Jennifer Hirsch, Ph.D. What Do Daycare & Soul Food Have to Do with Climate Change? Forging City-Community Partnerships for Community Resilience
2 Local INSTITUTIONS Citizens’ Associations Gifts of INDIVIDUALS Youth Cultural Groups Community Colleges Labeled People Artists Libraries Block Clubs Schools Business Churches/ Houses of Worship Income Older Adults Parks Hospitals Asset-Based Community Development (presentation), Kretzmann, John P. and McKnight, John L. Community Assets Approach
Tangible Assets Active libraries/art centers Nature preserves Entrepreneurs invested in the community City-wide partnerships Construction/gardening skills High percentage of home ownership Intangible Assets Home country-town/family traditions: re-use, gardening, water conservation Awareness of climate change through Hurricane Katrina, local weather events History of collaboration to address big challenges Concerns Access to healthy food Youth opportunities Air quality Beautification Economic development Revitalizing cultural traditions Barriers Green as gentrification Community image Suspicion of outside institutions (city, universities) 3 Climate-related Community Assets & Concerns
4 Big Plans, Community Action Approach
Pilsen Project Approach 5
ProjectCommunityClimate Bronzeville African-American Culture Local Green Economy Health Art Youth Tourism Stewardship Climate Change Education Green Economy Tour: Transportation, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy South Chicago Youth Art Housing Energy Conservation Adaptation: Engage the Public Pilsen Mexican Culture Environmental Justice Immigration Youth Climate-Friendly Gardens Climate Change Education Water Conservation Stewardship Forest Glen Youth Local Economy Community Image Climate-Friendly Gardens Climate Change Education Water Conservation Stewardship 6 Climate=Co-Benefit
7 Support Grassroots Networking & Learning
Incorporate Climate Action into Existing Programs 8
9 Create Neighborhood (Sustainability) Hubs
Provide Place-Based Popular Education
Trans-regional: Southern gardening Global: Water conservation from Mexico Global: Energy & gardening practices from Poland Relate to Climate Change as a Cultural Phenomenon
Trans-regional: Hurricane Katrina Global: Floods in Poland Global: Climate refugees from Mexico “Place” is Local, Regional, Global
13 Use Creative, Visual Engagement Methods
Global warming=snow?Regional impacts Local indicator species Basic climate science data visualization Activity Local Action: Green Ramadan Climate Change in the Windy City & the World
Visual Collages
Tools Develop Your Own Project Idea
What is “Authentic Engagement”? Local government can support trusted community organizations to take LEADERSHIP and OWNERSHIP – 17 As long as you’re open to the results…
Bronzeville 18
Learn More… 19 Cleveland Neighborhood Climate Action Toolkit Chicago Sustainability Leaders Network