursery on Saturday to get an idea of what can be purchased instead of supporting the monster known as Baby’s R Us (I’m not going to lie, the idea of going into this store gives me the sort of feeling you get when you think of going into your own personal hell).  The day was quite a success.  On the drive my husband began searching Craig’s List to see if there was anything out there that we could purchase used (don’t worry, I was driving).

The day was a success!  For $15, we purchased a boppy pillow and a baby bath from a resident in Bloomington.  We set up a registry at The Green Nursery.  And, we purchased a couple handmade gifts for my friend’s baby shower I am attending next weekend.  I was also able to pick up a bunch of cards from local artists that have Etsy sites and have begun compiling a wish list to give to people that attend my shower.  There are so many amazing things being crafted by people in Indiana, I’m excited!   Check out all this cool stuff:

Handmade Stuffed Owls:  made by an artist in Dayton, OH out of reused sweaters from a local thrift store.

Handmade Flannel Cloth Diaper Wipes: made by a woman in South Bend, Indiana, not only are these replacements for disposable wipes, but they can also be used as washcloths during bath time and cleaning up after meals.  I am actually going to try to make these on my own over Christmas break. 

Handmade Burp Cloth:  Made in Lafayette, IN.  Not only are these functional but they look amazing!

Handmade Bib and Burp Cloth:  Made in Indianapolis, IN.  There is also a cute little spoon holder in the bib!

Handmade Bunny:  These are made by the same artist as above.  The bunny is even backed with fuzzy white chenille.

Handmade Changing Pad:  Another creation by the artist above.  This cute changing pad actually folds into a cute clutch to put in your purse or diaper bag.

Baby's Handmade Book:  This handmade fabric book is made in Morgantown, In. 

Handmade Baby Carrier:  I love this one.  They are made by a lady in Ft. Wayne, In.  What a great idea, to hold your baby and have your hands for use at the same time!

  Handmade Zippered Wet Cloth Diaper Carrying Bag:  Made in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, these cloth diaper bags come in a variety of colors and sizes.  What a great local substitution for the Planet Wise wet bags.  They are even priced relatively similar!

And, so the journey continues…

Event 2: Pavement, Paths & Planning: Multi-Modal Infrastructure in Downtown Indianapolis

From bike lanes to multi-use paths and from bio-swales to public art, downtown Indianapolis is becoming a multi-modal mecca.  This workshop was on two wheels!  Joining fellow Indiana landscape architects, we pedaled along some of Indianapolis’ new bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure – the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. 

The tour was led by Kevin Whited, IndyCOG board president and program manager for Bicycle Indiana, Karen Haley, the executive director of the Cultural Trail and Mark Zwoyer, the lead engineer of the Cultural Trail and employed by RW Armstrong.  We rented bicycles and helmets from Bicycle Garage Indiana, which is located in the new YMCA bicycle hub located adjacent to the City Market.

The Cultural Trail meanders right through the heart of Indianapolis and creates a separate lane for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.  Scattered throughout, there is public art representing the spirit and culture of Indiana.  There were times I would look up and think, wow, I can’t believe I am riding right downtown and enjoying it.  Though it may not be an ideal path for commuters, it gives community members a place to experience active recreation and it gives tourists and different perspective of Indianapolis.  It is amazing how this trail has transformed downtown for the better!

If you have not had the opportunity to see/ride on the Cultural Trail in Indy, I highly recommend it.  What they have done is pretty awesome when you think of all the difficulties and space restrictions that are associated with an urban center.  When I saw what they have been able to accomplish, it made me think how easy it should be in Columbus!

Events: Reuse - Saving the Dome from the Landfill

On October 14th, I attended the INASLA annual conference in downtown Indianapolis.  One particular presentation got me extremely excited about all the possibilities related to the idea of reuse.  The presentation was by Michael Bricker who is the co-founder and executive director of People for Urban Progress (PUP).  PUP is an Indianapolis-based non-profit and urban design do-tank that focuses on projects that enhance the urban quality of life in Indianapolis, particularly in the areas of transit, environment and design.

Michael and a few friends started the non-profit out of the big idea of reusing the fabric from the RCA dome when it was demolished in 2008.  The worked with the construction company and the City to save the 15-acres of fabric that was 2 layers thick.  They were able to save 3 acres or 90% of the fabric from the landfill.  This much fabric would cover a sidewalk that would run from downtown Indianapolis to Carmel. 

