Community Sustainability in the
Grand Traverse Bay Area: Part I

To help advance community sustainability, this year the Neahtawanta Center has undertaken a new project. This is the first part of an ongoing series of articles to update readers on what the Center is doing to advance sustainability in the Traverse City area. We will update you on Center sponsored evening discussions and the beginning of an ongoing effort to identify actions by Traverse City area organizations, groups, neighborhoods and individuals which advance a locally sustainable community.

Evening Discussions

The Center is sponsoring an ongoing series of once a month dinners and evening salons (discussion groups) focused on community sustainability in the Traverse City area. Below we update readers on the two most recent salons which were held in October and November. In the last issue of Synapse, we described the five salons on community sustainability which were held during August and September. Through these salons on community sustainability, the Center seeks to develop an ongoing discussion and task group made up of individuals committed to devoting time and energy to developing local initiatives to advance sustainability.

For readers who want to devote ongoing volunteer time, energy and skill to this work of community sustainability; the scheduled dates of future salons are: December 29, 1997 and in 1998 &emdash; January 26, February 23, March 30, and April 27. The dinner part of the salons are pot-lucks with participants bringing a dish to pass and at which the Center provides a tasty soup and hot tea. Anyone intending to participate should contact the Center by calling, 223-7315, or e-mailing, center@traverse.com, at least 2 days prior to the date of the salon to allow adequate planning.

Report on Salon #6

A delicious potluck supper attended by 15 salon participants happened on October 27th. The main focus of the evening centered around media and its role in community sustainability. Bob Russell, Sally Van Vleck, and Bronwyn Jones attended the Media Democracy Congress in New York City in mid-October and shared information from that important conference. In the discussion which ensued several issues of concern were identified:

• importance of media literacy

• lack of public infrastructure for sharing of community information relevant to peoples' lives

• media system is based on advertising and over consumption with dangerous monopolization of control by corporations

• who sets the agenda for news?

• more progressive voices are being silenced

• stereotypical images on TV are damaging to many people, particularly people of color

• self censoring by the press is a major problem, e.g., on UN day, many members of the Michigan Militia protested. Twenty seven Michigan Peacemakers with t-shirts identifying themselves were present circulating throughout the gathering which was very uneventful. When Michigan Public Radio reported the event, no mention was made of the Peacemakers' presence.

As the discussion continued people identified possible steps to be taken, interventions which could, perhaps, affect some areas of concern:

• conversations at community level, opportunity to converse one on

• local organization can regulate size and placement of communications towers(Gordon Hayward, planner for Old Mission Peninsula, gave example of doing this on the Peninsula.)

• need for public education about laws and regulations regarding towers and how citizens can exercise them

• citizens can affect the content of media, e.g., all members present could write letters to Northern Express about local issues

• tctv2 could produce a local news program involving local school children. Stories of local sustainability could be included.

• tap local advertisers to support tctv2 and expand its viewer ship

The discussion concluded with participants identifying directions for the next salon on November 24, 1997:

• who owns the local economy?

• what locally sustainable activities are already here?

Some future possibilities were suggested:

• efforts could be made to get the local HMO to pay for alternative health care

• perhaps self-help groups could be established

Focus of the November salon will be conversations about what is presently already sustainable in the Traverse City area.

Report on Salon #7

Fourteen attendees shared a meal and began our conversation at the table. As there were several new participants, a brief review of the focus of past salons was done, after which our attention turned to the task of the evening: identifying and describing what is already occurring in the Traverse City area which makes this community more sustainable.

Watershed level initiatives are seen as important, in particular the Traverse Bay Watershed Initiative, even though it is not well funded by citizens and, therefore, seeks corporate money with the inherent dangers of co-optation.

Community Supported Agriculture was identified as important to local sustainability by supplying locally grown organic food for families and by supporting a young farm family as part of the local economy.

An identified deterrent to sustainability is the fact that people move in and out of the area and seldom stay long enough to develop a "sense of place" or positions of influence which are needed to make the area more sustainable.

