Our Green Valley Alliance for Sustainability, a new group seeking to increase awareness about sustainability in the Wabash Valley, is arranging five public addresses by speakers from different Terre Haute institutions.
The first presentation, by Pat Martin, chief planner of the city of Terre Haute, is scheduled for 5 p.m. today at Indiana State’s Holmstedt Hall, 103. He will discuss “Sustainable Planning, Design and Redevelopment: Terre Haute’s Commitment.”
The alliance — a collaborative effort initiated by the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice of the Sisters of Providence, has brought together a number of organizations to advance environmental sustainability in the Wabash Valley and beyond. Initial members include Indiana State University, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Ivy Tech Community College, the City of Terre Haute, Union Hospital, The Vigo County School Corp. and Trees, Inc.
The primary purpose of the collaboration is well stated in the commonly accepted definition of ecological sustainability: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Its major focus is to promote education and public awareness by: encouraging partnerships, facilitating leadership and activities and providing a forum for policy development, informed dialogue, and respectful debate on environmentally sustainable Earth stewardship.
While the overall goal of the group is to enhance sustainability, the Alliance also seeks to better relationships between each of the educational institutions and the people of Terre Haute.
“Part of the purpose of these talks is to get people on to other campuses,” said Jim Speer, ISU associate professor of geography and geology and founding Alliance member responsible for this first invitation.
The venue of the remaining talks will rotate to each of the schools of higher education and the city.
Another aspect of the Alliance’s mission, in addition to providing a forum for debate on sustaining the environment, is to raise public awareness. It hopes to do so by these presentations and by serving as a resource center for environmentally sustainable practices, education and activities in the Wabash Valley.
The group’s long-term goal is to influence the community to adopt and act upon long-term sustainability goals. In turn, they hope that will improve personal and public health, community vitality, economic development and the environment.
