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Bay Localize News #11: Climate of Change (Winter '09)

Climate of Change
Tide is Turning Toward a Truly Green Economy

Despite the grim economic news, hopeful signs of change are all around us. Tens of billions in new clean energy investments were just approved by Congress and President Obama (see stimulus info below). Over 12,000 young people just descended upon Washington for Power Shift 2009, demanding that bold climate legislation pass this year.

Even long-time globalization cheerleader Thomas Friedman has changed his tune, asking last week in his New York Times column: "What if [the economic crisis] is telling us that the whole growth model we created over the last 50 years is simply unsustainable economically and ecologically?" What if, indeed!

We know that true resilience comes from living within our means, and building strong communities that provide for our needs locally and equitably. This Earth Day, we are hosting a major event with our allies called Climate of Change to connect global and federal climate talks with efforts to create a less carbon-intensive, more self-reliant Bay Area.

We've also begun meeting with organizers around the Bay to build a Local Resilience Network of advocates to better support one another, share best practices, and advance a regional agenda. Building off our campaign for Community Choice Energy, the Local Clean Energy Alliance is joining forces with the Ella Baker Center and others to ensure that local renewable energy development and quality green jobs are central to Oakland's emerging Energy and Climate Action Plan.

Change is also afoot on staff here at Bay Localize, as we honor the work of outgoing Rooftop Resources Project organizer Ingrid Severson, and welcome co-founder Aaron Lehmer as the incoming Network Development Director. Join us Tuesday, March 10 from 5 to 7 pm at our downtown Oakland office as we celebrate the transition and come together in community.

Yours for a self-reliant, vibrant Bay Area!

—Aaron, Dave, Kirsten, Nile and the Bay Localize Team

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Bay Area 2020 Program:

Local Clean Energy:

Rooftop Resources Project:

Special Features:

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Bay Area 2020: Local Resilience Network Emerging

Bay Localize is leading the way in defining what localization can mean in a major metropolitan area. We're helping people envision what resilient, sustainable communities can look like, and providing vital tools to make them a reality. But we know that our efforts will only succeed if we proceed in the spirit of partnership and build upon the many inspiring initiatives already underway throughout our region.

With that in mind, Bay Localize has begun meeting with allied organizations and localization leaders to build a Local Resilience Network. Designed to be an organized community of advocates spanning the nine-county Bay Area, the goals of the network are to:

  1. Support one another in our mutual efforts to localize
  2. Share best practices, lessons learned, models, and tools
  3. Create an organized political force to advance a regional agenda

Building off last year's local clean energy and local food forums, our workshop series continues this year with a focus on other key resource and economic sectors. Stay tuned for further details! In addition, our Community Resilience Toolkit is set for re-release this summer, and will contain a set of modular resources for those interested in focusing on food, water, energy, transportation, or local economic development. If you are interested in piloting a community resilience workshop with your group, please contact Kirsten.

Opportunities to Use Federal Stimulus Dollars for Local Green Projects!

The federal stimulus package contains a number of provisions that could fund localization projects in the Bay Area! Cities and counties are eligible to receive much of these funds. We've outlined a few stimulus funding highlights below, along with links to in-depth analyses and resources. We encourage you to contact your local city or county government representatives soon to learn how they plan to use stimulus funds, and engage with them on ways they can leverage these funds to invest in a more resilient, sustainable economy over the long term!

As these funding opportunities are still very new, public officials and staff are still figuring them out. Yet deadlines to apply for the funds are coming up quickly! Be patient and resourceful in contacting federal agencies for details on these programs. Offering to help research programs or collaborate on proposals may be key to getting a good project off the ground in your community.

Resources for Advocates:

Stimulus Funding Streams and Programs:

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) - will be granted to every city with a population of 35,000 or more, or counties with populations of 200,000 or more according to a pre-set formula. It can be used to:

  • Develop efficiency/conservation strategies
  • Conduct energy audits
  • Provide grants to nonprofit orgs for energy efficiency retrofits
  • Implement programs for transport energy conservation
  • Update building codes
  • Invest in energy distribution
  • Invest in public education on energy

Restrictions: No more than 10% or $75,000 for staffing, no more than 20% or $250,000 for revolving loan funds, no more than 20% or $250,000 for sub-granting to NGOs

Low-income Home Weathering Assistance Program helps low-income homeowners weatherize their homes - very important for energy efficiency and a great way to help people save money. This program has seen its funding increased dramatically, and it will take some good outreach and marketing to let qualifying homeowners know about these valuable resources!

