Gregory Michel Syracuse Jul 23, 2008 4:55 am

Hello all,

I have been working with a local organization (GreeningUSA) to develop a citizen driven workshop series on sustainability for neighborhoods in Syracuse, NY and the greater Central New York area. Over the past several months we have worked with local experts and interested parties to create a menu of workshops that we could offer to various neighborhoods. I would love learn from any successes and failures of community workshops that have or are taking place around the country/world. Many of neighborhoods we will be working with have high percentages of low income and minority residents. If you could share your thoughts, resources, or point us in the direction of folks that have done similar initiatives that would be great.

Here is a link to a portal with more details and I have also pasted an overview of the Academy for your reference. www.sustainablecny.com/academy

Sustainability Academy

Overview
The Sustainability Academy is a citizen-driven workshop series for neighborhoods on the nuts and bolts of sustainability.

Objectives
To empower citizens with knowledge and hands-on skills necessary to contribute to a sustainable community Through a series of interactive sessions or a one day fair participants will:

* Develop a network of citizens concerned with local sustainability issues
* Gain the skills, know-how and access to resources to make informed decisions on daily living based on sustainability principles (energy, food, water, housing, waste)
* Learn about community design and how to effectively participate in sustainable community development
* Learn about growing opportunities in "green collar" and sustainability jobs
* Learn from successes and failures of sustainable community initiatives worldwide

Session Topics (tentative)
Currently, individuals and representatives from government, businesses and organizations are engaged in designing each of the following sessions. Communities will choose which sessions they would like based on local needs and interests.

1 Sustainability, So what's the big deal?: Quality of Life 101
2 Food: green and on the cheap
3 Home heat home: Sustainable housing and energy
4 Green jobs and education: Tools for economic sustainability and empowerment
5 Building your green school
6 Good education: step one for sustainability
7 From here to there: Transportation that's healthy, practical, economical, convenient, and easy on the environment
8 Keepers of the Waters: Protecting and reclaiming our waters, the source of life, Green Infrastructure
9 The Consumption Factor: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle saving money, local economies and the world
10 Government Leadership: How to build bridges between the general public and our representatives
11 My dream neighborhood: Community Design and Participation

Background
The Sustainability Academy arose from discussions amongst community educators at a series of Greening USA Education Committee meetings. The group responded to a need to focus energy and resources on existing community projects such as the city school renovations, the Westside Initiative, the Connective Corridor, etc.

Implementation
The Academy will run a pilot academy at one of the first phase school renovation projects (Blodgett Middle School) to complement the resources and efforts that will be going into the neighborhood and to empower neighbors with the tools to develop sustainable communities and create a community support network around the school. The academy hopes to repeat itself at all interested city schools, areas undergoing community development, and neighborhoods. Each Academy will have a similar structure, but will also be developed in collaboration with neighborhood partners and be tailored to the needs of the individual communities. The planning of the pilot Academy at Blodgett Middle School will serve as a template to be adapted and improved with input from all stakeholders for future Academies. Your input is greatly appreciated.