In addition to the links you will find throughout this website, please look here for a multitude of resources, ideas, and inspiration you can use to tackle the sustainability issues you face in your community.

Corporation for National & Community Service engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to help strengthen communities. Look here for information about Learn and Serve, a national service grant program that supports service-learning across the country

The Biodiversity Project shares inspiring stories of everyday Americans working to make a difference for biodiversity. Did you know that Lake Tahoe, Nevada, planned its garbage collection with black bears in mind, or that Key West, Florida re-thought its approach to stormwater run-off in order to better protect the nearby coral reefs? See "Great Communities"

The Annenberg Foundation provides support for projects within its grant-making interest areas of education and youth, arts and culture, civic and community, and health: http://www.annenbergfoundation.org

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a participant in the Green L.A. Program and a promoter of environmentally friendly energy-generating technologies, received the Renewable Company of the Year Award from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: http://www.csmc.edu/

Center for Neighborhood Technology works with citizens, governments, non-profits, and businesses to achieve a steady improvement in quality of life, while simultaneously improving environmental conditions: http://www.cnt.org/

Center for Watershed Protection is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation that provides local governments, activists, and watershed organizations around the country with the technical tools for protecting some of the nation’s most precious natural resources: our streams, lakes and rivers: http://www.cwp.org

Chicago Wilderness is an unprecedented alliance of more than 170 public and private organizations working together to protect, restore, study and manage the precious natural ecosystems of the Chicago region for the benefit of the public. http://www.chicagowilderness.org/

The Community Energy Cooperative is a nonprofit membership organization that enables communities to control their energy use and costs and to benefit from changes in energy technology and regulations. http://www.energycooperative.org/energy-smart-pricing-plan.php

Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, is an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization. Our staff of researchers, editors, and consumer advocates brings you in-depth information on matters that affect your health, your money, and your well-being: http://www.consumersunion.org

Department of Agricultural Sciences at the University of British Columbia: Just as the health of the human body is dependent on the health of the individual cells in it, so too is the urban region dependent on the health of the individual sites that comprise it. We explore and demonstrate how site and neighbourhood design can influence the ecological, social, and economic health of the region: http://www.sustainable-communities.agsci.ubc.ca/

The Emerald Necklace is a string of waterways and parkways in Boston and Brookline for people to visit and enjoy. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy was formed in 1996 and brings together government, business, residential and institutional representatives, community leaders and organizations, environmental and park advocates. Programs focus on: parks restoration and maintenance, public education, exhibits and publications constituency-building, and park advocacy to improve public access to the park system: http://www.emeraldnecklace.org

The Environmental Affairs/Economic Development program encourages the growth of industry while recognizing the area's environmental resources as assets rather than impediments: http://www.southeastchicago.org/

Firewise Communities: People continue to build homes in wildland/urban interface areas. These are education programs designed to make them more aware of how to live there safely. http://www.firewise.org http://www.interfacesouth.org

Friends 4 Expo Transit are an all-volunteer group of citizens joined together to support an alternative to L.A.'s world-record traffic—a fast, comfortable, safe, high-capacity light rail transit line from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica: http://www.friends4expo.org/

Ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, wind events all impact the urban forests. After the storm, chain saws often cause even more damage. The following are good resources for community disaster planning, budgeting and mitigation.
http://www.umass.edu/urbantree/icestorm/
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/urban/urban.htm
http://www.umass.edu/urbantree/TEM.pdf
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/uf/sotuf/sotuf.htm
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/urbanforestry/ucfdisasters/ucfdisasters.htm
http://www.umass.edu/urbantree/icestorm/pages/StormAssessProtocol.doc

Living Memorial Projects grew out of the terrorist attacks of 911 - The Forest Service wanted to use the healing power of trees and green opening space to commemorate those events, but the tools are being used to commemorate other experiences as well. http://www.livingmemorialsproject.net/toolbox

The Los Angeles Ad Hoc River Committee will focus on major revitalization efforts on our historic river; opportunities for parks, trails, recreation, nature, neighborhood identity, jobs, community development, tourism, civic pride and much more: http://www.lacity.org/councilcmte/lariver/

By striving to increase productivity and efficiency while continuing to emphasize and provide the highest levels of service, Los Angeles County Public Works looks forward to successfully meeting the challenges of the future through new technology and continued high standards: http://ladpw.org/

Magnusson Klemencic Associates go beyond the nuts and bolts to produce innovative, value-added, "total project" solutions. Member, U.S. Green Building Council, MKA is spearheading an exciting Green Roof Evaluation Project in Seattle to reduce pollution, cleanse stormwater runoff, mitigate urban flooding, create oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, double roof life, and provide insulation for commercial buildings.Five test demonstration plots will be measured over 18 months and evaluated for financial, community, and environmental benefits. http://www.mka.com/