One participant stated the importance of committing one's time and effort in addition to one's money if the involvement is to change one's "way of life" toward one that is more sustainable. Examples given of such life changing work are involvement in the Oryana Food Co-op and the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council. Another person spoke of the need for a paradigm shift in which the view of one's time and money is transformed and the perception of "what is enough" changes radically. For one attendee this changed with the realization that wanting more and spending to get more was not meeting the person's most basic and important needs. Satisfaction of these needs came, rather, from participation in something deeply valued.

Questions were raised about how well the area residents' basic needs are being met including needs for meaningful work which can support a family, housing, food, transportation, and health care. Some felt information needs to be gathered which shows the degree to which these needs are being met and whether this is being done in sustainable ways. Others suggested that anecdotes or mini-case studies about specific individual's situations would be helpful.

In addition, one person identified a desire to know how people in this area are supported in making life style change decisions which enhance community sustainability. The Alternative Energy Fairs of the past were described, which gave people opportunities to see how others were managing to "get off the grid".

Bob Russell suggested that a helpful approach would be for each person to analyze their own life and make a list of activities and/or behaviors which contribute to local sustainability. Such data could be very useful in a Synapse article. Jim Crowfoot suggested three foci for our observations and list making:

• individual behaviors/practices and life styles which contribute to achieving sustainability

• practices by groups or structures within the community which are sustainable

• organizations in the community which contribute to sustainability (e.g., the Traverse City Rotary gave $l million to restore the local theater).

Participants agreed to come to the next salon with lists of sustainable activities already present in their lives and in the larger community.

Selected Examples of Positive Progress on Community Sustainability in the Traverse City Area

During the fall we have been keeping an eye out for new initiatives which in our judgment advance community sustainability in our area. We anticipate that upcoming salons will be identifying other actions contributing to reaching this goal. We invite our readers to identify your observations of "steps in the right direction."

This phrase, "steps in the right direction," is one used in Olympia, Washington and the surrounding area of South Puget Sound to describe actions which are contributing to sustainability in that local area. See the article in this issue on "resources for community sustainability" for information about how you can find out more about this work in the South Puget Sound area.

We welcome hearing from readers who have questions or critiques of any of the actions described below or descriptions of other actions which are contributing to making this area more sustainable. It is essential that there be information about community sustainability including dialogue about what actions do and do not contribute to making Traverse City and the surrounding area more sustainable. We invite your contributions to this information and dialogue.

Economy

New Division at Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan
By manufacturing top quality industrial wiping cloths out of donated clothing that can't be sold at its retail stores, this Goodwill Industries action will help the environment and create new jobs. In this way employment opportunities will be created for people with disabilities or who have had disadvantages in the workplace. Their work will involve sorting clothes which would otherwise be thrown away, removing buttons and zippers, and cutting them into one of eight different grades of wiping cloths, and boxing them for shipment to customers or pickup at Goodwill. (The Business News, October 1997, p. 29)

Oryana Food Co-Operative Moves and Expands
On November 13th, Oryana held a member's open house to celebrate the long planned and now accomplished move to the new 10th and Lake Street location with its greatly expanded space and attractive new retail and work spaces. Environmental responsibility guided the renovation of the nearly 100 year old Brown Lumber Company building. Through careful demolition of interior spaces much lumber, insulation, windows, doors hardware and fixtures were reused. Major efforts were made" to make a more energy efficient building envelope using more insulation, installing new and more efficient climate control equipment; and reduced lighting load." (Natural Food News, November 1997, pp. 1-4.)

