Project Partner Spotlight
by Jackie Mouillesseaux-Grube
 The Sustainability Center is one of CTA's newest project partners! It will open its doors and kick off a free and open-to-all monthly speaker series,
'Sustainability Perspectives: An Intergenerational Dialogue,' on Thursday, March 21st, 7 p.m., at the Center, 214 W. MLK / State St., Ithaca, and accessed via the Albany Street entrance. Each month, this series will feature special guests from various generations and backgrounds, who will share their passion and knowledge of sustainability in an intimate, give-and-take setting.
The Sustainability Center, one of the first of its kind in the country, will provide a place where residents, students and visitors to Tompkins County can learn about our community's collective efforts to protect the environment through proactive initiatives led by individuals, businesses, government, non-profits, the campuses, and other sectors. The Sustainability Center's gallery and programs will spotlight and celebrate these efforts, with the goal of encouraging and inspiring visitors to the Center on the real-world merits of sustainability.
The Center will open with a local / regional focus on innovative programs and projects, and will expand its reach and audience with the goal of becoming a model to be shared with other communities.
The Center will appeal to four major audiences:
- visitors who want to explore and experience, firsthand, sustainability efforts in Tompkins County;
- residents who want to learn more about community events, businesses and organizations, and how to become involved;
- non-profits and businesses that can benefit from the promotion of their goods and services and the assistance of student interns;
- and students wishing to engage in community sustainability projects, internships and work-study positions.
The Sustainability Center was developed by a small group of local leaders that sought to create a physical place in which to engage the wider community in local solutions to global sustainability challenges and opportunities. The Center is supported, in part, by grants from the Park Foundation and Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund, and will operate temporarily in space generously provided by Tompkins County. A part-time staff member, an Advisory Board and several interns and volunteers are leading its operation.
For more information contact: Jackie Mouillesseaux-Grube, (607) 227-7329, jackie@sustainabilitycentertc.org
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Putting Transformative Action into Practice
By Anke Wessels
Along with Van Jones, Majora Carter, Billy Parish, Paul Hawken and others, we believe social entrepreneurs constitute an inspiring new wave of practical problem-solvers who seek to transform systems and the social problems they produce. They are stepping up. They are taking action to create communities that are just, sustainable, equitable, and truly work for everyone.
Transformative Action is a rich, multi-dimensional approach to social entrepreneurship that puts human dignity and diversity at the center, encourages critical thinking about scarcity assumptions, fosters effective storytelling, and embraces the paradoxical tasks of operating financially viable organizations that live for a strong social mission.
Our fiscally sponsored projects are putting Transformative Action into practice across a wide range of issues and strategies. Below, we offer just a few examples from the seventeen projects currently under CTAs umbrella.
The Dorothy Cotton Institute recently brought a delegation of human rights leaders to the West Bank to support, learn from, and bear witness to Palestinians engaged in non-violent resistance. While one goal of this delegation is to "break the silence" regarding the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, it is also making visible a new common narrative and vision that gets marginalized by polarizing forces. Margo Hittleman, a senior fellow at the Dorothy Cotton said recently "We had the opportunity to meet a large number of people, Israelis and Palestinians, who have come to know well each others' stories and each others' traumas and were working together to build a new society. Many of the activists said the goal wasn't just to end the occupation, but to envision the society that would come after, one that recognizes and honors their common humanity. " Essential to this work is being honest and compassionate about the pain and fear on both sides, so that the actions motivated by these feelings, whether just or not, are put into a shared context.
The Groundswell Center for Local Food and Farming has a strong commitment to supporting beginning farmers from historically marginalized populations, including people of color, immigrants, and those with very limited economic resources. Ongoing efforts to build relationships across racial identity, to develop inclusive procedures for trainee outreach, application and enrollment processes, and to learn about the effects on all of us of structural racism are helping Groundswell develop alliances to address the injustices inherent in our food and farming system.