Their initial idea was to work with local artists to reuse the fabric and make it into shade structures for the parks around Indianapolis.  In order to do this, they needed funding.  So, they worked with the local artists to create really fun items that could be sold.  They make a series of products such as wallets, purses, clutches, etc. (I recommend everyone check this out- what a wonderful Christmas present!). 

From these projects they raised over $30,000 and have been able to begin work on their shade structures.  See an example of one below.  They have also worked with a variety of Universities, Businesses, and non-profits around Indianapolis to create custom structures that provide shade.  To date, they have used approximately 1% of the fabric.

I was actually able to chat with Michael at the end of the presentation, and I think we may start working with them to create some unique work in Columbus.  I was thinking it would be really cool to create bike rack covers with the material.  I have linked Michael up with the director of the newly created Indiana University College of Art and Design located in Columbus.  I’m excited about the possibilities!  I found the presentation truly inspiring!

Lack of Choice

The perils related to social injustice revolve around and are exasperated by the concept of choice (or lack there of).  In many instances low-income individuals don’t have the ability to make the choices they need to live a happy, healthy, and productive life.

Food and Health

All of the author’s writings we read this week covered health in one way or another as it related to social justice.  Bullard writes about the asthma epidemic in the United States and how it increased by 40% between 1982 and 1991 as a direct result of air pollution.  Just as economically disadvantaged people may not have the choice to leave an environment with polluted air, they also often don’t have access to healthy food and exercise.  This has spurred another huge epidemic, obesity.  Check out the maps showing the disturbing trends in obesity in the US.

In order to curb these trends, we have to find a way to make the healthy choice the easy choice.  For some reason, in my mind obesity and McDonalds fit into the same sentence.  McDonald’s menu has gotten much healthier, I must say.  When you go on their website there are definitely healthy options.  Check out the picture for a happy meal it has milk and apples instead of a coke and fries.  But, when you actually go to order that happy meal, the default is the coke and fries.  Many people don’t even think about it and so they end up with the unhealthy option when instead it would be better for society if the default choice was the option with milk and fruit.  Ok, enough with my rant on McDonald's.

But, it isn’t just the fast food restaurants that are the problem.  Let’s think about the actual options people have in low-income areas for food.  Some people only have the options available to them in the local food pantry.  Yes, those people may want to eat fresh, local or organic food but that isn’t a choice.  Their options are whatever is available to them at the local food bank, and as you can see in the picture this is often not the healthiest option. 

On a side note, if you donate to your local food pantry (which you all should, of course) take a look at this article that gives an overview on how to make safe healthy food bank donations. 

Throughout the world, the economically depressed areas are often also associated with a lack of healthy food options.  These areas have been coined with the term food desert, which is any area where healthy, affordable food is difficult to obtain. They are most prevalent in rural as well as urban areas and in low-socioeconomic minority communities.  This idea is best portrayed when you look at the food desert locator for Indianapolis. 

The great thing about knowledge and mapping is that now we can begin to locate areas to target for community gardens, affordable markets, and healthy food pantries!  Once we find a way to make the healthy choice the easy choice (or even a choice at all), we can begin to help alleviate many of the health problems such as obesity that can be associated with economically depressed areas.

Housing

Bullard (184) discusses how institutional barriers have locked millions of people of color (or low income) into polluted neighborhoods and hazardous, low-paying jobs, which make it nearly impossible for them to “vote with their feet” and escape those types of environments.  People don’t choose to live in these areas; they are stuck. 

Much like the Don’t Move, Improve! Campaign that Roseland (160) mentions that is being led by the South Bronx in New York in an effort to revitalize health, daycare, economic education, housing, environment, transportation and capital development in low income areas, the City of Philadelphia has created a unique program to revitalize many economically depressed areas in the City through art.   The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program was founded in 1984 and unites artists and communities through a collaborative process, rooted in the traditions of mural-making, to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives. 

At a public art conference a few years ago, I was lucky enough to meet Jane Golden, the lead artist and founder of the program and receive a tour of some of the murals.  It is truly amazing how the murals have transformed the neighborhoods they reside.  The artists work with the surrounding community to design and paint the murals, which gives the community members a sense of pride and ownership.  Currently there are over 2,500 murals throughout the city, and over 40,000 walls have been cleaned of graffiti.  In my opinion this program is a prime example of how we can improve low-income areas through art!