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Building Demand–Summary

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BUILDING DEMAND FOR JUST AND SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, FOOD AND ENERGY


Participants introduced themselves and shared the work that is happening in this area, but that information was not captured on newsprint.

Discussion then turned to the question:  

Where/how do sustainability and economic justice converge? What are the challenges in bringing these movements together?

Barriers:

  •  “Green”and“sustainable” are turn offs for some.

  • People in the sustainability movement don’t know how to talk so others can relate.  This is especially true in trying to communicate across race and class.  Tendency to lecture or suggest that they “have the answers.”

  • In many communities of color, information is more likely to be spread via people’s family and community relationships, via word of mouth. So trying to create demand for products/services via traditional marketing approaches don’t necessarily lead to interest or adoption.
  • Policy level ”incentives” that privilege higher-income people. For example, tax credits for putting solar panels on a private home only benefit people who make enough income to take the credits.
  • Access to capital for energy efficiency is lacking, not just for individuals, but for businesses as well
  • People in the movement don’t know how to talk so people can relate.
  • We need to open doors so people feel like this is a place for them.
  • Start with simple stuff.  Find a few homeowners like G4H building raised beds.  Make it so people can see the benefits.

 What can we do?

  • Build “Green” tourism/sustainability tourism

o   Create initiatives that people would come to learn from and about

o   Bring money from outside

  • Offer consumer education

·         Open doors so people feel like the “sustainability” movement is a place for them. 

·         Start with relatively simple, concrete steps.  For example, Gardens4Humanity helped build raised beds at some homes and community organizations. Make it so people can see and hear about the benefits from people they know and trust.  

On Day 2, this group framed their  entire discussion on  habits, both  new ones to develop and old ones to  drop:

 

 

HABITS – NEW HABITS – OLD
Forgiveness  Holding grudges, resentment, disappointment
Core spiritual principles (ties that bind us together) Focus on marketing v. relationships
Mindfulness, talk to more people Rush, work hastily, “do” urgently
Convening the wisdom of the community Convening “experts”
Expand the notion of “expertise” Passing the job to the “experts” and underestimating ourselves
Inviting “outside” perspectives Using confusing, insider language
Ask what new relationships can I build? Talking about wanting new relationships without taking action.
Think about whose voice might be useful in adding to the conversation. Assuming that just because we like people, we are being inclusive
Make new relationships intentionally—formally make informal relationships:·           Invite people to movies, to dinner, to theater·           Get to know people by helping with what they
are  working on

·           Invite people to work on what we’re doing

·           Small projects to work together for a small period

·           Work on something in commonOnly interact with certain people: of similar age, same neighborhood, background similar to oursCollaboration on projects of mutual interest—on common causeActing as if it’s OK to live segregated lives.Believing “it’s not my problem.”Have the  intention to do it differently, and take concrete steps re: relationships“I’m tired of educating white people.”Seek information about what people are doing and struggling withFill up our time and sacrifice relationshipsBe curious, try thingsStay stuck in ignorance, guilt, feeling intimidated

For more information (or to make additions or corrections if you were in this group) please contact Sarah Reistetter (sr85@cornell.edu), 607-272-2292.