Clean Water and Drinking Water Grants and Loans establish two funds: The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), which provide funding for state and tribal lands for water quality projects including watershed protection or restoration, estuary management, and municipal wastewater treatment projects. California will receive around $500 million total.

IRS Bond Program: the agency is launching a program to back municipal and state bonds to make them more attractive on the bond market, which can allow many local investments that have been stymied recently to move forward.

EPA Wastewater Treatment and Diesel Emissions Funds: the agency now has funds available to help communities upgrade wastewater treatment plants and get local residents involved in reducing diesel emissions.

The Department of Labor has funds available for job training for youth and adults.

The Small Business Administration also offers a number of benefits for small businesses including very low-interest financing and micro-loans.
Department of Transportation funds for transit are already being allocated in the Bay Area through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Our allies at TransForm and the Transportation Justice Working Group are monitoring this process to steer funds toward worthwhile transit projects.

Department of Housing and Urban Development: some $5 billion is now available for retrofits and efficiency in HUD buildings.

Select Examples of Locally Funded Projects:

Eastside Arts Alliance - Youth Jobs Projects: Environmental renovation for training of youth for jobs in alternative energy, environmental restoration and the arts ($143,000 for the 9th district)

Berkeley/Albany to Downtown SF Ferry Service: $475,000 for a ferry service from Berkeley or Albany to downtown SF

Peralta Community College - Green Energy Job Training Initiative: $237,875 to develop a career training program in green energy related jobs

City of Berkeley Green Jobs Project: $147,386 for green jobs through high school and community college students and hard to employ adults for Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, and Richmond.

Localization News from Around the Bay

Localization advocates and leaders around the Bay Area continue to make strides toward a more regionally, self-reliant economy. Here are some updates on recent developments:

East Bay: Urban Farming and Climate Action
An exciting new urban farming project called Village Bottoms Farms is taking off in West Oakland, spearheaded by the Village Bottoms Community Building and Development Company and Black Dot Artists, Inc. in collaboration with Ecocity Builders. Village Bottoms Farms was established in 2007 as part of a larger neighborhood vision of revitalization for West Oakland's Lower Bottoms.

Village Bottoms Farm's objective is to provide a sustainable urban farm that not only grows and distributes affordable, healthy food, but that also grows self-determined, self-reliant people in the historic Village Bottoms Cultural District. For more information on the farm, contact Marcel at diallo@blackdotcafe.com.

A growing number of cities around the Bay Area are in varying stages of developing and implementing municipal energy and climate action plans. In addition to Berkeley and Oakland, the cities of Hayward and Richmond have recently stepped up their own climate action planning, viewing it as an opportunity to spur sustainable local economic development.

North Bay: Movement Forms to Stop Desalination Plant, Support Water Conservation
The Marin Municipal Water District is considering a major desalination plant as part of its strategy to increase water supplies. The facility would cost $104 million to construct and between $4 and 12 million dollars a year to operate. A grassroots movement has mobilized to oppose the plant, arguing that it would substantially increase energy consumption and pose other health and environmental risks to local residents. Opponents also note that a combination of expanded water efficiency and conservation measures would eliminate the need for a desalination plant.

At a March 4 public meeting of the Water District, Bay Localize's Ingrid Severson spoke to the potential for rainwater catchment systems to increase the county's water security. The District is now accepting recommendations for conservation alternatives, and will take up the issue again at its March 18 meeting. Food & Water Watch, a nationally and locally oriented consumer advocacy organization will release a review of viable and less costly alternatives to the proposed desalination facility this month. To get involved, visit Food & Water Watch's Marin activism page or contact Adam Scow at ascow@fwwatch.org.

San Francisco: Rainwater Harvesting Initiative Launched!
In an effort to further conserve San Francisco's drinking water supplies and to help divert stormwater runoff from the City's sewer system, San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, Mayor Gavin Newsom recently launched a citywide initiative promoting rainwater harvesting –- the collection and re-use of rainwater for non-drinking purposes like outdoor irrigation and indoor toilet use.

