Please note that we have postponed this class to 2011.  We will announce dates towards the end of 2010.

Instructors

Laura Musikanski, JD, MBA, CEM, CELR; Executive Director, Sustainable Seattle
Negash Shiferaw, MA; University of Washington

Laura is a lawyer with an MBA and certificates in Environmental Management and Environmental Law and Regulations from the University of Washington. She has advised clients including Chevron, Cascade Designs, Long Boat Key Club, WSDOT and PCC Natural Markets. Ms. Musikanski is a third generation Seattleite and was an entrepreneur for over fifteen years, launching a product that supported her family and spurred the generation of other small businesses along the West Coast. Laura spearheaded a program to integrate sustainability into business school curricula in the Northwest, founded a club for second career students at her law school, and volunteers as a CASA, advocating for neglected and abused children, and at New Beginnings-Ending Domestic Violence.

Negash is a board member of Sustainable Seattle and a part time lecturer at the University of Washington. He holds an MA in Environmental and Development Studies and has over ten years of experience in the field of sustainable development. He has worked as an analyst and consultant helping clients in project development and conducting environmental impact assessments. Negash has studied and worked with Integral theory and its application in sustainability. He has worked for the United Nations Development Program when implementing an integrally informed country-wide transformational leadership program in Ethiopia. Having lived and worked both in developed and developing countries, Negash brings multiple perspectives in the understanding of sustainability. 

Guest Speakers:

Tim Abbe, David Frankel, John Hoey, Emily McGrath, Larry Nussbaum, Jon Ramer, Marie Rangel Mendes, Sean Schmidt & Viki Sonntag.

Image supplied by Nikolai Lesnikov, 2010 Sustainable Seattle artist-in-residence

Course description

Sustainable Seattle presents a four-day intensive workshop for people seeking to deepen their understanding of sustainability as it applies to their work and daily lives. In a highly collaborative small group setting, we will share how to use sustainability theory to develop concrete plans of action, advocate for sustainability and win recognition for our successes.

Participants, instructors and guest speakers will work together throughout the week on participant selected problems or issues. Participants will be provided with theory, tools and best management practices, as well as expert advice and platforms for group discussion and learning. The week will culminate with participants presenting on new insights and perspectives regarding their problem or issue, lessons learned, and a strategy for going forward. Participants will leave with renewed personal commitment, energy and tools to champion their sustainability initiatives for a better world.

This course will give you tools to:

• Discern which and whether to apply sustainability theory for strategic purposes when managing a program or issue
• Use B-Sustainable for developing strategy and action plans
• Manage others and yourself in a sustainable manner
• Understand and clearly communicate the implications of decisions
• Choose and use new tools for stakeholder engagement
• Understand when and how to use stakeholder engagement
• Understand the landscape of risk and liabilities to an entity when undertaking or not undertaking a sustainability program
• Connect to a lasting learning community formed in the class

Topics covered:

• Theory and application of sustainability strategies for managing environmental, social and economic performance
• B-Sustainable web-based tool
• Integral theory and application for a deeper understanding of the interplaying individual and collective consciousness, behavioral and systemic factors in sustainability.
• Communication vehicles and tools
• Social Networking tools for sustainable organizations
• Participatory Research Model theory and application
• Regulatory and legal risks and liabilities
• Best Practices in sustainability

CM | 24

AICP members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for this workshop.  More information about AICP's CM program can be found at www.planning.org/cm.

Schedule

The intensive will take place over the course of a week. Monday will cover sustainability theories, practices and examples focusing on the environment (natural and build), society and economy. The first half of Tuesday will focus on an integral framework that maps the tangible and intangible aspects of personal and collective engagements with sustainability. The second half will cover means for meaningful stakeholder engagement that bridges the personal, environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability. Wednesday will cover risks and liabilities in sustainability in the morning and an expert panel for participants to draw knowledge and ideas for their problem or issue. Participants will spend Thursday independently out of class or in the field working on their problems or issues, so they can take ideas back to the workplace for feedback. The class will reconvene on Friday to prepare and give presentations about their individual issues and plans.

One day follow up classes will be offered on a semester basis to continue improving participants' projects and maintain a learning community.

Venue

Vance Building, conference room 630
1402 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

Who should attend:

Members or managers of organizations that are integrating sustainability and looking to take their organization, staff and stakeholders to the next level. Individuals with an understanding of sustainability, some experience in strategy and/or implementation, and a desire to work with others to bring about sustainability at their workplace and in their community.

What to bring:

Pen or pencil, laptop, coffee mug, and a reusable water bottle. Please wear comfortable clothes. We will provide tea, coffee and water, and there are many options for lunch in our neighborhood.

Sponsorship

Interested in sponsoring this or any other class? Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact us for more information.

Registration

Details to be announced.

Contact us with any questions: STARs@sustainableseattle.org and (206) 659-8077, or sign up for email updates. .

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