Call to Action – Engage through Earth Institute Groups
Upcoming Earth Institute Course:
Wednesday May 23: Voluntary Simplicity: Quality Over Quantity Offered at Upper Arlington Lifelong Learning Program 7 – 9 pm
How much is enough in life? Richard Gregg wrote, “Voluntary simplicity involves both inner and outer condition. It means singleness of purpose, sincerity and honesty within, as well as avoidance of exterior clutter, of many possessions irrelevant to the chief purpose of life.” Discover the personal and environmental benefits of simplicity, discuss what simplicity means to you, and explore how your inner and outer “stuff” affects your life. Participate in exercises to see if you’re spending your time in ways that reflect your core values and, if you find you’re not, explore ways to change this that better reflect how you want to live your life. Facilitated by Ellen Baumgartner and Mary Cunnyngham, Simply Living. Registration 442117 A. Location: UA Municipal Services Center, Council Committee Rm. 3600 Tremont Rd., Upper Arlington, OH, 43221. Cost: $22 Residents | $24 NonResidents. To register for this and other Parks & Recreation classes, visit online, and call us at 583-5300 for more
A core program of Simply Living for fourteen years has been our Earth Institute discussion groups. Why? Because participants are inspired and motivated to take action, improving their quality of life and furthering systemic change.
Do you want to simplify your life? Do you want to understand more how your food choices affect our environment and our health? Are you eager to resist the consumer culture? Take an Earth Institute course and turn your ideas into actions!
For those new to Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) courses, they provide an enjoyable, supportive opportunity for 8-12 participants to examine personal values and habits, engage in stimulating conversation, create meaningful community, and take action towards creating a more sustainable future. Participants self-facilitate each course with the help of a mentor and a coursebook of readings. Each course emphasizes individual responsibility, the importance of a supportive community, and the inspiration to walk lightly and take action on behalf of the Earth.
Start a discussion group with your friends, neighbors or co-workers—we’ll help. Contact Us if you'd like to participate in a course, or for help to start a course in your workplace, faith community, or with friends. These courses are a great excuse to get together and enjoy food and stimulating conversations!
Courses offered include: (Please note that the links below will open the Northwest Earth Institute website in a new window.)
- Sustainable Systems at Work: A five-session discussion course for the workplace, designed to further organizational sustainability initiatives.
- Global Warming: Changing Co2urse: A four-session course exploring the history and science of global warming, personal values and habits as they relate to climate change, and personal actions to curb the effects of global warming.
- Choices for Sustainable Living: A seven-session course exploring the meaning of sustainable living and the ties between lifestyle choices and their impact on ecological systems.
- Menu For the Future: A six-session course exploring the connection between food and sustainability.
- Voluntary Simplicity: A five-session course addressing the distractions of modern society that keep us from caring for ourselves, our relationships, and the environment.
- Healthy Children - Healthy Planet : A seven-session course that discusses how the pervasive effects of advertising, media, and our consumer culture can influence a child's view of the world.
- Discovering a Sense of Place: A seven-session course focusing on knowing and protecting our place.
- Reconnecting with Earth: A six-session course addressing core values and how they affect the way we view and treat the earth.
- A World of Health Connecting People, Place and Planet: A six-session course to explore the connection between human health and our environment.
Do let us know how you’d like to be involved! To participate in a discussion course or start a course in your neighborhood, church or workplace, please Contact Us.
Join us in making these courses available in Central Ohio: Please Contact Us for more information.