While supplies last, you can purchase a fully-outfitted, 60-gallon rain barrel at a steeply discounted price, compliments of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's (SFPUC) Wastewater Enterprise. The SFPUC, Department of Public Health, and Department of Building Inspection have partnered to encourage the safe use of rainwater for irrigation and toilet flushing without requiring special treatment. Systems designed to collect and treat rainwater for any potable uses will be inspected and permitted on a case-by-case basis. Visit the Rainwater Harvesting Initiative website for more information.

South Bay and Peninsula: Funding for Transit-Friendly Development
The Silicon Valley Community Foundation has released a series of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for nonprofits based in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Under its new Building Sustainable Land Use and Transportation Plans focus, the foundation is seeking proposals to encourage smart growth and transit-oriented development to reduce dependence on private automobiles.

The foundation is holding informational sessions on these RFPs on March 10th and 12th. The foundation also released new RFPs on closing the middle school achievement gap, safety net services, financial education and asset building, foreclosure prevention counseling, and legal and cultural services for immigrants. See the Foundation website for details.

Community Choice Moves Ahead in Marin, Berkeley

Thanks to the hard work of Marin Clean Energy, Community Choice Energy is moving forward in Marin with the recent formation of the Marin Energy Authority. Marin Energy Authority is a joint powers authority comprised of Marin County and eight Marin towns, and accounts for over 70% of the entire county's electrical load. At a meeting earlier this year, the board of the Authority agreed to seek $63 million from the federal stimulus package just passed in Congress. To get involved in the activities of Marin Clean Energy, visit their event calendar.

At the Berkeley Energy Commission meeting in late February, nearly a dozen advocates showed up to speak in support of Community Choice, including a former Berkeley energy commissioner who videotaped the meeting and public comments. The commission passed a resolution advising the Berkeley City Council to keep $70,000 in funding allocated to Community Choice, a portion of which would be used to study its potential further. The resolution also asks the Council to schedule a Fall 2009 workshop, and states that the commission will provide a report assessing Community Choice before the workshop.

Local Clean Energy Alliance Sharpens Focus, Expands Member Base

Although we are still working out the details, the Local Clean Energy Alliance's main activities this year will be:

  • Participating in East Bay Climate Action Planning Processes. We are a member of the Oakland Energy & Climate Action Coalition along with the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and other organizations seeking to "maximize the gain and minimize the pain" for vulnerable communities. We are also contributing to the Berkeley Climate Action Plan and beginning to track the Hayward plan.
  • Promoting Sustainable Energy Financing. We are advocating for policies that will make renewable energy and energy efficiency more affordable and accessible. We are monitoring the pilot of the Sustainable Energy Financing District in Berkeley. The pilot was filled in a matter of minutes. We are engaged in the conversation about bringing this program to Oakland and looking into other financing methods such as harnessing redevelopment funds and on-bill financing. Financing will be the topic of the next Local Clean Energy Alliance meeting on March 12th, 2009. Please join us! (See below for details.)
  • Forwarding Community Choice Energy. While we prepare for Oakland and Berkeley's Community Choice workshops this Fall, we are also monitoring the political situation and mobilizing activists strategically to make sure that Community Choice gets a fair hearing.

Local Clean Energy Alliance Meeting: Sustainable Energy Financing

Guest Speaker: Cisco DeVries, President, Renewable Funding

Join us for the March Local Clean Energy Alliance meeting on Thursday, March 12th. Our speaker this month is Cisco DeVries, president of Renewable Funding. While working as chief of staff to Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, Cisco envisioned and led the initial development of Berkeley FIRST, a nationally recognized city program allowing property owners to pay for solar installations as a voluntary 20-year assessment on their property tax bill.

WHEN: March 12, 6-8 pm

WHERE: Central Historic Building, 436 14th St.
2nd Floor Conference Room, Oakland
(Just up the stairs from the 12th St. BART station)

Renewable Funding develops and delivers innovative solutions for renewable energy and energy efficiency financing. Cisco will talk about CityFIRST, a powerful new financing model being implemented by cities throughout California that allows property owners to install solar systems and energy efficiency upgrades with no up-front cost. There is no cost to participating cities.

We will also include updates on Local Clean Energy campaigns in the East Bay and hold breakout groups on building power for the alliance. To be sure we have enough food, please RSVP to Jan at jan@baylocalize.org.

