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.