The Menomonee Valley is a 1200-acre collection of brownfield properties in Milwaukee. Its 200,000 residents now face typical challenges: no jobs, high crime, poor health, crumbling infrastructure etc. This agency is at the heart of a group of stakeholders focused on economic and environmental renewal. http://www.renewthevalley.org

Mithun: Resource efficient architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, and interior design: http://www.mithun.com/mithun.htm

The National Decentralized Water Resources Capacity Development Project is a cooperative effort funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which supports research and development of onsite/decentralized wastewater treatment. Organizations collaborating in this effort include the Coalition for Alternative Wastewater Treatment, the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment, the Electric Power Research Institute, the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and the Water Environment Research Foundation: .http://www.ndwrcdp.org

The New England Coalition for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, with Dr. Walter Willett of the Harvard School of Public Health, have released an eight-point program to prevent overweight that includes attention to workplaces, social environments, and urban planning that encourages active lifestyles. Willett Obesity Control Strategic Plan

The New York City Open Accessible Space Information System Cooperative (OASIS) is a partnership of more than 30 federal, state, and local agencies, private companies, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations to create a one-stop, interactive mapping and data analysis application via the Internet to enhance the stewardship of open space for the benefit of New York City residents. http://www.oasisnyc.net

The Office of Sustainable Architecture focuses on green design, sustainability, planning, and consulting. http://www.sustainablearchitect.com

One Economy is a national non-profit organization created to bring access to technology into the homes of low-income people around the country. We use that technology to connect low-income people to information and tools they can use to build assets and improve their lives. http://www.one-economy.com/

The Mission of Oregon Public Broadcasting, an independent not-for-profit corporation, is to provide lifelong learning that informs, educates, and enriches people through the development and delivery of exemplary programming and services. http://www.opb.org/

The People's Waterfront Coalition strives to seize this once-in-a-century opportunity to create a shoreline downtown that works for residents as well as visitors, native salmon and the marine ecosystems of Puget Sound. http://www.peopleswaterfront.org/

Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations is dedicated to advocacy, policy development and technical assistance for CDCs and other organizations in their efforts to rebuild communities and revitalize neighborhoods: http://www.pacdc.org/

Since 1974, Philadelphia Green has worked in partnership with neighborhood residents, community organizations, and city agencies, to create community gardens and greenspaces as a community building tool: http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/phlgreen/index.html

Philadelphia Water Department operates three award-winning water pollution control plants. These plants remove approximately 92% of wastewater pollutants before the water is returned to the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. As a result, the Delaware River, once so polluted it could no longer support aquatic life, now boasts the return of approximately 42 species of fish as well as vibrant waterfront living: http://www.phila.gov/water/

The River Project encourages responsible management of Los Angeles County watershed lands and revitalization of our rivers for the social, economic and environmental benefit of our communities. Through outreach, advocacy, scientific research and hands-on educational programs, we provide communities with the tools to reclaim their riverfront lands. http://www.theriverproject.org/

The San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy was created by the California legislature to preserve open space and habitat in order to provide for low-impact recreation and educational uses, wildlife habitat restoration and protection, and watershed improvements. http://www.rmc.ca.gov/

SeattleDOT strives to preserve connections between neighborhoods and to incorporate environmental considerations: http://www.cityofseattle.net/transportation/aboutsdot.htm

The Sixteenth Street Community Health Center in Milwaukee, WI, is going beyond traditional health care models to link the environment, the economy, and the community to make a difference in the livability of neighborhoods and overall family health. ADJH_Article.pdf

Syracuse University New York did a study on the effects of urban forests and their management on human health and environmental quality www.fs.fed.us/ne/syracuse/tools/tools.htm

Treelink seeks to improve urban and community forests by providing Internet-based information, tools and inspiration for the researcher, the arborist, the community group leader, the volunteer. Our purpose is to inform, educate, and inspire. http://www.treelink.org

TreeVitalize is a broad-based partnership to restore tree cover as a component in maintaining and improving social, economic, and environmental quality of life.The loss of 5 million trees over the past 15 years has negataively impacted southerneastern Pennsylvania through increased stormwater runoff, lower air quality and increased energy costs. http://www.treevitalize.net/

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national, nonprofit, land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come: http://www.tpl.org

The USC Center for Sustainable Cities engages in multidisciplinary research and education on the environmental, social, and economic sustainability challenges facing metropolitan regions, and contributes to the development of public policy that improves the natural and human environment of cities. http://www.usc.edu/dept/geography/ESPE/about_our_mission.html

