A Basketful of Systems Solutions

Students and city government in Maple Valley, WA have partnered to reduce stormwater pollution in the area. While the extent of stormwater pollution in the U.S. is disturbing, "what's awesome is that this issue can be solved by using natural systems," says renowned environmental educator Peter Donaldson. Green roofs, rain gardens, bio-swales, and infiltration systems that basically make parking lots and buildings "behave like forests again" are amongst these exciting solutions. Read more about how the education system and local government in Maple Valley are looking to inspire the implementation of these solutions.

City, School Systems Pull Together to Reduce Stormwater Pollution

Project a model of system change, says environmental educator Peter Donaldson

While cities struggle to solve sustainability challenges such as stormwater pollution and carbon emission, schools are a treasure trove of energy and creativity that is typically funnelled into tackling hypothetical problems.

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Mission Highlights Great Co-operative Work Happening in Uganda

'We met people whose lives have been changed because of co-operatives'

Last autumn, Lacey Chyz went to Uganda as part of a mission to see first-hand the great work the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) is doing to help people in the east-central African nation improve their lives through the Integrated Finance and Agricultural Production Initiative (IFAPI).

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Social Entrepreneurship Takes Boldness and Passion

Echoing Green president Cheryl Dorsey shares inspiring message to grads

Audacity, passion and boldness are the traits needed to chart a new course to solving some of the world's most pressing problems, says Echoing Green president Cheryl Dorsey.

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Vancouver Orgs Investigate Interest in Cohousing to Build Community

Survey tests interest in mainstream developers taking
lead on cohousing projects, incorporating into design of
existing structures

With one in four Vancouver residents reporting they feel isolated from their neighbours, posAbilities and Copula House are taking a closer look at community engagement.

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Bicycling Surges Across U.S., Outpacing Critics' Complaints

How the 'bikelash' quieted down in New York and other cities

Former New York mayor Ed Koch envisioned bicycles as vehicles for the future, and in 1980 created experimental bike lanes on 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan where riders were protected from speeding traffic by asphalt barriers. It was unlike anything most Americans had ever seen - and some people roared their disapproval. Within weeks, the bike lanes were gone.

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@ThandaProject

The power of leadership and cooperation: "you call this education, but you are actually building a nation." Read on: http://ow.ly/lK684

@posAbilitiesCA

Loving this article from @AxiomNews - Wheels in Motion Enhance Community Engagement! http://ow.ly/lHlBu

@marieannswift

@ScottAEmery @CormacRussell @AbundantComm #timebanking #ABCD ways to revive sleeping giant of local culture and identity

@menloprez

"The delicious paradox about going slow is that you get better results faster." @carlhonore #worldblu

Designing Spaces to Connect Community

Thought leaders John McKnight and Peter Block hosted Ross Chapin recently in a discussion about how to counteract the isolation of urban life and suburban sprawl by treating space as a way to build community. Ross is an architect who is the leader in defining and designing pocket neighborhoods.
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