Quincy, Illinois Regional Partnership for Sustainability

1. Quincy, IllinoisRegional Partnership for Sustainability Norman Christopher Executive DirectorSustainable Community Development Initiative Grand Valley State University Corky Overmyer Community Sustainability ManagerUnited Water Environmental Services, Contract Segment March 24, 2010

2. What Lies Ahead for Our Communities • We face many challenges but what are the solutions? • How do communities rally support? • How do we foster public, private, academic and service sector working relationships? • How should our community development efforts be organized? • How should we function and operate? • How can we communicate more effectively and improve understanding? • How do we receive feedback, comments, and new ideas? • What are Community Sustainability Partnerships, e.g. “CSP’s”? • Where do we start and focus?

3. Why Focus on “Community”… Grass-Root Change! Example Activities • Consumption • Durable Goods • Recycled Products • Local Food • Minimum Packaging • Conservation • Natural Resources • Energy & Water Efficiency • Education Attainment • Higher Degrees of Education • Professional Training • Purchasing • Green Certified Products • Renewable Energy • Alternative Fuels • Locally Produced Goods • Waste • Reuse • Recycle • Eliminate • Minimization Stakeholders • Volunteerism • Reinvestment • Democratic Process • Community Health and Wellness • Exercise and Nutrition • Balanced Lifestyle • Disease Prevention • Building Design • Restoration • Green • LEED Certification We have all put extreme stresses on this world and we all have to find a way to work together to fix it!

4. What are Sustainable Communities? Sustainable communities are placeswhere people want to live, learn, work, and play. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. • Sustainable communities embrace the principles of sustainable development by being: • active, inclusive, and safe • well run • environmentally sensitive • well designed and built • well connected • thriving • well served • fair for everyone Source: www.communities.gov.uk

5. Sustainable Communities Have… A Vibrant Economy • Local, regional economic viability • Opportunities for employment • Reduction in the gap between rich and poor • Innovation and creativity • Advanced technologies and economics • Long-term view, not short term gains • Access to facilities, services, and goods • New business development • A Healthy Environment • Living within ecological limits • Protection and preservation of natural resources • Responsible consumption patterns; re-use and recycling • Limitations on pollution • Design for natural built environment Source: Adapted 5E’s Unlimited

6. Sustainable Communities Have… A High Quality of Life • Connection to place • Inclusiveness • Cooperation and communication • Education: life long learning • Accessible mass transportation systems • Health & wellness • Link jobs to housing and communities • Intra/inter-generational equity • Honor culture and diversity • Compassion • Safety and security • Access to full range available services Source: Adapted 5E’s Unlimited

7. How We Began… The Community Sustainability Partnership (CSP) www.grpartners.org • 5 founding Members • Over 190 Endorsing Stakeholder Partners Today and Growing • Measure and Report Triple Bottom Line Activities and Progress • ~10+ Formal and Informal Workgroups • Student Service Learning • Sustainable Development Best Practices • National/Global Recognition Creation of the Community Sustainability Partnership—Grand Rapids, MI, August 2005

8. Community Sustainability Partnershipwww.grpartners.org • Mission • The economic, social, and environmental systems are balanced and create and sustain a positive equality of life now and for future generations. • Identity • The Community Sustainability Partnership is a diverse network of community organizations in West Michigan who embrace and support sustainability principles in their planning and operations and are striving to make a positive impact in our community. Members of the Partnership are committed to work together to restore environmental integrity, improve economic prosperity, and achieve social equity. • Purpose • Through multi-stakeholder collaboration, sharing of experiences and common aspirations, and mobilizing local resources, help transform the greater Grand Rapids area through the development of sustainable neighborhoods and communities by: • Restoring and preserving environmental integrity • Increasing economic prosperity • Advancing and achieving social equity • Improving the quality of life • Elevating the value of education

9. Community Sustainability Partnership Values • ethical behavior • excellence in work • stewardship • responsiveness • inclusiveness • life long learning • relationships • integrity • transparency Guiding Principles • sustainability best practices • service orientation • ownership • mutual accountability • innovation

10. Community Asset… Stakeholders Regulatory Agency Banks Insurance Companies Media Customers/Clients/Consumers City and Municipal Government Competitors Schools, Colleges, Universities Suppliers/Partners “Community” NGO’s Institutional/ Pension Fund Managers Local Neighborhoods Hospitals and Healthcare Providers First Nations Employees/Labor Unions Investment Community Trade/ Professional Organizations Credit Rating Agencies Shareholders/Private Investors

