2007 ROUND TABLE REPORT OUTLINE
2007 Sustainability Round Table Report Sustainability Round Table Report 2007 December 21, 2007By Kendra Sandoval and Janna SixAlliance for Sustainable Coloradowww.sustainablecolorado.orgPage 12007 Sustainability Round Table ReportSustainability Round Table Report 2007 I. Summary
Alliance for Sustainable Colorado facilitated round table meetings as a way of bringing
non-profit activists, community leaders, business people, government agency
representatives and educators together from around the state and the nation for dialogues
on sustainability.
Five sustainability round table dialogues were conducted during the Fall of 2007. Over a
hundred people from Colorado attended one of the meetings in Telluride, Colorado
Springs, Durango or Denver. Five people from other states attended the national
meeting, also held in Denver.
The meetings confirmed the Alliance’s views that sustainability is a universal, salient and
urgent concern. Accomplishments along the path to sustainability vary widely by
community – based on a variety of factors such as the lack of communication
infrastructure to local government leadership and funding. The round tables opened our
eyes to the myriad of successful and frustrated efforts by organizations and individuals.
And, they clarified ways our efforts can be strengthened, supported and coalesced to
move sustainability forward.
This report explores the goals of the round tables, identifies the indicators of
sustainability, identifies strategies for addressing those indicators and includes
recommendations for Alliance for Sustainable Colorado’s future role. Incorporated is a
general description of the round table format including the World Café guidelines and
finally the case studies from around the state. An appendix includes lists of attendees and
an entire compilation of notes from all round tables.
Two assumptions were made at the beginning of each round table discussion. First, a
definition of sustainability was presented by Alliance staff to ensure that all participants
were in general agreement of the end goal. The definition offered is that “sustainability is
universal economic, social and environmental well-being.” There was no disagreement.
Second, the focus of the meetings was on solutions that promote sustainability. Problems
and behaviors considered “unsustainable” were understood and only discussed
incidentally.This report collects a sampling of thoughts about sustainability. Future round tables will
be conducted more broadly throughout Colorado and nationally.Page 22007 Sustainability Round Table ReportII. Goals for the round tables
•Build cross-sector alliances (business, non-profit, government and academia) to
share best practices and find ways to collaborate•Share news on existing sustainability initiatives•Brainstorm ideas for new sustainability initiatives at the regional, state and/or
national level•Explore effective use of existing community resources (money, people and
relationships) to build momentum•Build communication networks and collaborative activities that will support the
sustainability movement•Nationally, identify organizations interested in establishing (or expanding to
become) the primary state-based alliance in their stateIII. Indicators of sustainability in Colorado (Overall round table themes)
•Food is produced and consumed locally•Renewable, clean energy and energy efficiency are required•Water conservation is employed in all arenas•A coordinated and functioning mass transit system is built and utilized•Sustainable behaviors and habits at the individual and collective level are learned
and practiced•Recycling and composting are mandatoryIV. Strategies for reaching those indicators (Best practices and themes which
emerged)
Successful strategies should:
•Provide incentives, not punishments•Apply system thinking in all work•Focus on youth•Bring people together from diverse points of view to communicate on the values
we have in common – open space, healthy environment and high quality of life•Use global warming as the galvanizing issue for change•Focus on the emotional, cultural and spiritual aspects of sustainability•Avoid politicizing sustainability issues•Take action to build regional capacity •Level the playing field so there is a financial incentive to take the correct action in
relation to water, energy, transportation and all resource use •Incorporate triple bottom line thinking in all decision makingPage 32007 Sustainability Round Table ReportV. Successful strategies would include
•Watershed education programs•Complementary currencies•Education in calculating your carbon footprint•Well-maintained and functioning communication networks•Better promotion and replication of best practices and technologies we are already
using•More effectively publicizing common messages•Local governments taking active leadership in sustainability•State governments connecting regional efforts by providing infrastructure and
modeling leadership•State governments supporting local governments in sustainability planning,
funding and action
VI. Recommendations for the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado’s role in moving sustainability forward in Colorado in a collaborative way
•Expand Alliance website – comprehensive resource for sustainability•Create traveling systems thinking speaker series•Facilitate periodic web conferences•Continue regular check-ins with the current sustainability network•Expand network by holding round table meetings in other areas throughout the
state•Create an action agenda that we can all work on together to make a tangible
improvement in the quality of life in ColoradoVII. Recommendations for Alliance for Sustainable Colorado’s role in moving sustainability forward Nationally in a collaborative way
•Facilitate periodic web conferences•Design a comprehensive web resource for sustainability•Provide support in creating a statewide center•Visit sites in other states to ground truth the issues•Share model language for sustainability legislation•Create a national steering committee for a state-based sustainability movementVIII. General description of round tables