The USDA Forest Service has published a National Report on Sustainable Forests. Find that and other important sustainability links at: http://www.fs.fed.us/sustained/msie4.html

The University of Washington Department of Landscape Architecture integrates teaching, research, professional skills, and knowledge from other disciplines to provide solutions to real-world problems. Our project-based learning encompasses an intellectual and experiential understanding of human and natural systems http://www.caup.washington.edu/larch/overview/mission.php

Valuing Trees in the City is a Forest Service social science perspective on the controversial nature of urban park restoration. Look here for "Shared Wisdom"
http://www.fs.fed.us/nc

Western Center for Urban Forest Research and Education has a great website with lots of good information including a tree growth animation showing the benefits as the tree grows. http://cufr.ucdavis.edu/

The Wireless Community Networks (WCN) project, an effort of the Center for Neighborhood Technology and its partners, uses wireless technologies in an innovative network design to provide low-cost broadband connectivity and related opportunities such as job searching capability and skill development, to underserved households, community groups, and small businesses. http://wcn.cnt.org/

Read a report on the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002): http://www.usda.gov/sustainable/World%20Summit%20index.htm

MORE GREEN PROJECTS

"I wanted to call your attention to the greening of Gary, Indiana through the Marquette Greenway plan. Here, communities are working together to revitalize and bring public access to the south shores of Lake Michigan, where the steel industry dominates this water's edge."
Dan Rieden Landscape Architect
Lake County Parks, Planning Division
8411 E. Lincoln Hwy.
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 945-0543 fax (219) 947-0650
"Landscapes mirror and landscapes matter, they tell us much about the values we hold and at the same time affect the quality of the lives we lead..." -D.W. Meinig

Here is a link to the Resource Guide for Sustainable Development which was developed by Urban Environmental Institute and sponsored by Vulcan Inc. Using the South Lake Union neighborhood near downtown Seattle as a case study, the resource guide proposes goals, design principles and tools for designing and building sustainably in a mixed use development market.

"Thought you may be interested in the Midwest Renewable Energy Association's ReNew the Earth Institute. This is a demonstration and training site where people from around the nation come to learn about renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable living. You can learn more about us at www.the-mrea.org -- "
Tehri Parker, Executive Director
Midwest Renewable Energy Association
7558 Deer Rd. Custer, WI 54423
715-592-6595 tehri@the-mrea.org

"Here is an innovative sustainability project from Detroit. It is called soft engineering. See web site for a short article: http://www.tellusnews.com/ahr/art/pdf/pse2.pdf
or a printable manual: http://www.tellusnews.com/ahr/report_cover.html There is also an interactive map (click on locations to review projects)"
John H. Hartig, Refuge Manager
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
Large Lakes Research Station
9311 Groh Road
Grosse Ile, MI 48183
Phone: 734-692-7608 Fax: 734-692-7603 john_hartig@fws.gov

"We are pleased to send you information on Earth Pledge. Mission: Earth Pledge identifies and promotes innovative techniques and technologies that restore the balance between human and natural systems. Through demonstration, education, and research, we deliver viable models to government, industry, and communities. The New York region is our laboratory for implementing replicable solutions that will inspire and facilitate a global transition to sustainability."
Leslie Hoffman, Executive Director
Earth Pledge
122 East 38th Street,
New York, NY 10016

"You may be interested in the pollution prevention efforts WMRC (Illinois Waste Management and Research Center, a Division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources) is undertaking with manufacturing companies, especially metal finishing (electroplaters) and printed wiring board (PWB) sectors. We also have a 20 minute video on our work with the Metal Finishers."
Malcolm Boyle
Waste Management and Research Center (WMRC) /
IL Dept. of Natural Resources
1010 Jorie Blvd., Suite 12,
Oak Brook, IL 60523 website: www.wmrc.uiuc.edu
Voice: 630.472.5028 Fax: 630.472.5023 mboyle@wmrc.uiuc.edu

"I am the Founding Artistic Director of the collaborative collective ARTScorpsLA We work with, among and for working class communities in Detroit and Los Angeles to strengthen the local population as the catalyst for social change. We are seeking "best practices" for sustainability within neighborhoods where we have developed rich and deep relationships. Using art as the leading vehicle of engagement, thousands of ordinary citizens have worked on a "greening coalition" to create parks and gathering places from neglected city landscapes."
Tricia Ward, Founding Director
ARTScorpsLA
936 Mei Ling Way
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-617-3877 Or 213-925-2252

The Center for Neighborhood Technology moved into an eighty-year-old former textile factory in 1987, and began renovating a three-story brick building in 2000. In accordance with our organizational philosophy of utilizing existing resources, we chose to pursue a “green building” renovation: http://building.cnt.org/