In a presentation in the Lower East Side of Manhattan about rising inequality and the continuous decline of living- wage jobs, From Here: Making our Future, discussed the value and limitation of anger, the potential of collective power, and the importance of openness and compassion. One attendee asked, "Can a banker ever be a good person?" which led to a spirited discussion of how wealth can be redefined and how credit unions, community banks, and state banks can serve the public good. Participants saw themselves and others with a new lens, through which they could imagine new economic possibilities. For instance, they put forth a number of inspiring examples of worker-owned cooperatives in New York City, the U.S. and internationally that began with a handful of determined individuals who joined forces and are now thriving.
Veteran's Sanctuary (VS) breaks the silence that surrounds one of the world's biggest injustices: war. VS programs help veterans tell their stories through pubic speaking, art and theater. For example, Last Veterans' Day they hit the streets carrying their Army duffel bags adorned with the symbols of their experience--boots, helmets, pill bottles, bandages, beer cans--to tell their stories in monologues. At their Combat Paper Art Studio veterans transform their combat uniforms into works of art. The uniforms are cut up, beaten into a pulp and formed into sheets of paper on which they write poetry or prose. Veterans use the process of paper making to reclaim their uniform as art and begin to embrace their experiences in the military. On their small farm it is common to hear war stories while weeding the asparagus. The veterans heal as they plant, weed, harvest, and share the burdens that follow them long after the war. VS strives to respect all who have served, whether pro-war or anti-war, young or old, combat or support, by cultivating a welcoming community that listens rather than judges. They build programs that encourage participants to take responsibility for their healing and welfare. They encourage veterans to drop the pills and pick up a hoe; to learn new skills and to take on new identities. Once a soldier, now a farmer, now a writer, now a bookmaker: they learn to cultivate together.
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News and Events
CTA Welcomes Della Herden as Director of Operations
We are pleased to announce that Della Herden has accepted the CTA Director of Operations position, beginning March 4th. Della brings to CTA considerable experience in nonprofit operations, as well as a life/work philosophy that closely resonates with Transformative Action. We are fortunate to have her join our team!
Introduction to the Life and Work of Paulo Freire Join CUSLAR for an introduction to the life and work of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, whose best known text, "Pedagogy of the Oppressed," has become one of the foundations of critical pedagogy. Monday, March 4, 2013 5:00 - 6:30 pm Committee on U.S.-Latin American Relations (CUSLAR) 316 Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell University Freire insists that the educator's role should be to prepare students to think critically about their social surroundings, solve social problems collectively and work toward ending oppression in its many forms. Learn about Freire and his writings, and find out how you can participate with CUSLAR as we develop the Paulo Freire Engaged Practitioners Program, an effort to expand dialogue with human rights practitioners and social movement leaders from Latin America. Contact Tim Shenk to RSVP. Connect the Dots: Alternatives Library Open House
Thursday, March 7th 6:00 - 9:00 pm at the Alternatives Library
127 Anabel Taylor Hall, Cornell University
The Alternatives Library is a place where ideas & culture converge. Our collection reflects decades of careful selection and a passion for social transformation. The most basic operation of the library, sharing this amazing collection, is completely free to the public. Beyond this, the Alternatives Library represents a space in our community where many different cultural frameworks, world views, and paths come together. Through our collection, the Alternatives Library upholds a deep rooted commitment towards cooperation, solidarity, and collective liberation. In the past year, we've created a dozen new shelving sections for our collection. Through our new website and the volunteer curator program, we've developed our collection to reflect local social movements & issues of concern. We'd like to invite you to join us in celebration of our new shelving scheme, Thursday, March 7th from 6:00-9:00 pm.
6:00 pm - Library Tours & Social Hour--Pizza & other refreshments served
7:00 pm - Connecting the Dots: Presentation about the new shelving scheme model
7:30 pm - Curator Panel: Discussion with Alt Library Volunteer Curators - Paula Ioanide on Prison Studies & Abolition
- Melissa Madden on Agriculture & Climate Change
- Rebecca John on Feminism & Gender Studies
- Friede Rica on Biocentrism & Environmental Studies
- Kenton Cobb on Masculinity Studies & Anti-Sexism
- Kara Timmins on Health, Herbalism & Plant Lore
8:15 pm - Media & Social Movements
Open Forum Discussion about Alternatives Library's Role in shaping and sustaining local efforts toward social change.
Invite your friends and family to come experience this incredible resource.
More information about the library & its programs at here.