•Four statewide round tables were held throughout Colorado between October 27
and November 15, 2007•These meetings reached 106 people (including Alliance staff)•One national round table was held in Denver, Colorado, attracting 5
representatives from 3 neighboring states•Notes were taken on posters, video tape and by handPage 42007 Sustainability Round Table Report IX. World Café procedure – (discussions were facilitated by Kendra Sandoval and Janna Six of the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado, questions changed as the round tables progressed) •Participants were divided into small groups of 3-5 at each table•Answers to questions were orally shared with each other•Instructions were given to write on table, color, doodle, draw, share and listen•Emerging themes were determined•Small group reported back to larger group•One person stayed at the table and the rest of the group moved to a new table•The process was repeated with a second question•The process was repeated with a third question that stimulated participants to
network and take actionPage 52007 Sustainability Round Table ReportX. Case studies - the following themes stood out from extensive notes recorded from dialogue sessions at each round table (please see attached for full set of notes from posters and discussions) A. Telluride - October 27, 2007
Description:
The Telluride region is nestled high in the magnificent, breathtaking San Juan
Mountains in the southwestern corner of Colorado. The area boasts of natural
alpine beauty, a rich historical Victorian heritage, an abundance of activities and
recreation, cultural celebrations and festivals, outdoor adventures and the
sophistication of world-renowned skiing. The round table was held during the
off-season, so the community was very quiet. A collaborative meeting was
already being convened by local organizations; the New Community Coalition,
the Telluride Institute and Sheep Mountain Alliance. The round table discussion
was facilitated by Alliance for Sustainable Colorado staff.
Participants:
Nineteen people attended. The attendees knew each other and already had a good
sense of community. Most were high level representatives from non-profit
organizations within a 100- mile radius, from Durango, Paonia and Norwood.
Two people from the local Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
offices attended. A teacher and two students from Colorado Mountain College
observed the meeting. The participants were very knowledgeable and passionate
about sustainability.
Sustainability Discussion Themes:
Question 1: What have you done to move sustainability forward in your
organization and your community? and What sustainable practices have worked
best for you, your organization and your community? •Bridge the gaps between communities – cross pollination, reach past the choir,
reach non-traditional audiences•Focus on education – public education, self education and changing behaviors•Use systems theory, interconnected thinking to describe issues•Take the role of being a catalyst – energize large bodies of people•Provide incentives for behavior change, not punishmentsQuestion 2: What initiatives could our organizations work on together to
accelerate sustainability throughout Colorado?•Institutionalize greener building codes•Revise Tabor – to allow Colorado government agencies to collect necessary
fees to provide public services•Reform K-12 education to include sustainability•Teach systems thinking – educate people about interconnectednessPage 62007 Sustainability Round Table ReportQuestion 3: As we work on sustainability what does engaging business,
government, non-profits, academia and the public look like? and What does
continued collaboration look like?•Find something that we all have in common to work on – clean air?
watershed?•Expand the network by identifying all relevant stakeholders•Provide mechanisms for ongoing dialogue, discussions, such as newsletters
and bi-weekly check-ins•Present concrete opportunities for people to take actionQuestion 4: What resources do we need? and What bold steps can we take to
meeting these resource needs?•Enlist Governor’s support for regional projects by touring the state and
funding infrastructure to appoint regional sustainability coordinators•Create continuity and predictability of institutional support for resource
extraction, development and use•Make corporations more accountable to the public•Build state leadership to amend Tabor•Have and tell the same story, our messages are too diffuse.•Keep resource base undated (who’s doing what/ contact info)•Create local sustainable jobsUnique issues to this region;
•Greenbucks program – complementary currency (In the summer of 2006 over
450 community volunteers cleaned up local lands and waters and learned
about stewardship of the ecosystem). Volunteers earned Greenbucks which
they traded for regional discounts and concert tickets•Carbon calorie class- teaching how to calculate carbon footprint•Watershed education project for the San Miguel River basin that offers
comprehensive, hands-on training•New Community Coalition, is a model 501c3 organization designed to
promote sustainability and is a collaboratively sponsored and managed project
of Mountain Village, Telluride and San Miguel County•Isolation from Front Range people and resources is an obstacle to successful
policy action•Energy sheds – a new way of looking at local activism and interconnectednessPage 72007 Sustainability Round Table ReportB. Colorado Springs – October 31, 2007
Description:
Fort Carson initiated its journey toward sustainability with a regional conference
in 2002, where Fort Carson and community stakeholders established 25-year
goals. Fort Carson has long been an Army model of environmental stewardship
and has an established history of community involvement. A sustainability
approach was a logical next step at Fort Carson. Operating in a sustainable
fashion goes beyond compliance, saves money and considers the well-being of
everyone on the post and in the community, now and in the future. Colorado
Springs is home to the “great political divide.” Military and government
influence here sets an example for other sectors. The Army is walking its talk.
