Way of Expressive Power: Sustainability and Consumerism Matt Lane, Kendra Langreck, Jessica LaLonde, Nora Gawlik, Kyle Ward, David Padilla, Alaina Blair, Matt Walsh

How Do You Contribute?  Think of a way you have made a personal commitment or sacrifice towards sustainability in your life.

The Way of Expressive Power  Transforming society by transforming people’s everyday lives

Dustin Hinrichs: Trees Forever  Mission: “To plant and care for trees and the environment by empowering people, building community, and promoting stewardship.”  Who they are: Organization working towards bettering the living green infrastructure  Strengths: Sustain environment with planting of trees  Weaknesses: Not enough funding, utility companies cut down a lot of street trees

Trees Forever Workshop Pictures David Jessica and Nora Matthew and David

Trees Forever Workshop Pictures Kendra Kyle Kyle and Kendra

Trees Forever Workshop Pictures Nora Jessica and NoraOur tree

Rob Williams  One of the founders of the Dubuque Bike Coop  Mission: Provide bikes for community members to advocate healthy behaviors and sustainable ways of transportation.  Renew old, recycled bikes taken from donations.  Educate public on road safety standards  Strengths: Affordable, practical, domino effect, make use of old bike parts, less pollution  Weakness: Relies on donations and community participation, motivating people to ride despite weather and topography

Paul Schultz (Garbage Bag Guy)  Works for Smarter Sustainable Dubuque  Mission: To help Dubuque citizens live a more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable life.  Promotes smarter water, electricity, travel, health, and wellness options  Strengths: Encourage people to make small, easy changes that are manageable.  Weaknesses: Motivating people, reputation

Judy Giesen  Volunteers at Resurrection Catholic Church  Part of the Green Team  Mission: Going Green: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle  Encourages people in Dubuque to change their way of thinking about waste.  Strength: They reach out to a lot of people through their church.  Weakness: Not enough advocacy.  A few have changed, but need more.  “We still haven’t done enough. We haven’t got our message out to everyone yet.”

Mary Moody  Works at the Dubuque Food Co-op  Mission: The Dubuque Food Co-op’s mission is to provide products that are natural, organic, and local in order to promote the health of the community and the environment.  The Co-op is sustainable because food is grown locally.  Strengths: Labels on food, no pesticides or herbicides, no antibiotics, help local farmers, healthy options, safety  Weaknesses: Affordability, education, less variety

Summary of Strengths  Small things add up  Many easy, simple changes  Encourages community activity  Some choices are cheaper: riding a bike or the bus instead of driving a car  One person can start a domino effect  Create a solution to a problem that has a lasting effect

Summary of Weaknesses  Weaknesses:  People may look at them weird (social acceptance)  Organic food may be healthier, but its more expensive  Individuals may think that their contribution will not aid in change. They think their contribution is insignificant.  Sometimes changing things that individuals do throughout their day to day life is an inconvenience.  Lack of time and or resources

Expressive Power Wrap-Up  Through meeting with these wonderful individuals,we were exposed to new ideas and ways in which we can make positive changes that will echo through time.  The individuals we met with were true inspirations. The time and effort they devote to their various missions are unmatched. They believe so strongly that we can come together and make changes to our communities that will have a lasting effect and will impact them for the better.  These individuals have made it clear how vital a role we play as citizens in the attempt to transform our daily lives and create a more sustainable planet.