Sustainable Tucson continues to gain new members. Each General Meeting brings more people who have heard about a group for them that is forming a network to support the transition of Tucson to a sustainable city and region. This summer Affinity Groups are working on:
- Youth involvement in sustainability;
- PowerPoint and Speaker's Bureau for "Steps to Sustainability;"
- Training by Nature Conservancy of Green Audit teams;
- Film and Discussion nights;
- Education for Sustainability Conference (AAEE sponsored) at UA campus in October;
- Water Forum with Peter Gleick (co-hosted with the UA Water Research Resource Center and the Southern Arizona Leadership Conference) August 30;
- The first annual Tucson Green Festival (October 27).
The recent Tucson Regional Town Meeting brought with it the realization that much work needs to be done to reconsider assumptions we have made in the past about water and growth. Sustainable Tucson will continue to work with government, business and the community to craft a realistic vision of the future for our city. We envision water harvesting city-wide, refitting older homes for greater energy efficiency, increased local food production, new forms of local economy and a sweeping revamp of the transportation plan.
AAEE applied for funding to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust to support projects resulting from the Arizona Crossroads Summit. Sustainable Tucson applied for a full-time coordinator position to support the rapid growth of the network and put it on firmer administrative and financial ground for the long-term.
Sustainable Tucson will meet with the Sierra Club's Cool Cities group on May 21 at 6 pm at Himmel Library to discuss how we can work collaboratively for mutual goals.
Next meeting: May 24, Thursday, 4-6 pm at Ward VI offices on Anderson at 1st (behind Rum Runner), one block south of Speedway just east of Country Club. Youth will present projects, and plans for sustainability in Tucson. Come celebrate the work of young leaders, network with other sustain-ers and pick up the summer schedule of meetings and events.
www.sustainabletucson.org
Susan
