The Chic Ecologist

Regional Sustainability and Local Community Groups

I’ve got to admit, I’m a fan of grassroots environmentalism. Don’t get me wrong, there is most definitely a need and a place for the large scale environmental organizations. But to me, there’s just something really exciting about small, locally based groups of people taking part in the environmental movement, despite often limited resources or relevant professional background. Since the invention of the internet, even more so the resulting social networking tools, there seems to be even more opportunities to take part in these grassroots or community groups. With all the new, ever-evolving communication and social networking tools, such as twitter, facebook, etc, we as individuals have nearly direct access to more people and more community groups than ever before. We can easily connect with total strangers on issues and topics that we feel passionately about every day.

An excellent example of just this sort of network is the nonprofit network Sustainable Communities ALL Over Puget Sound, aka SCALLOPS. SCALLOPS was founded four years ago to promote regional sustainability through the provision of resources and education for community level grassroots environmental groups. The network has grown to include all surrounding areas of Puget Sound, from Bellevue to Belltown, Capitol Hill to Carnation and well beyond. SCALLOPS holds regular events in the Puget Sound area, and is recognized as a highly valuable resource for new groups committed to sustainability. SCALLOPS’ mission is to network, support, and advance sustainability initiatives in towns and neighborhoods all over Puget Sound through outreach, education and community-building opportunities.

My local chapter of SCALLOPS, Sustainable Kirkland, was kind enough to let me tag along to a meeting this past week. The small and close-knit group of environmentally conscious East-Siders discussed a number of topics, including a report on public opinion of GMOs (genetically modified organisms), the planning of group events – such as a tour of a local LEED certified building, and possible coordination of volunteers for the cleanup/maintenance of a local park.
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Tags: community, Environmental Awareness, sustainable, volunteering