New Alliance Members, New Leadership

The Local Clean Energy Alliance is growing by leaps and bounds. Thirteen organizations have joined the alliance in the past three months: SunEnergy, Green Cafe Network, Crunchy Foods, DIG Coop, Oakland Food Connection, Geoffrey Holton & Associates, Urban Releaf, Culture Change, Connect the Dots, Your Solar Connection, AndaPR, and Generation Green.

We'd like to keep up the momentum. If you know any companies or organizations that may be interested with the alliance, please forward their contact information to Dave at dave@baylocalize.org.

We are also pleased to announce that Ron San Miguel joined the Local Clean Energy Alliance Steering Committee in January. Ron is a renewable energy consultant with SunEnergy, an Oakland-based firm. Ron is also on the board of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County (HCCAC).

At this point, we must recognize the huge contribution that Sierra Club member and Bay Localize donor Kent Lewandowski has made to the Local Clean Energy Alliance. Kent has actively participated on the Steering Committee since the Alliance began in 2007 and has been instrumental in building our political power over the past two years. A tireless advocate with many demands on his time, Kent has decided to step down from the Steering Committee. We will miss him. Thankfully, Kent's seat on the Steering Committee will be filled by the Sierra Club's Jason Webster. Thank you Kent!

Rooftop Resources Project Leader Transitions to New Role
Tools and Resources Available to Realize Urban Rooftop Potential

Reflections and Updates from Ingrid Severson

The Rooftop Resources Project began as an effort to assess the feasibility and benefits of rainwater catchment, living roofs, and solar power, and to support the development of these technologies through awareness raising and policy advocacy.

In collaboration with an amazing group of experts, volunteers, and community members, we've completed a neighborhood assessment, Tapping the Potential of Urban Rooftops, catalyzed multiple pilot projects, published the Use Your Roof Guidebook, and engaged hundreds of policy makers throughout the Bay Area. More and more buildings are now boasting these vital rooftop systems, planners are looking at options for encouraging their implementation, and local businesses are forming to take advantage of this gathering wave.

In the past few months, I have joined teams of designers, planners, and advocates around the Bay to present rooftop technology implementation mapping and the accessibility of rainwater catchment and water re-use. I presented the results of our neighborhood assessment at the San Francisco Unified School District Project Managers Training Workshop and showed strategies for DIY rainwater catchment and water re-use solutions at the Marin Watershed Forum. This is just the beginning. Every roof is a resource and should be built out with whatever technology it can support. There is a lot of work to do to reach this potential. But with a solid foundation of research and tools, the Rooftop Resources Project is ready to materialize these goals.

It has been a great honor and thrill to work with the Bay Localize team to bring the Rooftop Resources Project to this juncture. The past three years of developing the project, working on Bay Localize programs, and the Steering Committee have opened my eyes to a great realm of possibilities and pathways to shift our urban infrastructure to a localized system.

This vision has inspired me to take a step beyond the research and advocacy role, to focus my skills and pursue designing and building rainwater catchment systems. 2009 promises to be a powerful year of learning and training in plumbing systems, and apprenticeship programs with prominent companies. So while I will be traveling and studying in the months to come, I am excited to continue collaborations with Bay Localize and seeing the project carry its goals to fruition.

Take Advantage of Our Rooftop Resource Tools and Take Action Locally!

Now that we have a deeper understanding of best practices and feasible rooftop systems to implement locally, our charge now is to advance the development of rainwater catchment and edible rooftop gardens through local government support, financial incentives, accessibility, education, awareness, and boosting local markets of materials and supplies. It's up to you to join these initiatives and advance these goals. Peruse the following news and developments, take advantage of the tools we've developed, and take action in your community!

Rooftop Resources Policy Recommendations

Living roofs and rainwater catchment systems offer solutions for stormwater management, energy efficiency, climate protection (living roofs sequester carbon), and many other benefits. Given the food, water, energy security and other benefits they offer, it is imperative that local and state policies support the development of rooftop technologies. Bay Localize has compiled a list of policy recommendations for living roofs, edible roof gardens and rainwater catchment for which we will continue to advocate. Please review our list and offer any comments and suggestions.

Now Available at Select Bookstores: Use Your Roof Guidebook!