11. Sustainable DevelopmentCapital Formation • Planet/Environment • Natural Capital • People/Equity • Human Capital • Social Capital • Community Capital • Cultural Capital • Knowledge Capital • Political Capital • Profit/Economy • Financial Capital • Asset Capital • Shared Capital

12. Our Community Sustainability • Formation of the CSP • Development of CSP Website (www.grpartners.org) • Establishment of Sustainability Guiding Principles Around the “Triple Bottom Line” (TBL) • Sustainability Terms and Buzzwords • CSP “Triple Bottom Line” Summit Meetings • Sharing of Sustainability Best Practices • Public, Private, Academic Service Sectors • Importance of Sustainability Assessments • West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum • LEED Building and Design • US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement • UNU Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) in Education for Sustainable Development • Clean Cities Initiative • Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (www.BIFMA.org) • CSP Workgroup Areas • Sustainability Reporting e.g. City of Grand Rapids, GVSU, Cascade Engineering, West Michigan Strategic Alliance, Suez Environnement • New City of Grand Rapids Sustainability Website (www.sustainablegr.com) • Rapid Growth Media Daily E-News (www.rapidgrowthmedia.com) • West Michigan Sustainable Purchasing Consortium (www.wmspc.org) • Regional Sustainable Development Leadership • Education for Sustainable Development • Regional Centers of Expertise Transformational Change

13. Sustainable Community Development Activities Health and Wellness Waste Minimization/ Recycling Sustainable Business Best Practices • MSU Extension • Muskegon Farm to School • David Hunting YMCA • Spectrum Health • Metro Health • City of Grand Rapids • CompRenew • Valley City • Environmental Services • Waste Management Energy Conservation • www.wmsbf.org • www.bifma.org • City of Grand Rapids • Chamber of Commerce Education for Sustainable Development Grand Rapids Community Sustainability Partnership www.grpartners.org Alternative Fuels and Vehicles • Calvin College • GVSU • Aquinas College • WMU • GRCC • GRPS Economicology • UNU RCE Designation • Clean Cities initiative Green and LEED Buildings Sustainable Purchasing Consortium • West MI USGBC Chapter • GVSU • WM Habitat for Humanity • City of Grand Rapids • www.wmspc.org • GVSU • GRCC • City of Grand Rapids • VAI • Steelcase • Delta Institute Water Conservation Renewable Energy Climate Mitigation • City of Grand Rapids • Cascade Engineering • GVSU • Aquinas College • Calvin College • City of Grand Rapids • Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative • City of Grand Rapids • Progressive AE • GVSU • Sustainable Research Group

14. What “CSP’s” Can Accomplish… Examples Greater Grand Rapids • Partners • GVSU—Top 25 “Green Schools” • BIFMA—Furniture Sustainability Manufacturing Assessment Standards • Kent County Waste To Energy – Renewable Energy Technologies • Regional CSP Leadership – 5 CSP’s in West Michigan • West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum (www.wmsbf.org) • Education for Sustainable Development – GVSU, GRPS, Aquinas, Calvin, GRCC and Others • Sustainable Purchasing (www.wmspc.org) • Healthy Homes Coalition – Get the Lead Out! • Michigan “Clean Corporate Citizens” – 9 in Grand Rapids • West Michigan USGBC – 114 LEED Certified Buildings in West Michigan • Seeds of Promise™ (www.seedsofpromise.net) • Metro Health Complex • City • Renewable Energy—20% Purchased/100% Goal by 2020 • LEED Buildings— Rank 4th Nationally • UN University Recognition—(UNU RCE Grand Rapids) • Alternative Fuels—WM Clean Cities Initiative • Energy Efficiency—Midwest Cities Grant/EECBG Grant • Waste—Free Residential Recycling/Regional Biosolids Facility • City Zoning Code—LEED ND Framework • Lighting—LED Traffic/Street Lights • Water—Great Lake St. Lawrence Cities Initiative • Climate—Michigan Climate Action Council; US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement • Green Space – Green Grand Rapids • Sustainability Plan and Indicator Report

15. The Future of Regional Sustainability… Leadership Think Globally Globalization Trends Build Regionally • Sustainable Grand Rapids and West Michigan De-Globalization Trends Act Locally • Neighborhoods • Communities • Townships