Expanding Markets for Cherry Republic
This is an example of a small, locally owned, conservation-minded company. Located in Glen Arbor and employing over 25 people Cherry Republic exemplifies "small businesses that feature locally produced products" and which in the words of Greg Reisig, a Lake County Gazette Writer, "continue to be the heart and soul of northern Michigan's economy." In the words of founder and owner Bob Sutherland, "it's great to preserve farmland in northern Michigan but it will not be a successful effort unless farmers can make money growing cherries or other crops." The company also contributes through checks given to the Leelanau Conservancy for Orchard Preservation Fund. (The Lake Country Gazette, November 21, 1997, p. 1)

Alleviation of Poverty

Father Fred Foundation
Traverse Heights elementary school children donated 250 pounds of unperishable foods to the Father Fred Foundation in their 4th annual donation. According to teachers, the number of children participating increases each year. Father Fred Foundation was established by a local priest who has served the community in many capacities. The Foundation is staffed by many volunteers and provides food and clothing for anyone who asks for assistance. (Grand Traverse Herald, November 19, 1997)

Environment

Grant for Ground Water Stewardship
Grand Traverse Conservation District received a grant for $77,991 from the State of Michigan's 2 year old Ground water Stewardship Program. The purpose of this Program is to help farmers avoid contamination of their ground water and provide technical assistance in the case of fertilizer or pesticide spills. This grant will be used in the Counties of Grand Traverse, Antrim, Kalkaska, Benzie and Leelanau. (Traverse City Record-Eagle, October 27, 1997, p. 1B)

Protection of Farmland
Steady progress is being made to protect farmland on the Old Mission Peninsula. To do this development rights are being purchased through the first local program of its kind in the country. "To date 2,260 acres have been enrolled in the township's Purchase of Development Rights Program and thus have been protected from future development." In the 3 years since the Peninsula Township vote establishing this program this represents major progress for pioneering and visionary program contributing to sustainability. (Traverse Magazine, September 1997, pp. 41-46)

Completion of Wetlands Maps
These maps have been completed for each township in the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed and are available from the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments as a new tool for protecting wetlands. Steve Largent, Director of the Boardman River Restoration and Protection Project said, "We are using the wetland maps in the Boardman River Watershed to target specific wetland areas for protection. The greatest value of the maps is in our contact with landowners, to show them how their wetlands tie in with the river and the watershed. The maps were introduced this fall in a conference, Valuing Wetlands in Northern Michigan Communities, which was attended by people from both the conservation and development communities. (Stewardship Quarterly, Fall 1997, November 21, p. 4)

Education

New Endowment Fund for Environmental Education
This permanent source of support for environmental education was created through a partnership by The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. The goal of the fund is to provide both a permanent endowment and a spendable reserve fund to provide financial support for environmental education and related programs of this regional land conservancy. (The Business News, October 1997, p. 39)

Service Learning Class at Brethern High School Restores Kaleva
Over the past two years, "students . . . have all but rebuilt the little Finnish town(Kaleva) and have ignited sparks of local pride that they hope will lead to economic redevelopment." Students are now in the process of renovating the long-abandoned train depot. Already they have completed clean-up of Asiala Park which had been neglected for 20 years, designed and painted a mural on the wall of the local firehouse which depicts all the important buildings of Kaleva, carved a totem-pole depicting the characters in the Finnish epic poem, "Kalevala" after which the town was named, spruced up an empty downtown building and located local artists to create a gallery in one building, and created a welcome center for the community. One of their two teachers, Cindy Asiala said that this experience "gives all students a sense of investment in Kaleva as well as a lesson in the importance of volunteerism as a vital part of a community." (Traverse City Record-Eagle, November 1, 1997, p. 1A )

Media

WNMC, a Public Radio Station, Boosts Capacity
The Northwestern Michigan College radio station, WNMC, after a year of fund raising has switched frequencies, boosted power from 150 to 600 watts, and moved its antenna constituting the largest improvement in its 30 year history. Its signal has been increased by 1370% and now reaches much of the 5 county area the college serves. (Grand Traverse Herald, November 19, 1997)

Forum Writer Calls for Managing Growth in a Sustainable, Livable Way
Using the opportunity of a periodic opinion column available in the local newspaper visiting speaker, Keith Bartholomew, staff attorney for a statewide Oregon land use and growth management organization said, "The Traverse City area...is now attracting large numbers of permanent residents and large corporate interests. Like Oregon in the 60s, however, the region is not prepared for this growth… .While the downtown's current health is encouraging, it cannot hold out forever against South Airport sprawl. The region needs to do more…Across American, people are learning that uncontrolled development eventually fouls one's own nest. Like Oregon, the "nest" in northwest Michigan is the quality of the region's environment and communities. These attributes give the region a significant advantage in competing for economic growth. That advantage, however, will be lost if the region does not handle growth in a sustainable, livable way." (Traverse City Record Eagle, November 14, 1997, p. 9A.)

