Way of Expressive Power: Sustainability and Consumerism
Matt Lane, Kendra Langreck, Jessica LaLonde, Nora Gawlik, Kyle Ward, David Padilla, Alaina Blair, Matt Walsh
How Do You Contribute? Think of a way you have made a personal commitment
or sacrifice towards sustainability in your life.
The Way of Expressive Power
Transforming society by transforming people’s everyday lives
Dustin Hinrichs: Trees Forever
Mission: “To plant and care for trees and the environment by empowering people, building community, and promoting stewardship.”
Who they are: Organization working towards bettering the living green infrastructure
Strengths: Sustain environment with planting of trees Weaknesses: Not enough funding, utility companies cut
down a lot of street trees
Trees Forever Workshop Pictures
David Jessica and Nora
Matthew and David
Trees Forever Workshop Pictures
Kendra Kyle Kyle and Kendra
Trees Forever Workshop Pictures
Nora Jessica and Nora Our tree
Rob Williams One of the founders of the Dubuque Bike Coop Mission: Provide bikes for community members to
advocate healthy behaviors and sustainable ways of transportation. Renew old, recycled bikes taken from donations. Educate public on road safety standards
Strengths: Affordable, practical, domino effect, make use of old bike parts, less pollution
Weakness: Relies on donations and community participation, motivating people to ride despite weather and topography
Paul Schultz(Garbage Bag Guy)
Works for Smarter Sustainable Dubuque Mission: To help Dubuque citizens live a more
environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable life. Promotes smarter water, electricity, travel, health, and
wellness options Strengths: Encourage people to make small, easy
changes that are manageable. Weaknesses: Motivating people, reputation
Judy Giesen
Volunteers at Resurrection Catholic Church Part of the Green Team Mission: Going Green: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Encourages people in Dubuque to change their way of
thinking about waste. Strength: They reach out to a lot of people through their
church. Weakness: Not enough advocacy.
A few have changed, but need more. “We still haven’t done enough. We haven’t got our
message out to everyone yet.”
Mary Moody
Works at the Dubuque Food Co-op Mission: The Dubuque Food Co-op’s mission is to provide
products that are natural, organic, and local in order to promote the health of the community and the environment.
The Co-op is sustainable because food is grown locally. Strengths: Labels on food, no pesticides or herbicides, no
antibiotics, help local farmers, healthy options, safety Weaknesses: Affordability, education, less variety
Summary of Strengths
Small things add up
Many easy, simple changes
Encourages community activity
Some choices are cheaper: riding a bike or the bus instead of driving a car
One person can start a domino effect Create a solution to a problem that has a lasting effect
Summary of Weaknesses
Weaknesses: People may look at them weird (social acceptance) Organic food may be healthier, but its more expensive Individuals may think that their contribution will not aid
in change. They think their contribution is insignificant. Sometimes changing things that individuals do
throughout their day to day life is an inconvenience. Lack of time and or resources
Expressive Power Wrap-Up Through meeting with these wonderful individuals ,we
were exposed to new ideas and ways in which we can make positive changes that will echo through time.
The individuals we met with were true inspirations. The time and effort they devote to their various missions are unmatched. They believe so strongly that we can come together and make changes to our communities that will have a lasting effect and will impact them for the better.
These individuals have made it clear how vital a role we play as citizens in the attempt to transform our daily lives and create a more sustainable planet.