In this entry of the annual Sustainable Ann Arbor series, hosted by the City and the Ann Arbor District Library, the focus will be on climate and energy. This discussion will include updates on Ann Arbor’s Climate Action Plan, an overview of local climate impacts, and sustainable programs underway at the University of Michigan.

Speakers for the Climate and Energy discussion include:

o Mike Garfield, Executive Director, Ecology Center
o Anya Dale, Sustainability Rep, University of Michigan
o Sean Reed, Executive Director, Clean Energy Coalition
o Wayne Appleyard, Chair, Ann Arbor Energy Commission
o Nathan Geisler, Energy Programs Analyst, City of Ann Arbor

The Sustainable Ann Arbor series will include four events (held monthly through April) with each focusing on a different element of sustainability from Ann Arbor’s Sustainability Framework.

At each event, a think tank of local stakeholders including representatives from community organizations,and staff from both the City of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, will join the public to discuss local sustainability efforts and challenges in our community. Each program will include a series of short presentations followed by a question and answer session.

The forums offer an opportunity to learn more about sustainability in the community and tips for actions that residents can take to live more sustainably. Details of this series will be posted online on The City of Ann Arbor's Sustainability site. For information and videos from current and past Sustainable Ann Arbor Forums, please visit the City’s Sustainability website.

The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area (LWV-AAA) hosted this educational Town Hall on redistricting. This talk explores how legislative lines are drawn in Michigan, who draws them, and why it is a critically important question for those concerned about fair representation. The speaker is Susan Smith, Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Michigan.

In Michigan, the district lines are drawn by elected officials in the legislature, effectively allowing politicians to choose their voters and giving the political party in power at the time a tremendous advantage. Topics discussed include: what are the ramifications of partisan-drawn districts that favor one party over another, is there a better and fairer way to do this, and what are the alternatives?

Donna, Ahman and Chuck talk about how they became involved with ICPJ; the organization's general operation through leadership transitions; the formation of some ICPJ task forces and annual events; and running a newsletter. Donna Ainsworth was director of ICPJ from 1988-1992. Ahmad Rahman came in late 1992 and worked as office staff to edit the newsletter. Chuck Warpehoski, current director of ICPJ, became involved with ICPJ in 2003.

In this episode Lucia Heinold and Laron Williams talk about their involvement on ICPJ's Racial and Economic Justice Task Force (REJ) and the many strides the group has made in bringing discussions of race to the community. Laron discusses his early involvement with ICPJ where, as the only African American on the REJ steering committee, he felt a need to address the organization's discussions of race. Lucia and Laron also talk about their recent involvement in the "Understanding Race" exhibit at the Exhibit Museum and related community discussions, as well as efforts to bring film and book discussions to the Ypsilanti community in partnership with the Ypsilanti District Library.

Norma Green, retired farmer, and Gil Whitney, also a farmer, togther recall their work with the Land, Food, and Justice Committee, through which they organized farm tours, introduced people to their food sources, hosting potlucks and cooking demonstrations, and much more.

In this episode, Mary Hathaway talks about the friendship and initial involvement of her husband, John, with ICPJ leaders Russell and Barbara Fuller. Mary later became active in international arms control and attended the 1982 march in New York City to protest the nuclear arms race. She also talks about the split among local activists during discussions about becoming a nuclear free zone.

Bart Beavin arrived in Ann Arbor in 1966 after a 10-week tour of the Middle East and Europe in which he became sensitive to what was happening in Palestine Israel. While this topic has been his chief social justice issue for over 50 years, he recounts many activities and events with the ICPJ and the Wesley Foundation during the Vietnam War era, from counselling young men on draft resistance, attending the 1968 march in Washington D. C., and making a trip to the Dow Company to protest the company's sale of napalm.

In this episode, Ann Arbor couple Bryan and Layle Weinert talk about their 30-year involvement with the Ann Arbor Crop Walk, from its humble beginnings to a strong community movement that has led to related local efforts such as the Faith in Food program. Inspired by the interfaith nature of the event which draws 400-500 walkers annually and has raised over 2 million dollars, as well as its support of both fundamental justice issues and local efforts, the Weinert's make a compelling moral case for the practicality and power such a community-wide event can have in raising awareness on a personal and national level to fight global social injustice.

In order for our students to succeed in the 21st century, we need to educate them and equip them with new and different skills. In this discussion of the status of education in Michigan, a panel of leading educators and business people presented issues surrounding education in our state. The event focused on the skills young people need for successful careers in the age of technology and information.

Panelists include:
• Dr. Jim Duderstadt, former president, University of Michigan 1988-96, director National Science Foundation and National Commission of the Future of Higher Education.
• David Schroeter, senior vice president sales, Gale/Cengage Learning

The discussion was moderated by Lou Glazer, president of Michigan Future, whose mission is to be a source of new ideas on how Michigan can succeed as a world-class community in a knowledge-driven economy.

An introduction was given be Larry T. Eiler CEO Eiler Communications and founder of the Re:NEW Michigan brand, and Dr. John Austin, president, Michigan State Board of Education, non-resident senior fellow Brookings Institution, directed Great Lakes Economic Initiative, gave a pre-recorded address to the group.

This event was co-sponsored by Re:NEW Michigan.

In this event, part of a year-long Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice program entitled Food & Justice: An Interfaith Exploration of How Our Food Choices Impact Our Environment, Our Economy and Our Neighbors, a panel of interfaith leaders explores how their faith traditions take on issues of food justice and how their communities are making a meaningful impact in all areas of the food system addressing issues like hunger, worker's rights and climate change.

Hosted by Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice and Interfaith Round Table, the panelists include: Reverend Ryan Boes, Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church; Yusuf Salloum, Islamic Center of Ann Arbor; Julie Ritter, Jewel Heart Ann Arbor; Reverend Kristin Reigel, First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor; and Rabbi Rob Dobrusin, Beth Israel Congregation.

The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area (LWV-AAA) hosted this last of two public conversations on the current process of electing local public officials, with a look at how municipalities around the country elect their public officials.

Panelists include Professor John Chamberlin, Professor Emeritus, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, Lawrence Kestenbaum, Washtenaw County Clerk; and Professor Joseph Ohren, Eastern Michigan University, Political Science Department.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization and the cosponsor of this event, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.