Rooftop revolutionaries rejoice! Check out Bay Localize's long-awaited new publication, Use Your Roof Guidebook: Resources and Considerations for Rainwater Catchment, Living Roofs and Solar Power. The booklet draws from the groundbreaking research of Tapping the Potential of Urban Rooftops, as well as other research findings from the field, and offers guidelines for selecting an appropriate rooftop system and embarking on the design and implementation process.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY!
Use Your Roof is now available at select bookstores in San Francisco and Berkeley — help us keep the sales going! Purchase your own copy for as little as $7.00! It's vital that we continue demonstrating the rising interest and help the local economy and the movement grow — so let people in your network know or buy a few copies for friends and family! Our current and growing list of stores includes:

East Bay

  • Black Oak Books, 1491 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709
  • Builders Book Source, 1817 4th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
  • Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. Berkeley, CA 94702
  • Mrs. Dalloway's, 2904 College Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705
  • Urban Farmer Store, 2121 San Joaquin Street, Richmond, CA 94804

San Francisco

  • Needles and Pens, 3253 16th St. (bet. Guerrero and Dolores), San Francisco, CA 94103
  • Modern Times Bookstore, 888 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94110
  • Dog Eared Books, 900 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94110

Independent Online Reseller

Emerging Rooftop Projects and Initiatives

San Francisco Embarcadero YMCA "Bayside Roof Garden"
The San Francisco Embarcadero YMCA recently partnered with Bay Localize and Maya Donelson to begin fundraising efforts and planning to build an edible roof garden that will be built, maintained, and harvested by students of their resident Youth Chance High School and by campers in their summer camp programs. Stay tuned for further details!

Sky Vegetables Launches in Berkeley to Expand Rooftop Greenhouses
Sky Vegetables is a Berkeley based rooftop greenhouse design and build firm with the motto, the Sky is the Limit! The company caters mainly to grocery stores and big box shopping centers, a strategy that can eliminate up to 80% of the cost of production and distribution. Sky Vegetables initiated a standard for integrating building with agriculture and coined the initiative, Building Integrated Sustainable Agriculture or B-ISA.

In December, Sky Vegetables hosted a B-ISA Summit to launch their business and the new standard. They are now aiming to have the B-ISA standard accepted as a component of the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system. Sky Vegetables has also initiated a Policy Committee to identify regulatory barriers to edible roof gardens and greenhouses and to work with cities to establish a permitting process. The committee has openings for new members with experience and/or interest in Policy Development. Contact Ingrid at ingrid@baylocalize.org for further information.

NorCal Chapter of American Rainwater Catchment Systems Assoc. Launched
The American Rainwater Catchment Association (ARCSA) is the premier rainwater harvesting organization in the United States with members ranging from professionals working in city, state, and federal government, academia, and manufacturers to suppliers of rainwater harvesting equipment, consultants, and others. ARCSA holds annual conferences and recently started an accreditation program for rainwater catchment professionals. Their most recent accreditation workshop took place in San Francisco in February and trained over 50 people.

Local rainwater enthusiasts have taken ownership of ARCSA's mission by forming a Northern California Chapter of the association. This group had its first meeting in December and has since taken off with a newly formed mission statement of encouraging and facilitating sustainable rainwater harvesting policies and practices. The chapter formed multiple committees to take on the education, policy, and outreach aspects of the mission. A symposium is planned for early spring. Check out the NorCal ARCSA chapter website for more information and to get involved.

The Fire in the Belly
Putting Down Your Roots in Oakland

"The Fire in the Belly" is a regular feature in our newsletter on what personally motivates people to work on localization. This issue's feature is written by Leah Santa Lucia, a local food and energy advocate who recently started the Oakland Roots School of Urban Sustainability.

These essays are personal statements exploring the diverse viewpoints that lead to localization as an organizing framework, and as such do not necessarily reflect the positions of Bay Localize.

I've lived my whole life in an urban environment, with much of it spent moving from one type of rental unit to another. I know this is a common experience amongst many city dwellers, and with this experience comes the feeling of temporality, not being able to "put your roots down" or change your environment to make it more meaningful to you. You'll probably be leaving soon anyway. I bring this up because many times we feel it is prescribed to us how we must live and what we think we must accept: driving to work, working to drive, buying all our food from a large chain grocery, or regularly eating out because by the time you have a minute to breathe, you're exhausted, or you might not know how to cook fresh meals.

Over time, I've realized that many of the things I was doing to support my lifestyle depended on external sources, most of which have devastating environmental and social impacts on the planet. This is the reason I started Oakland Roots, The School of Urban Sustainability — a hands-on educational center on a 9000 sq. ft. garden in the heart of Old Oakland.

