The Como Green Village has its own website!  See www.comogreenvillage.org

 

Green Village

 

What is the Green Village ? The Green Village is an umbrella concept SECIA is promoting in the industrial and highway-locked neighborhood of Southeast Como (Minneapolis). It is based on core principles related to sustainability. While there are many definitions of sustainability they all involve providing a balance between the environment, economics, and social justice. When all three are working together in harmony those activities become 'sustainable' and can then be carried forward into the future indefinitely.

 

Since SECIA's inception, environmental initiatives have always been a priority with undertaking activites such as: Tree planting, SECIA's Air Quality Program, opening new community gardens, organic lawn care, clothesline giveaways, building rain barrels, and our Solar Pilot Project are all past examples of the novel efforts of our eco-programs.

 

We have actively provided home loans and grants (via NRP) to both residences and businesses in order to maintain better and safer buildings. We have also worked to involve the various populations in the community as part of the organization and at the numerous events hosted in order to build a stronger community.

 

The Green Village brings these activities to a wider and broader scale. SECIA is attempting to align its unique and creative green community activities under 3 main categories. The ‘community' includes the complex natural ecosystem we inhabit as well as the built environment.

 

:: Renewable Energy

:: Green Transportation

:: Stormwater Management

 

 

As the organization matures along with the Como neighborhood it becomes clear that all the community initiatives are interconnected. Meaning that Housing, Safety, Livability, Transportation, the Environment and even the neighborhood History all are related and to ignore one area of focus affects the group as a whole. Even though we have had some great successes in local civic and environmental victories, which benefit not only the neighborhood but the region as well, there is still much to be done to achieve sustainability on a local level.

 

Throughout the next year we will be asking for your participation in projects that forward the Green Village concept we want and need your feedback and engagement to be a success. Sometimes it will be simple like attending a meeting or supporting a cause, and other times it may be more complex and involve some direct form of action. Either way you're welcome to join us in discussions at our environment committee the third Tuesday of every month.

 

The current board president submitted an editorial to Natural Home magazine last December (2006) which does a great job in summarizing the past while looking to the future embracing the Green Village concept. Click here to read this letter.

 

 

SECIA Staff

Justin, James, & Stephanie

Green Village Project Plans:

:: Solar installations on public buildings

:: Encouraging local use and installation of renewable energy systems

:: Encouraging participation in Xcel's Windsource program (see article in the MN Daily 2/07/08)

:: Design assistance for Raingardens/Stormwter control for businesses and neighbors

:: Promoting Carsharing, rideboards, and the reduction of vehicle trips

:: Piloting a bicycle trailer rental program and bicycle auction

:: Bulk purchasing of solar motion lights for neighbors

:: Working with industry and institutions to "green-up" their fleets with flex fuel & hybrid vehicles

:: Investigating doing a "Refridgerator exchange" eliminating older and wasteful appliances

:: Creating a furniture exchange and reuse program during student move-in/move-out

:: Looking into ways to green up Como's housing and promote sustainable methods

:: Other projects that promote environmental, economic, and neighborhood stewardship

This is concept that will take several years to develop and several more to implement. We are thankful to the McKnight foundation to help provide initial seed money for this project and hope that you will work with us to turn our past successes into future success and additional funding so we can carry out this ambitious project. Strong neighborhoods and bonds can be formed around many different concepts. It is the hope of the organization that working towards sustainability can be a uniting factor for the Como neighbors and that the Green Village work can be used as a gauge to determine if outside projects affecting Como work to the benefit or the detriment of the shared neighborhood goals.

Now is a great time to be involved as planning is just getting underway. Contact the Environmental Coordinator if interested in the Green Village concept 612-676-1731 or email: ec at secomo.org

Want to learn how to reduce negative climate change? Check out the US Environmental Protection Agency website!