News from Edens Lost & Found, August 10, 2006

We met Patricia McCorkle, legendary casting director for films, television, and theater, through our Chicago segment host Scott Simon. Scott had interviewed Pat on his Saturday morning NPR program and came away impressed. We confided to Scott that we were looking for someone who could navigate their way through the Hollywood star system in order to find someone who truly cared about the environment and the future of American cities. Weeks went by until Pat called to tell us she had the perfect candidate for us. Her choice was someone who has been living in Los Angeles for close to twenty years and more importantly, was dedicated to environmental justice and urban restoration. Of course it doesn't hurt that Jimmy Smits also happens to be one of the most talented and famous actors on the planet. We are honored to have Jimmy Smits as the host for Los Angeles: Dream a Different City.

- Harry Wiland and Dale Bell

Environmental educators look to Edens Lost & Found
Edens Lost & Found co-director/producer Harry Wiland and environmental educator Deb Perryman of Elgin High School in Illinois are among presentors at the North American Association of Environmental Educators 35th annual conference, held this year October 10-14, in St. Paul, MN. Wiland will host a one-hour segment from Edens Lost & Found, the public television series that focusses on strategies that contribute to sustainable urban environments. The strategies include parks and open space, urban forestry, watershed management, public art, waste disposal, recycling, green architecture and mass transit alternatives. Deb Perryman, Illinois Teacher of the Year for 2005, will co-host the Edens presentation with Wiland. Perryman, who is featured in the Chicago segment of Edens Lost & Found, has championed a "service learning approach" that NAAEE is weaving through the conference this year. Perryman is working with Edens Lost & Found to compile curricula that focus on sustainability issues. NAAEE has a preconference workshop on service learning and is planning a community service project for conference participants. Next year's NAAEE conference in Virginia Beach will have an entire strand on service learning.

Wiland, Bell named Ashoka Fellows
SANTA MONICA - "Inform, challenge, and ultimately ENGAGE a responsive citizenry," has earned the founders Harry Wiland and Dale Bell of The Media & Policy Center Foundation election to an international Fellowship of social entrepreneurs.

In 2003, Dale Bell and Harry Wiland launched The Media & Policy Center Foundation to create, organize, and produce innovative film, public television, print, multimedia, and software programming dealing with the emerging issues of social welfare, public policy, education, healthcare, and the environment. Since then, M&PCF has expanded its media model to include national PBS broadcasts, companion books, action guides, websites, academic curricula, town hall meetings, symposia, and a speaker's bureau. Bell & Wiland, through their work with PBS, have been leaders of public policy and educational media programming.

For their innovative approach to public policy and the use of mass media for social advocacy Bell & Wiland have been elected Ashoka Fellows. Once elected to Ashoka, Fellows benefit from being part of the Ashoka global Fellowship for life.

Read more at www.edenslostandfound.org

Welcome to our new Outreach Partners:
EarthCorps promotes strong communities, healthy habitats, and young leaders. EarthCorps¹ mission is to build global community through local environmental service. The core program is an intensive year-long environmental service learning experience for young adults ages 18-25 from across the US and around the world. In addition, EarthCorps leads 10,000 youth and community volunteers planting trees, building hiking trails, and restoring salmon habitat. www.earthcorps.org

Seattle Parks Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and expanding Seattle¹s parks and green spaces. Founded by civic and business leaders in 2001 to bridge the gap between public resources and the needs of a vibrant park system, the Parks Foundation and its community partners have improved 15 parks, built two new parks, and restored historic park features at three parks in just five years. www.seattleparksfoundation.org

The University of Florida, School of Forest Resources and Conservation is studying urban forests and their role in environmental quality and community well being. Recent studies and extension efforts have included assessment of urban trees after hurricanes, reforestation in urban areas, wildland- urban interface economics and policy, and the effects of fire and urbanization on forests. http://sfrc.ufl.edu/

Edens Lost & Found is always pleased to have like-minded organizations join us as Outreach Partners. We keep our partners informed about our PBS premieres and local screenings and also work with them to arrange screenings in their area. Some of our partners are using our teaching materials to help educate students and the public about the environment. To register to become a partner, please visit our website at: www.edenslostandfound.org and fill out the form under the "get involved" section. If you have additional questions please write to: heather@wilandbellprod.com.

Thank you for your interest in Edens Lost & Found!

Visit our website at www.edenslostandfound.org
Order a copy of the DVDs and companion book,
Download our free teacher and community action guides, and
register to become an Outreach Partner.

Get involved with Edens Lost & Found! If you have questions about using our DVDs, companion book, and teaching materials to help educate students and the public about sustainability and going green, please send an email to: heather@wilandbellprod.com.

Thanks for reading!