The
Cultivating Change In Our Own Backyard conference will be held May 2,
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Oak Grove School, 220 W. Lomita St.,
Ojai.
A donation
of $25 pays for the facility and lunch. An optional after-hours party
will take place at the Farmer and the Cook, where live music and
organic food will be available.
Conference
reservations can be made by phone at 805-640-7340, e-mail
conlyhelen@gmail.com or mail by sending a check to: Friends of the
Environment, P.O. Box 1301, Ojai, CA 93024. For more information, log
on to
http://www.cultivatingchangeinourownbackyard.org.
Ojai conference
aims to cultivate change
By Linda Harmon
Sunday,
April 26, 2009
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/apr/26/ojai-conference-aims-to-cultivate-change/
An unusual
conference will take place on the campus of the Oak Grove School in
Ojai on Saturday. Sponsored by Friends of the Environment and
co-sponsored by 10 other nonprofits, the one-day conference will
explore how to achieve grass-roots change in our own communities.
The unique conference design will provide participants an opportunity
to network, learn and expand their knowledge, gain insight and
competence while reaching out to "cultivate change in our own
backyard."
"We need
the voice of progressive activists and a broad spectrum of
stakeholders to shape solutions to complex problems," said Dorothy
Wallstein, who will be facilitating the conference.
"We will
be talking about many issues that affect Ventura and Santa Barbara
counties." Wallstein, a professional facilitator, worked with the
Barack Obama campaign and volunteered her services for the Ojai event,
which she hopes will provide the opportunity to re-examine community
goals.
The
open-space conference process will enable organizations to offer their
own materials, display an exhibit or organize a discussion.
The idea is
that the participants determine the content. "Participating
individuals and organizations will showcase their own work with
like-minded community members, business owners, educators and others,"
said Wallstein, "challenging others to work collaboratively on
shared issues."
Co-hosting
the conference are the Ojai Valley Green Coalition; FOOD Share of
Ventura County; Food for Thought; the Central Coast Alliance United
for Sustainable Economy; National Women's Political Caucus, Ventura
Chapter; Congress of California Seniors, Ventura Chapter; Ventura
County Rainbow Alliance & Equality Ventura County; and Design +
Vision.
- Linda Harmon lives in Ojai.
Conference
The
Cultivating Change In Our Own Backyard conference will be held May 2,
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Oak Grove School, 220 W. Lomita St., Ojai. A
donation of $25 pays for the facility and lunch. An optional
after-hours party will take place at the Farmer and the Cook, where
live music and organic food will be available. Conference reservations
can be made by phone at 805-640-7340, e-mail
conlyhelen@gmail.com or mail by sending a check to: Friends of the
Environment, P.O. Box 1301, Ojai, CA 93024. For more information, log
on to
http://www.cultivatingchangeinourownbackyard.org.