It’s a good model of sustainability not just in its verbiage but also through actions
from green buildings – procurement. The Alliance World Café was part of a two-
day Fort Carson Sustainability Conference.
Participants:
Over 50 people participated, including influential community leaders, all living
within a hundred mile radius, representing business, government, non-profit and
academic sectors.
Sustainability Discussion Themes:
Question 1: What sustainable practices have worked best to move sustainability
forward in your organization and your community?•Working with youth•Encourage water conservation through: tiered prices, storm water enterprise
program, reduce impervious surfaces, education program (Fountain Valley
Healthy Initiative), purchase of water rights and reuse of water•Conserve energy through: rebates from utility companies and incentives,
education on impacts of energy resources and global warming and energy
audit of all city facilities
Question 2: What initiatives could our organizations work on together to
accelerate sustainability throughout Colorado?•Form partnerships and create common goals•Use existing models of success: don’t reinvent the wheel•Publicize successful efforts and best practices•Create a “come to work with government” day•Coordinate regional efforts to enable Front Range mass transit, recycling and
compostingQuestion 3: What bold steps can we take to reach existing community resources
to build momentum?•Convene a central meeting to demonstrate critical mass•Practice sustainability education that is non-partisanPage 82007 Sustainability Round Table Report•Maintain common web site where people can go for information around the
stateUnique topics to this region:
•Safe routes to school•Incentives to use mass transit•United Nations decade for sustainability educationPage 92007 Sustainability Round Table ReportC. Durango – November 10, 2007
Description:
Durango is nestled in the Animas River Valley surrounded by the San Juan
Mountains. The Animas River runs through downtown and boasts gold medal fly-
fishing waters and is very popular for whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing.
Durango is an outdoor activity paradise for hiking; snow skiing, mountain biking,
road biking, backpacking, rock climbing, hunting, off-roading and golfing.
Durango is the home of Fort Lewis College. Population of the county is about
20,000 and growing rapidly with vacation homes.
Participants:
Southwest Association for a Sustainable Colorado (SASCO) convened the
networking meeting it called “Green Umbrella Event”. Fifty one representatives
from non-profit, government, business, academia and faith based organizations
attended. Dick White, local resident and former professor at Smith College, was
one of two featured speakers; Janna Six from Alliance for Sustainable Colorado
was the other speaker.Sustainability Discussion Themes:
Question 1: What does sustainability mean to me? My organization?•A change in consciousness. Everything being done should be guided by the
precautionary principle•A sense of urgency•Interlocking issues•Shared community vision statement of sustainability – recognition of diverse
values and principles•Do planning on a regional scale -- building regional capacity•Problem solving structures in placeQuestion 2: How can we communicate and collaborate to become a more
sustainable community?•Resolve the tension about whether to focus on expanding the choir or reaching
out to the non-choir•Need to have a central calendar because duplication of efforts is causing
similar mission driven organizations in Durango to compete for customers and
resources•SASCO could consider the possibility of hiring a Sustainability Coordinator•Audit the local government budget with a sustainability filter•Have state legislation fund offices / networks for sustainability hubs
throughout the state•Collaborate more broadly - don’t just stay focused on your narrow interest•Determine how your issue connects with others•Ask groups to sign onto a statement of commitment to promote sustainability?Page 102007 Sustainability Round Table Report Question 3: How can we facilitate collaboration on sustainability? Next steps?•As part of the next meeting we have to: prioritize, define, delegate/volunteer
action items•Engage and empower youth•Promote voter registration and get out the vote•Get involved with local government Policy/Procedure Process & Budget•Create a central phone # /web page/WIKI/hotline to ask questions - interactive
idea seed bank via website and example would be an “Information Clearing
House/Resource Center”•Provide a monthly, quarterly or seasonal “social” invite targeted organizations
and representatives to become involved to expand the network•Educate groups - start with systems, then break down into topic areas, close
by returning to systems integrationUnique topics to this region:
•Promote local food to school program•Create a list of sustainability principles for organizations to sign on to•Develop and promote a common appreciation of what it means to live in
Durango – cultural spiritual heritagePage 112007 Sustainability Round Table ReportD. Front Range – November 15, 2007
