2014-15 Fiscal Year-in-Review
The Center for Transformative Action's financial health continues to be strong, thanks to sound fiscal management and diverse revenue streams. Our projects benefit from the efficiency of shared administrative support, which allows them to focus more of their funding and energy on building transformative programs that foster an ecologically sound and socially just community.
Transformative Action in Action
Transformative Action, the framework that guides our work, is an alternative paradigm for social action that moves us beyond complaint, competition and "us versus them" thinking. Inspired by non-violent organizing, Transformative Action has three basic components:
- breaking the silence that surrounds injustice,
- building an inclusive movement across social and ideological difference, so that adversaries can become allies, and
- articulating an inspiring, proactive vision.
At CTA, our projects are a living manifestation of this approach. As we reflect on their activities this past year, we offer a few examples of the many different ways they are practicing Transformative Action. Click on each project's name to learn more.
Each CurrentCast segment is a sound-rich and entertaining "information burst" designed to grab the attention of listeners and engage them in the issue - helping promote conservation and generate public support for water sustainability. Topics covered throughout the year include agriculture and water use, nutrient runoff, water and energy, water and climate change, tips for personal water conservation, and more. All segments take a proactive tone in the hopes they will inspire broad-based support and action regarding sustainability solutions. By raising awareness of the many pressures on water resources and profiling diverse efforts to address them, we hope that more people will be willing to consider opposing views on these critical issues.
All of our educational events are aimed at breaking the silence that surrounds injustice. That is, we attempt to choose topics and speakers whose perspectives are underrepresented in mainstream culture and on the Cornell University campus. We engage a broad range of constituencies: student organizations, students and faculty, and local and national organizations for social change. We see CUSLAR's role as a bridge builder for groups that may not regularly be in dialogue.
One example comes easily to mind:
When Mexican journalist Luis Hernandez Navarro spoke at Cornell in March, he spoke directly to the official silences and misinformation of the Mexican government surrounding the disappearance of 43 young men from the Ayotzinapa rural school in the state of Guerrero. He made it clear, in this sense, that the opposite of justice is often amnesia. His message was direct: speaking, educating and organizing around injustices are steps toward making them right. This message was powerful for the approximately 60 people in attendance.
Groundswell has a strong commitment to supporting beginning farmers from historically disadvantaged populations, including people of color, immigrants, and those with very limited economic resources, who have often been excluded from the sustainable farming and local foods movements. Our goal is to foster a new generation of farmers that reflects the diversity of culture, color, and class in our region. We believe Groundswell's ongoing efforts to build relationships with communities and individuals of color, our procedures for trainee outreach, application and enrollment, and our efforts to educate ourselves regarding racism and white privilege, are helping us to begin to address the injustices inherent in our food and farming system, specifically relating to opportunities and barriers for "socially disadvantaged" beginning farmers.
HRE USA exists to promote justice, tolerance, and respect by cultivating an extensive, vibrant base of support for human rights education within the United States. We are dedicated to integrating these standards into formal and non-formal educational settings. We accomplish our goal by developing resources and training for educators; by promoting national and regional policies that support human rights educations; and by participating in global networks and forums to share best practices. In all our undertakings we value diversity, inclusiveness, transparency, integrity, accountability, responsibility, and respectful, honest communication and sharing.
Recently, we established a partnership with Amnesty International US to bring the "Becoming Human Rights Friendly School" program to the US and are organizing pilots of the program in several Ithaca area schools. A Human Rights Friendly School places human rights at the heart of the learning experience and makes human rights an integral part of everyday school life. From the way decisions are made in schools, to the way people treat each other, to the curriculum and extra-curricular activities on offer, right down to the very surroundings in which students are taught, the school becomes an exemplary model for human rights education.
All people should be able to live in a safe environment, including one that does not involve the ongoing destruction of climate change. Learn@EcoVillage's work on modeling sustainable community development speaks to the transformative action goal of creating an inspiring and proactive vision - one that protects the environment while also building a deep sense of connectedness between people and their environment. By developing housing that is supremely energy efficient, reasonably affordable, and allows for people with mobility impairments to live safely, it is a movement that crosses race, class, age and cultural barriers.
Despite the best intentions of many, the food movement manifests levels of whiteness and privilege that tend to exclude significant parts of society, and thus does not address the needs of the excluded. However, people of color are organizing in their communities and leaders are beginning to network on a national basis. We hosted a candid focus group webinar entitled Experiences of People of Color in Food Systems Work, including a discussion among four people of color who shared their experiences in food systems work along with their views on the challenges and best practices in interracial cooperation. The recording of this discussion is now available here.
This webinar was followed by a call for commentaries on race and ethnicity, for which we received 23 submissions from people of color and white allies from around the country. These will be published throughout the summer.
Wood's Earth distinguishes itself as a coordinator and convener among various area organizations involved in developing the local food system, improving access to healthy food, and providing educational, hands-on food learning opportunities for youth-while also exemplifying these objectives on our land. We bring together and engage all players in the farm to school process, from beginner gardeners to public school classrooms to regional distributors, to help build a more sustainable, more nourishing school food system.
In partnership with the ICSD Child Nutrition Program, the Fresh Snack Program provides education and full servings of fresh, healthy, plant-based snacks to schools where students experience the highest rates of food insecurity. FSP replaces less nutritious snacks, increases access to vegetables, fruits and legumes, and familiarizes students with healthier food choices.
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News and Events
Treat yourself to a fun and delicious afternoon on one of the most fascinating and innovative farms in the Finger Lakes while helping to raise money for beginning farmers!
Good Life Farm grows organic apples, peaches, asparagus, ginger, veggies, turkeys, and beef. Their latest project is the fabulous new Finger Lakes Cider House, a state of the art cider brewing facility shared with four other local cider makers.
Good Life will serve as the host of Groundswell's "Good Afternoon", a fundraiser benefitting the organization's beginning farmer programs. Tickets include cider tastings, local hors d'oeuvres and a guided tour of the farm.
Tickets are available here.
This fall, the Committee on U.S.-Latin American Relations (CUSLAR) will again offer Spanish classes for students, adults and families!
CUSLAR SPANISH 11 weeks, classes held on the Cornell campus, not for credit. Levels: - Spanish Elements I, or Beginning Spanish: T/Th. 5:30-6:30 pm.
- Spanish Elements II, for Advanced Beginners: T/Th. 6:40-7:40 pm.
- Special topics course for Intermediate and Advanced speakers: Wed. 5:30-7 pm
Early registration fee: $275 or $375 by September 1.
CUSLAR SPANISH FOR FAMILIES 8 weeks, classes held downtown and at Cornell Age groups: - Classes for families with children 18 months to 3 years - collaboration with Jillian's Drawers
- Classes for families with children 3 to 5 years old
- Classes for families with children 6 to 8 years old
Early registration fee: $145 and up, depending on family size
Questions may be directed to Tim Shenk, CUSLAR Coordinator,
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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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New Projects!
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Next deadline to apply to become a Project Partner with CTA is September 15. Please see our Fiscal Sponsorship Guidelines if you have or are starting a social change project in New York State that needs a nonprofit umbrella. |
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