Two Classes in Compassionate Communication Begin in April
Parenting From Your Heart Our children are so important to us, yet sometimes we struggle to parent in ways we feel truly good about. Participating in this parenting class series, you will explore how to: - Understand the needs behind your children's behavior
- Parent effectively without relying on the threat of punishments or promise of rewards
- Transform power struggles into opportunities for building connection and trust
- Discover a quality of connection that will sustain your family through life's challenges
- Contribute to peace by raising children who can make peace
Dates: Eight Wednesdays, beginning April 3rd Time: 7-9:00 pm or 9:30-11:30 am Cost: $162-$250 (Sliding Scale) Includes booklet Limited to 10 Registration deadline: March 25th Conversations that Connect This course will help you understand what matters to you and how to express it in a way that people are likely to hear. It also will help you hear what is important to others no matter how they express themselves. Once you have built up trust and understanding you can discover solutions that serve everyone. Learn how to: - Defuse heated situations before they lead to conversations you may regret
- Speak authentically and in a way that can be more easily heard and understood by others
- Increase your understanding and compassion for yourself and others
- Transform painful patterns of interacting (to compassionate ways of expressing yourself and hearing others)
- Communicate without criticism, blame, or judgments through understanding and sharing what really matters to you
- Break patterns that result in guilt, anger, shame, and depression
- Prevent and resolve conflicts by helping to increase understanding and trust
- Promote both inner and world peace
Dates: Eight Mondays, beginning April 8th Time: 7-9:00 pm Cost: $172-$250 (Sliding Scale) Includes book Limited to 10 Registration deadline: March 27th Both classes are based upon Nonviolent Communication (NVC), founded by Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D., which has been used around the world to mediate conflicts, nurture relationships, and promote peace. For further information on NVC, see www.cnvc.org. For more information or to register contact Judy Burrill.
March Events at Buffalo Street Bookmarks
March 9th, 6pm-- Mary Lorson & Andrew Erdeman discuss the life of vaudeville legend Eva Tanguay at Buffalo Street Books.
Musician Mary Lorson believes her grandmother was the dresser for forgotten vaudeville star Eva Tanguay. She's collaborated with Tanguay's biographer, Andrew Erdeman to create a screenplay and song cycle based on the performer's life. Lorson and Erdeman will discuss the Tanguay and perform some of her songs, as well as songs Lorson has written about her.
March 13th, 6pm-- Poet Rebecca Lindenberg reads from "Love: An Index" at Buffalo Street Books
"Love: An Index" is the debut volume in McSweeney's poetry series. Experimenting with dozens of styles and forms, the book chronicles the relationship between the poet and her partner, up to and past his sudden death by falling into a volcano on a hiking expedition.
March 14th, 7pm-- Trampoline, Ithaca's Competitive Storytelling Night Presents: Age Limits at Lot 10 Lounge
Ithaca's competitive storytelling night continues its second season with stories of being too old for one thing or too young for another. Participants get five minutes to tell a true story about themselves with no notes. The winners will be invited to participate in the grand championship later in the year.
March 26th, 6pm-- Community Discussion Group: Margaret Atwood's
The Handmaid's Tale. Presented in association with Planned Parenthood and World Book Night.
Atwood's haunting dystopia of a future where reproductive rights are fiercely controlled by the state remains a relevant parable as reproductive rights continue to be at the center of America's political discourse. Representatives from Planned Parenthood will lead a community discussion on The Handmaid's Tale and whether Atwood's imagined future could still become our reality.
For more information, contact Bob Proehl.
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 The Center for Transformative Action (CTA) helps to create communities that work for everyone. We do this by providing fiscal sponsorship to innovative social change agents in New York State, as well as financial, human resources, and grants management services. CTA is an educational non-profit organization affiliated with Cornell University.
Our Vision
We envision change makers everywhere engaging and strengthening the power of the heart to remake the world.
Our Mission
We are an alliance of individuals and organizations inspired by principles of nonviolence and committed to bold action for justice, sustainability, and peace. CTA supports change makers with the tools to build thriving, inclusive communities that work for everyone. We serve our projects, the public, and Cornell University by offering educational programs and strategic organizational resources.
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