Description:
Special ½ day meeting convened just for the purpose of a Front Range round table
sponsored by Alliance for Sustainable Colorado held at the Alliance Center in
Denver, Colorado
Participants:
Eighteen people participated (including four people by speaker phone) business,
non-profit, government and academic sectors were represented
Sustainability Discussion Themes:
Question 1: What sustainable practices have worked best to move sustainability
forward in your organization and your community?•Connect young people to coalition efforts•Promote single stream recycling•Be active listeners, speak in simple terms•Build a culture of sustainability values and ethics that intertwine with all
aspects of business and life = shift paradigms•Institute policy that promotes leadership with minimum regulation Question 2: Looking ahead, what bold steps is your organization considering?•Make recycling and composting mandatory•Educate about sustainability for all languages•Change the indicators of progress or wealth of a society for low income
people•Reinstate net metering to be a Federal policy•Increase collaboration with all groups, not just like-minded groups•Make the environment a non-partisan issue•Shift “I” paradigm to “We”•Track carbon foot printingQuestion 3: What initiatives could our organizations work on together to
accelerate sustainability throughout Colorado?•De-politicize the movement•Make connections with uncommon partners•Reinvent communities with models such as urban agriculture•Train children and young people in sustainability•Create easy to access sustainability resource website•Catalyze to create an umbrella organization that speaks with a common voice•Generate policies which control sprawl and improve building codesPage 122007 Sustainability Round Table ReportUnique topics to this region:
•Green Gorillas is a name for people who have been green in their own lives
for years and are coming out in support of sustainable practices at their work
places•Interdependence vs. independence (looking at the importance of
interconnectedness)•Involving agricultural sector (USDA, Livestock Association and Farm
Bureau) in processes of carbon sequestrationPage 132007 Sustainability Round Table ReportE. National Round Table in Denver - November 29-30, 2007
Description:
The National round table was held at the Alliance Center in Denver - a day and a
half meeting engaging people in conversation from four states. Meeting included
Alliance Center monthly brown bag lunch, introductions to organizations
represented tour of the Alliance Center, dinner and networking, world café and
dialogue session.
Participants:
Ten people participated. Two people from Oklahoma, two from Nebraska, one
from Missouri, one from Denver and four from Alliance for Sustainable
Colorado.
Sustainability Discussion Themes:
Question 1: Please share a success story, highlighting the best practices that
moved sustainability forward in your organization and community.•Waste=food (model of Cradle to Cradle)•Continued partnership with Lafarge Cement to shred plastic•Connecting with and speaking to the right people to move sustainability
forward•Modeling everyone is a leader and leading by example•CASBA – Colorado Alliance of Sustainable Business Associations•Having models that incorporate diversity and other sectors•Implementing community based social marketing•Submitting joint grant requests so as not to re-invent the wheelQuestion 2: Please share a story about barriers you’ve encountered.•Insufficient publicity/communication•Good news and processes or results not being reported•Limited sharing between “green” organizations•Policy and bureaucracy – cutting through red tape•Regional chapters becoming autonomous because there are not enough people
at the statewide level to support infrastructure change•Lacking intergenerational communication•Fear•The issue is SO BIG and encompassing. Where do we start?•Not seeing our own blind spots•No platform for feedback•Lack of strategic planning in overall statewide vision, local government goals
vs. state government goalsPage 142007 Sustainability Round Table ReportPage 15Question 3: Looking ahead, what bold steps is your organization considering?What initiatives could our organizations work on together to accelerate
sustainability nationally?•We could create an educational tour on systems thinking and connections and
get rid of territorial competition•Establishing an internet location where green organizations can post
events/items that are going on which would communicate with all non-profits•Create CASBA in other states – i.e. OASBA (Oklahoma), NASBA
(Nebraska), MASBA (Missouri), or RASBA (Regional) - Develop a paid staff
and paid membership for OASBAUnique topics to this region:
•Let’s not get caught up in the minutia•Work with Native tribes in Oklahoma and elsewhere•Reach millions instead of hundreds•Extreme sense of urgency•A national website for sustainability organizations is needed•Conference call to check in every couple of months•We must unite the body politic
refer page:-------http://www.officesoon.com/doc/123915-2007-round-table-report-outline
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