Sustainable Cleveland 2019

From August 12-14, I attended Sustainable Cleveland 2019: Building an economic engine to empower a green city on a blue lake. Over 600 participants spent 3 grueling days inside Cleveland Public Hall, grinding out a blueprint for ideas that will drive our local economy into one of energy efficiency, natural resource conservation, social entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship and all of the other proactive terms used to describe a “green” economy.

Make no mistake, this was a working summit. The term is “Appreciative Inquiry (AI)” and it was organized by Professor David Cooperrider from Case Western Reserve University’s Fowler Center for Sustainable Value. Teams of 6-8 participants are engaged for the first day and a half before the group breaks and migrates to a specific area for more focused planning. I ended up in the green building section with 20 other individuals representing builders, developers, suppliers, non-profits, municipal governments, engineers, architects, and social activists.

However, my initial table is worth noting for its unique diversity and some of the dialogue this fostered. First, there’s me - the green building insurance guru (as noted by Chris Cheatham). To my left was a representative from Ford Motor Company designing urban mobility networks where there are LESS cars on the road. Yes, you heard that correct. To his left was a PhD Candidate from Yale that is working to desalinate water using forward osmosis. I’m no scientist, but when it takes 1/10th the energy than reverse osmosis to desalinate water, than you start questioning everything else that you thought was impossible. To her left was the executive director of an organization that creates international partnerships to stimulate multi-cultural dialogues. He is also an organizational development consultant and one of the nicest people I have ever met. To his left was a NASA engineer that works with fuel-cell technology and builds straw bale insulated homes in his spare time. To his left was a representative from the Mayor’s office working in capital projects and urban development initiatives. To his left was the executive director of Cleveland Public Art.

Every person contributed during the “Discovery” portion of the program. This portion focused on the strengths of the city and how to identify innovations and insights that can define the positive core of a new, sustainable economy.

The table stayed together through the “Dream” exercises where we brainstormed images for the future and defined our collective purpose and vision.

Check out the facebook page linked above for a further discussion from event participants.