The purpose of this school is to create a localized, healthy community, and bring about social justice and ecological resilience in the built environment. I am so excited that I not only have such an integral role in the organization and development of Oakland Roots, but that I will also be a student taking as many classes as I can soak up. I feel blessed to have this amazing opportunity to learn alongside my community how to be more self-reliant, build beautiful connections with others, participate in something that is meaningful and become more independent from the systems that do not serve us. What a gift!

I've lived in Old Oakland for 2 1/2 years. It's a great little neighborhood right outside of the downtown/Chinatown area. When I moved into my building I was really excited to find that we had thermal solar panels. After several failed attempts to convince my landlord to install a rooftop garden, I finally got him to agree to a rainwater catchment system. Question was: what would I irrigate with all that water? Upon closer assessment, I realized that the downspout on my building went to a big open plot of land, so I decided I would put a garden there.

I started research on the property at 923 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. I called the Dept. of Planning and Zoning to investigate its history, status, the owner's proposed plans and what my requirements would be to create a community garden. I was able to acquire the property owners name and address, find out about previous owners, and the permit status for development. I spent time talking to neighbors and other property owners to find out as much information as I could and in return obtained the landowner's phone number. I also learned that I would need to obtain a mixed-use permit at a cost of $2,500, which seems unreasonable to have to pay such a high price for a service to the community. Soon after, I made the phone call to the landlord, Jon. I told him that I was interested in creating a garden on his land. He told me he was planning on turning it into a parking lot. I said, "Let's have lunch."

The first meeting between Jon and I was very synergistic, by the end of it we were talking about a 10-year plan for the garden. I knew that at some point he wanted to build a 51 unit condominium building on the lot, and I found out that he was not only a developer and landowner, but an architect and structural engineer. So, I asked him if I could create a community garden on the land until he started construction. And I told him that it would be truly amazing if the building had the structural integrity to host a rooftop garden so that once he was done with it, I could install the garden on his building. As it happened, he was actually interested, because in his words, "I want this building to be my 'green' baby," equipped with ecological systems like greywater and rainwater catchment and a green roof. Fantastic!

Since that first auspicious meeting, I have created a contract for the use of the land, and acquired two amazing partners: John Mendonca, small business owner, urban farmer and web designer, and Carl Grether, urban farmer and co-producer of the new movie Edible City by East Bay Pictures which features Oakland Roots. We have also registered our name with Alameda County, and developed important relationships and agreements with our lovely neighbors.

We've started Community Garden Days every Friday from Noon-4:00 pm where people come out in garden clothes and shoes, bring musical instruments (if they have them), and have fun creating the garden and making music. Through these weekly gatherings we have completely sheet mulched the land, pruned the fruit tree back, and excavated some areas of the site. It feels so fantastic to work side by side with everyone and build something so big and beautiful. Please come out and join us!

Oakland Roots will also offer an assortment of experiential workshops, classes, certification programs and events. Areas of focus will include garden design, urban organic gardening, California natives, botanical and plant id, medicinal plants and medicine making as well as body care products and healthy food preparation, natural building, metal work, outdoors / essential / traditional skills, clean energy/energy efficiency, municipal waste system support, community organization, Permaculture, rain catchment, irrigation, pond building, bay and ocean awareness, children's workshops, garden exercise, bicycle DIY, music, mural arts, garden arts and multimedia events, and sacred gatherings. Our very first workshop on edible mushrooms took place on February 28. You can find out more information about upcoming events and workshops by visiting www.OaklandRoots.org or by e-mailing leah@oaklandroots.org.

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Events Roundup: Upcoming and Recent Activities

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • Bay Localize Open House Happy Hour!
    March 10, 5-7 pm
    436 14th Street (at Broadway), Oakland
    Bay Localize invites all localizers, friends, and allies to join us for a happy hour open office party honoring the work of outgoing Rooftop Resources Project leader Ingrid Severson and welcoming incoming Network Development Director Aaron Lehmer.

  • Oakland Food Policy Council Introductory Event
    March 23, 3-5 pm
    James Irvine Foundation Conference Center
    East Bay Community Foundation
    353 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland
    Come learn about the now-forming Oakland Food Policy Council (OFPC). Contribute to making access to healthy, affordable food a right and a reality for every Oakland resident. Please RSVP to oaklandfood@foodfirst.org.