16. West Michigan Regional Sustainability“Triple Bottom Line” (TBL) Initiatives • Infrastructure: • Michigan DNRE • Grand Valley Metro Council • Michigan Municipal League • West Michigan Strategic Alliance Cities Cities • Chicago, IL • Toledo, OH • Detroit, MI • Oak Park, IL • Quincy, IL • Houghton, MI • Hancock, MI • Fair Haven, AL Portage/ Kalamazoo/ Battle Creek Sustainability Covenant Grand Rapids Community Sustainability Partnership Northwest Ottawa County Sustainability Initiative(Spring Lake/ Grand Haven) Holland/ Zeeland 3E’s Sustainability Initiative Muskegon Sustainability Coalition (www.grpartners.com) (www.cffmc.org/sustainabilitycoalition.php)

17. What Has Our CSP Learned? • Listen to the voices – everyone matters! • “Seek first to understand then to be understood” – Covey principle • The systemic issues are complex • Engagement of critical stakeholders is an imperative • Silos don’t work • Local champions are a necessity • Focus on the low hanging fruit! • A well balanced “TBL” approach is foundational • Need to develop and monitor key performance measurements for progress • Celebrate success • Leadership is courage • Communications to the community and public requires a broad social media outreach • It is all about change and lifelong learning • Stay on the course! • Stay connected

18. What is our Community Role? • Be efficient and effective • Be fair and inclusive • “Get to root causes” through critical and systems thinking • Seek first to understand! • Support collaborations and partnerships • Be responsible and accountable • Support civic engagement activities • Network and develop relationships • “Connect the dots” and leverage assets • Show courage • Be willing to change • Commit to life-long life-wide learning • Share your learning experiences

19. Sustainability Circles of Connectedness Quincy, Illinois GLOBAL: United Nations University RCE NATIONAL LEVEL: U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement: USPDESD EPA REGION 5 MI, OH, IN, IL, WI STATE LEVEL: Michigan Climate Action Council LAKE MICHIGAN WATERSHED: Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative TRIPLEX: (Holland/Zeeland, Muskegon, Spring Lake/Grand Haven, Grand Rapids) West Michigan Strategic Alliance, Grand Valley Metro Council COUNTIES: Kent County (9 cities), Michigan Association of Counties COMMUNITIES AND TOWNSHIPS: Community Oriented Governance, Michigan Association of Townships BUSINESS: West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, Local First NEIGHBORHOODS: NeighborhoodAssociations FAMILIES: Hands of Hope

20. Quincy, Illinois - Good Roots • Center of commerce, manufacturing, and agricultural production • Historic architecture • High standards, quality development, and planned growth • Tourism • Arts • Natural setting • “All-American” town • “Gem” City • “Tree City, USA” • Culture and recreation • Strong educational base e.g. Quincy University, John Wood Community College, Vatterott College, Quincy Public School System

21. Quincy, Illinois – A Great Start! Environmental Social Economic • Recycling Initiatives • City wide clean-ups • Water Quality Programs • Hydropower project • Combined sewer overflows • Green ways, walks and bike trails (Quincy Bikes) • Bridge the Gap to Health • Study Circles e.g. Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation • Energy Efficiency Loans • Business Development • Neighborhood Stabilization Program

22. Quincy, IllinoisExamples of “Corporate Citizens” • City of Quincy, Illinois Municipal Government • Quincy University, John Wood Community College, and other higher education academic institutions • Blessing Hospital • Quincy Public School System • Quincy Medical Group, Quincy Family Medicine Residency • Quincy Chamber of Commerce • Retail and Manufacturing Companies (Corporate Headquarters) • Gardner Denver Inc. • Blue Cross Blue Shield • Knapheide Manufacturing • Methode Electronics • Niemann Foods Inc. • Titan International

23. Living Tomorrow Today Source: Adapted Strategy for Sustainability by Adam Werbach

24. What Will Our 7th Generation Say? “This generation… • Connected its community with the environment, maximizing commerce and nature; • Responded to the challenge of globalization by becoming more diverse and flexible; • Developed a city that was productive with a style that led the State and Country back to prosperity; • Demanded neighborhoods where neighbors and children were safe; • Supported schools that recognized each child’s potential and its value for future economic gain; • Truly created a community of sustained life” “The time is always right to do what is right” Martin Luther King (Mayor George K. Heartwell)

25. www.gvsu.edu/sustainability Contact Information Norman ChristopherDirector of Sustainable CommunityDevelopment Initiative Grand Valley State University 1 Campus Drive, 224 LOH Allendale, MI 49401 616-331-7461 chrisfn@gvsu.edu Corky Overmyer Community Sustainability Manager United Water Environmental Services 5555 Glenwood Hills Parkway SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512 616-940-2430 cortland.overmyer@unitedwater.com www.gvsu.edu/sustainability www.grpartners.org www.unitedwater.com