Health

New Education About Domestic Abuse for Health Care Workers
The Women's Resource Center of Petoskey and four northern Michigan Hospitals in Petoskey, Charlevoix, Gaylord and Cheboygan have formed a partnership through which each hospital will further develop policies and procedures for identifying domestic abuse, and providing referral education and support services to battered women and their children. This program is being funded by the Foundation of the Northern Michigan Hospital/Burns Clinic. (The Business News, October 1997, p. 38)

Local observation of World AIDS Day
The Community observed World AIDS Day, December 1st, with a memorial service at the United Methodist Church. In addition to music by a local soloist and local music groups, individuals shared personal stories and concerns, and those gathered were invited to name persons they've known who were affected by AIDS. After the service, a candlelight recessional moved to the local Opera House where Teen Theater groups from Planned Parenthood and the local Ottawa and Chippewa Indian Band performed 4 educational skits about many aspects of how peoples' lives are affected by AIDS. (Ruth Carey, December 1, 1997)

Community Free Clinic
For 22 years the Community Health Clinic of Traverse City has been serving the region's working poor. This free clinic makes care available to those unable to purchase health insurance but whose income disqualifies them for Medicaid. It serves 1200 people per year on a $38,000/year budget. The staff of 30 volunteers includes 7 physicians and 12 nurses. Its small quarters of 2 exam rooms, a closet of donated medicines and a small laboratory are located on Eighth Street in Traverse City. Brooke Gray, nurse practitioner associated with the clinic for 18 years states,"There are just a lot of people who are falling between the cracks of our health care system. People come in here sometimes really sick. They've been sick for a month before they come for health care because they literally cannot handle another bill." Medical Director, Dr. Walter Meeker, says "There are a lot of minimum wage jobs here, jobs without benefits." (Traverse City Record Eagle, November 27, 1997)

Housing

Third Annual Sleep-Out Held to Promote Homeless Awareness
On the night of November 7 over a hundred people participated in a sleep out at the Traverse City Civic Center grounds to welcome in and to increase visibility for National Homeless Awareness Week (November 16-22). They slept in cardboard boxes without food, drink, or money in an attempt to raise consciousness in the community about the approximately 1700 homeless persons per year in the 5 county area. (The Bay Area Times Magazine, November, 1997, p. 23)

Goodwill Industries' Goodwill Inn Shelter
The Goodwill Inn homeless shelter recently received two grants totaling $143,000. One, in the amount of $108,000, is from the Salvation Army. The second grant of $77,000 is to be split with Women's Resource Center and was given by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The Inn places families in private rooms. Many nights the Inn is filled to capacity. Most everyone staying at the shelter works, and many have a job and a half according to Kip Diott, staff at the Inn for 8 years, but it is very difficult to save enough for the deposit needed to rent an apartment. (The Bay Area Times Magazine, November, 1997, p. 23)

Safety

Leelanau County Increases Efforts to Battle Domestic Violence
With the support of a State of Michigan grant additional funds have been allocated to allow sheriff's deputies the time to aggressively follow up and prosecute perpetrators in domestic violence cases. The numbers of cases reported are: 68 in 1995, 45 in 1996, and 33 through September , 1997. (Traverse City Record Eagle, October 20, 1997, p. 1B)

Community Participation in Decision Making

Training Seminar on Conflict Resolution for Citizens
Intended for anyone who wants to learn about how to resolve conflict, the three day seminar at the end of October and one day follow-up in November was conducted by the Conflict Resolution Service. This organization provides facilitation and mediation services to the counties of Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie. The trainings were held in the Oleson Center at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. (The Business News, October 1997, p. 38)

Return to the Index of Synapse 42, Winter 1997/98