Organizational Achievements include:
- * Co-founded and coordinated the North American Eco-Municipality Network, which was established in 2005 to advocate for and support the development of eco-municipalities. As of today, there are 19 eco-municipalities in North America.
- * Served on the steering team for the City of Madison Natural Step efforts (pdf file) , which has trained and supported over 120 city employees in the implementation of sustainability projects. This has aided the City of Madison to save tens of thousands of dollars and helped open the door to the hiring of a full-time city sustainability coordinator.
- Sustain Dane Executive Director B ryant Moroder named one of Madison Magazine's Green Heroes given gto 25 of the area's savviest, smartgest, boldest, well-ententioned and hardest-working stewards of justice, humanity and the environment.
- * Collaborated with over 100+ local, national and international organizations ranging from municipal to academic to non-profits partners on various initiatives.
- * Co-led a 4 month training to provide process training to 15 members of the Dane County Sustainable Practices Staff Team and co-authored the Sustainability Training & Inventory Report and Recommendations to the Dane County Board of Supervisors.
- * Coordinated the Mpowering Madison campaign to assist area businesses and individuals to use clean energy approaches to help reduce Madison’s carbon emissions by 100,000 tons by 2011. Already over 3,000 individuals and 30 businesses have taken the Mpower Pledge -- Metcalfe's Sentry, UW Credit Union, Planet Bike, and many others – to take a variety of steps toward carbon emission reductions.
- * Developed the patented RainReserveTM rain barrel system and have subsequently distributed 2,000 rain barrels in the Dane County watershed in less than three years.
- * Collaborated with the UW Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies to organize a special three-day forum to create a more sustainable community and to forge new cooperative linkages. This led to the recent 6-part community forum series on the topic of “Sustainable Communities” with over 360 individuals participating.
- * Helped put the Madison area on the map of world-class eco-tourism destinations through our participation in the 2007 International Eco-Tourism Conference. Sustain Dane organized the first-ever Autumn and Trail Train tour, with stops at more than several organizations focusing on sustainability. More than 280 people participated in this enlightening and enjoyable event.
- * Coordinated the development of an inter-denominational group of church leaders to come together on the topic of environmental sustainability and faith. This led to the first ever “Food, Faith and Earth Day” event with participants from 35 area congregations.
- * Planned and delivered numerous presentations and workshops on the eco-municipality model, The Natural Step (TNS) sustainability framework and sustainable community development in numerous communities, organizations and conferences in Wisconsin.
- * Developed and co-authored the Natural Step for Communities study circle program used by communities across the United States and taken by thousands of individuals nationally..
- * Participated in a global Sustainability Leadership Summit with the King of Sweden along with seventy other leaders from around the world to discuss the challenge of sustainability and the need for cross-sector partnerships.
- * Hosted world-class sustainability leaders for public and private lectures including Dr. Karl Henrick Robert (video: Arboretum) (video: City of Madison), Doug Farr (Video: Sustainable Urbanism), John DeGraf, and David Korten.
- * Since 1998 have organized over 2,000 individuals the Northwest Earth Institute discussion courses on sustainability topics. At the individual level, we know that the course discussions facilitate change in values, attitudes, habits, and actions.
What others are saying about Sustain Dane
"Sustain Dane has played a significant supporting role as the City of Madison moves to improve the sustainability of its operations by adopting and implementing The Natural Step framework. With Sustain Dane's help in harnessing the strength of area residents, the City's efforts will be a catalyst for improving our region's future. With the assistance of Sustain Dane, the City of Madison continues to build on its reputation as a leader in sustainability and will become a model for other communities in North America."
-- City of Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz
“As Co-Founder of the Northwest Earth Institute in Portland, I work closely with many nonprofit colleagues around the United States. Sustain Dane is at the top of my list of the most effective regional nonprofits in the nation. So much so that my wife Jeanne and I have chosen to be financial supporters ourselves. Sustain Dane is very simply a great investment in our collective future.”
-- Dick Roy, Co-Founder, Northwest Earth Institute
“I’m impressed by the leadership role Sustain Dane is taking in Madison and also with the North American Eco-Municipality Network. We have learned a great deal from their engagement strategies and efforts to ensure a positive outcome. Sustain Dane is a role model for other community non-profit organizations.”
-- Kelly Baxter, Executive Director, The Natural Step Canada
“Deep change is essential if there is to be a human future and the leadership must come from the community level. Sustain Dane is at the forefront of such leadership and an inspiring example for others. “
-- David Korten, co-founder and board chair of YES! Magazine and author of The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community.
“There are many things that we do differently as a result of the ‘Healthy Children, Healthy Planet’ course. We've learned to slow down, to recognize and appreciate the simpler things in our lives - dinner conversations, bedtime rituals, and just doing nothing (but doing it together).”
-- “Healthy Children, Healthy Planet” discussion course participant
"When we read of Sustain Dane's efforts to encourage rain barrel use, we were thrilled. They provide the water that keeps our indoor and outdoor plants happier and less stressed now. The system is simple and efficient, and the barrels can even be 'enhanced' to add artistic touches to our yard."
-- RainReserveTM Rainbarrel user
"The Sustainability-Step by Natural Step course is excellent! I look forward to integrating what I learned from the course and The Natural Step approach into my health care practice. I hope courses such as this find their way into medical school curriculum to inspire a transformation toward more sustainable practices within health care, public health, and beyond.
-- Rian Podein, M.D., University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health