004: Tale of Two Cities: Mistakes to Avoid and Strategies to Use

Time-stamped notes: [1:00] Today’s episode is about my experiences trying to get eco-actions going in Niwot and Longmont, Colorado. In retrospect, I can see mistakes I made and strategies that worked. [1:45] Niwot - worked solo to get recycling center in [2:30] Longmont - offered job in Longmont to start just after 500-year flooding event. [3:20] Found one person to join me and we started Sustainable Revolution Longmont [3:35] Started working toward Earth Day 2015. Writing grants. Got fiscal sponsorship. Started youth leadership council. [4:30] Had 70 exhibitors, 35 of which were youth booths [5:00] Mayor and City Council members attended [5:10] Link to Sustainable Resilient Longmont 2015 Youth of the Earth Festival photos http://www.srlongmont.org/photos--videos-2015.html [5:20] Youth and adult attended city council and school board meetings. Got much of what we wanted [5:40] Non-profit is still going forward even after I left: Sustainable Resilient Longmont [6:20] If you’ve tried and didn’t have success in the past, it might have been timing but it might be that there are other strategies that will work better. [6:30] List of strategies to use, to avoid mistakes when starting a green team: Embrace leadership Build a core team Dream of a better world Find partners Plan an initial big event Get ready to take money Become an official group Promote, promote, promote Hold an initial big event Document and re-evaluate Celebrate your successes Include youth in leadership and families Include art and music   Thank you for listening! Discover how to launch and grow a green team in your community. Suggest a topic, get the free Green Team Essentials including online community, avoidable mistakes guide and podcast discussion group at www.GreenTeamAcademy.com. If you like what you're hearing, please subscribe, rate and review! The time for action is now because there is no Planet B!