Sustainable Twin Ports Early Adopter Project

Jerry Hembd

Associate Professor and State Specialist

University of Wisconsin-Superior

Community Development Society

41st Annual Conference

Memphis, Tennessee

July 27, 2009

Twin Ports

Duluth, Minnesota

and

Superior, Wisconsin

Origins of Project

Sustainable Sweden Conference, Ashland, February 2005 The Natural Step framework

2008 The Natural Step

The Natural Step is an international non-profit research, education and advisory organization that uses a science-based, systems framework to help organizations, individuals and communities take meaningful steps toward sustainability.

The Natural Step: What Is It?

Who Uses It?

Swedish Eco-municipalities

City of Madision, WI

The Natural Step Framework

1. A shared science- and systems-based definition for sustainability

2. A decision-making framework and process to help organizations and communities plan for sustainability

3. A compass to help us know if we’re moving in the right direction

Four Sustainability Principles

...concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth’s crust,

...concentrations of substances produced by society,

...degradation by physical means,

...people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs.

In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing...

and, in that society...

Planning Framework

“D” Step

Right direction?

Flexible Platform?

Return on investment?

time

Origins of Project

Sustainable Sweden Conference, Ashland, February 2005 The Natural Step framework

Sustainable Duluth Knight Creative Communities Initiative, April 2007

We Mean Green Early Adopter Proposal

Canmore, Alberta Early Adopter Model Chequamegon Bay Green Team Network

Sustainable Twin Ports Regional foundation support and funding

Sustainable Twin Ports

Sustainable Twin Ports is dedicated to furthering economic, environmental and social sustainability in the Twin Ports and western Lake Superior

region through education, networking and action.

Early Majority

34%

Late Majority

34%

Early Adopters

13.5%Laggards

16% 2.5%

“Critical Mass”

Innovators

Early Adopter Concept

Innovation-Diffusion Model

What are the benefits?

Participation for up to five staff in a proven sustainability training and action planning program

Potential revenue opportunities and/or cost savings as a result of identified actions and investments

Ongoing support and coaching from sustainability experts as the organization develops and implements its sustainability action plan

Participation in a Twin Ports peer learning network of other Early Adopter organizations

What do Early Adopters commit to?

To learn about and apply The Natural Step framework in their organization

To commit time for staff to participate in the program – approximately ten days of training and planning sessions over the course of a year

To produce and implement a sustainability action plan for their organization

To participate with other Early Adopters in promote the lessons, stories, and benefits of their experience

Recruitment Criteria

Candidate organizations are recognized community leaders;

they have an interest in sustainability; and

they collectively represent the breadth of the community or area.

Early Adopter Project Basics

Fourteen Early Adopter organizations Two to five participants per organization Full-time project coordinator (eighteen months) Six days of training over one year (October, January,

March, May) provided by TNS Canada Baseline evaluations Developing a vision of a sustainable organization Action planning and implementation Documentation, peer learning, and sharing with broader

community

Early Adopter Organizations

Public Sector City of Duluth Superior Public Schools Duluth Transit Authority Douglas County University of Wisconsin-

Superior

Nonprofit Sector Challenge Center Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Duluth Area Chamber of

Commerce Duluth-Superior Area

Community Foundation

Private Sector Inn on Lake Superior, ZMC

Hotels Glenwood Signs and Awards Duluth Grill London Road Carwash Twin Ports Testing

Key Strengths

Development of a shared understanding of and language for sustainability among leading organizations in the community or area

Creation of local role models and success stories that inspire rest of community about sustainability

Acknowledging the support of:

A.H. Zeppa Family Foundation

Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation

Fund for the EnvironmentWildey H. Mitchell Family Fund

University of Wisconsin – Superior Fiscal Sponsor

Closing Observations

Organizational rather than community focus – but a clear and tangible focus

Project funding ahead of organizational development

Dealing with two states/communities Next steps organizational development Developing local training capacity “Things are smaller than they appear”

Closing Observations

Case studies and student interns Use of e-Learning module Documentary Implementation debriefing in September Community Showcase on October 8th Less about cool projects than working the

process community development Next steps?

Thank You

www.sustainabletwinports.org

www.youtube.com/sustainabletwinports