Sustainable Twin Ports Early Adopter Project

1. Sustainable Twin Ports Early Adopter Project Jerry Hembd Associate Professor and State Specialist University of Wisconsin-Superior Community Development Society 41st Annual Conference Memphis, Tennessee July 27, 2009

2. Twin Ports Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin

5. Origins of Project Sustainable Sweden Conference, Ashland, February 2005  The Natural Step framework

6. The Natural Step: What Is It? • The Natural Step is an international non-profit research, education and advisory organization that uses a science-based, systems framework to help organizations, individuals and communities take meaningful steps toward sustainability.  2008 The Natural Step

7. City of Madision, WI Who Uses It? Swedish Eco-municipalities

8. The Natural Step Framework • A shared science- and systems-based definition for sustainability • A decision-making framework and process to help organizations and communities plan for sustainability • A compass to help us know if we’re moving in the right direction

9. Four Sustainability Principles In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing... ...concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth’s crust, ...concentrations of substances produced by society, ...degradation by physical means, and, in that society... ...people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs.

10. Planning Framework • “D” Step • Right direction? • Flexible Platform? • Return on investment? time

11. Origins of Project Sustainable Sweden Conference, Ashland, February 2005  The Natural Step framework Sustainable Duluth Knight Creative Communities Initiative, April 2007 We Mean Green Early Adopter Proposal Canmore, Alberta Early Adopter Model Chequamegon Bay Green Team Network Sustainable Twin Ports Regional foundation support and funding

12. Sustainable Twin Ports Sustainable Twin Ports is dedicated to furthering economic, environmental and social sustainability in the Twin Ports and western Lake Superior region through education, networking and action.

13. “Critical Mass” Innovators Early Adopters 13.5% Early Majority 34% Late Majority 34% Laggards 16% 2.5% Early Adopter Concept Innovation-Diffusion Model

14. What are the benefits? Participation for up to five staff in a proven sustainability training and action planning program Potential revenue opportunities and/or cost savings as a result of identified actions and investments Ongoing support and coaching from sustainability experts as the organization develops and implements its sustainability action plan Participation in a Twin Ports peer learning network of other Early Adopter organizations

15. What do Early Adopters commit to? To learn about and apply The Natural Step framework in their organization To commit time for staff to participate in the program – approximately ten days of training and planning sessions over the course of a year To produce and implement a sustainability action plan for their organization To participate with other Early Adopters in promote the lessons, stories, and benefits of their experience

16. Recruitment Criteria Candidate organizations are recognized community leaders; they have an interest in sustainability; and they collectively represent the breadth of the community or area.

17. Early Adopter Project Basics Fourteen Early Adopter organizations Two to five participants per organization Full-time project coordinator (eighteen months) Six days of training over one year (October, January, March, May) provided by TNS Canada Baseline evaluations Developing a vision of a sustainable organization Action planning and implementation Documentation, peer learning, and sharing with broader community

19. Early Adopter Organizations Public Sector City of Duluth Superior Public Schools Duluth Transit Authority Douglas County University of Wisconsin-Superior Nonprofit Sector Challenge Center Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation Private Sector Inn on Lake Superior, ZMC Hotels Glenwood Signs and Awards Duluth Grill London Road Carwash Twin Ports Testing

20. Key Strengths Development of a shared understanding of and language for sustainability among leading organizations in the community or area Creation of local role models and success stories that inspire rest of community about sustainability

21. Acknowledging the support of: A.H. Zeppa Family Foundation Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation Fund for the Environment Wildey H. Mitchell Family Fund University of Wisconsin – Superior Fiscal Sponsor

22. Closing Observations Organizational rather than community focus – but a clear and tangible focus Project funding ahead of organizational development Dealing with two states/communities Next steps  organizational development Developing local training capacity “Things are smaller than they appear”

23. Closing Observations Case studies and student interns Use of e-Learning module Documentary Implementation debriefing in September Community Showcase on October 8th Less about cool projects than working the process  community development Next steps?

24. Thank You www.sustainabletwinports.org www.youtube.com/sustainabletwinports