  • Climate of Change: Global to Local Solutions For a Resilient Bay Area
    Thursday, April 23rd, 6-8:30 pm
    First Unitarian Church, 685 14th Street, Oakland
    In collaboration with our allies, Bay Localize will host a special Earth Day event on how new global, national and state policies and stimulus funds can assist Bay Area community resilience initiatives on the ground.

  • TransForm Summit: Windfall for All
    May 16, 8:30 am
    Laney College, 900 Fallon Street, Oakland
    This year, the Summit will focus on the critical role of transportation and land use in the health of our economy, pocketbooks, and planet -- and highlight solutions that can help on all three fronts. As a proud member of TransForm, Bay Localize will be participating all day at the Summit.

  • Sunday Salon: "Consume This Movie!"
    May 17, 2-4 pm
    Parkway Theater, 1834 Park Blvd., Oakland
    Bay Localize will host a Sunday Salon screening and discussion of Consume This Movie!, by Gene Brockhoff. The film takes a critical look at social injustice, peak oil, resource depletion and our deep need to feel connected to each other through what we consume. This 80-minute documentary also examines the frenzied pace of fast-lane materialism that is burning us out.

Look for announcements of other upcoming gatherings on our website.


RECENT EVENTS:

Winter has been another busy season of outreach and action for Bay Localize!

As 2008 came to a close, we hosted our 3rd Annual Holiday Party to celebrate the year's many accomplishments, share local foods, and come together as a community. Scores of Bay Area activists and supporters came out for the festivities, and re-dedicated themselves to working for a vibrant future for all.

In January, Bay Localize partnered with Change SF for an evening of music, green solutions, and celebration at Temple SF. The event brought together a diverse, cross-section of the community with the goal of accelerating the shift towards a more sustainable future in the urban environment of San Francisco. Bay Localize's Ingrid Severson spoke to the promise of urban rooftop systems while Dave Room outlined the potential of local clean energy policies. Change SF is hosting a series of events this spring. For more information, visit the Change SF Wiser Earth page.

In mid-February, Bay Localize joined organizers of the Think Outside the Bottle Campaign for a rally and press conference outside San Francisco City Hall. "We're calling on Governor Schwarzenegger to be a leader, and do two things: one is to commit to not spending state money, tax payers dollars, on purchasing bottled water. Two, invest in our public water infrastructure," said Alexis Illyn of Corporate Accountability International. Bay Localize's Dave Room also spoke at the rally.

Support Bay Localize Today!

Volunteer with Bay Localize!

Are you interested in donating your time to your community and the environment in a meaningful way? Bay Localize needs steady, dedicated volunteers to help with office work and other projects. Come join us in our lively, friendly office in downtown Oakland right next to BART, to make the world a better place for future generations. We welcome seniors! Afternoon hours preferred. Please send your letter of interest and resume to kirsten@baylocalize.org with "Volunteer
Application" in the subject line, or call us at (510) 318-0610.

Have a Computer to Donate?

Reuse is even better than recycling, and we can offer your old computer a good home! Pentium 4 processors and newer, receipts for tax write-offs available. Contact kirsten@baylocalize.org or call (510) 318-0160. We are interested in laser printers, LCD monitors, fax machines, and photocopiers as well. Thank you for your generosity!

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would be honored to count you among our growing range of supporters. Your contribution will help us to forward localization projects and initiatives in the Bay Area. Each donor of $35 or more receives a one-year subscription to the award-winning quarterly publication, the Earth Island Journal.

To make a tax-deductible contribution, please click on the online donation link below, or write a check or money order made payable to Earth Island Institute (our fiscal sponsor) with "Bay Localize" in the memo and mail
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Bay Localize
436 14th Street, Suite 1127
Oakland, CA 94612

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Thanks for your support!

About Bay Localize News
Bay Localize News features regular news and updates from Bay Localize, a growing network of nonprofits, businesses, and municipal leaders working to build a more self-reliant, sustainable, and socially just Bay Area.

EDITORS: Aaron Lehmer, Kirsten Schwind

CONTRIBUTORS: Aaron Lehmer, David Room, Kirsten Schwind, Ingrid Severson, and Leah Santa Lucia

For more about Bay Localize, please visit our website at http://www.baylocalize.org.


Contact Us:

Bay Localize
436 14th Street, Suite 1127
Oakland, CA 94612 USA
(510) 834-0420
Web: http://www.baylocalize.org

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