Transition Michiana is a January 24-26 conference at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in South Bend focused on building a strong community to face the challenges presented by modern environmental issues. It offers the opportunity for those interested in sustainability to collaborate with other locals and engage with the international Transition movement.
“Transition is an open source, self-organizing, permaculture-inspired, creative collection of tools, stories, ideas, and patterns that existing organizations and communities can use to create economic self-sufficiency, greater sense of community, and ecological sustainability,” says Charlotte Wolfe, an organizer of Transition Michiana.
Transition Michiana seeks to improve networks to increase localization of food production, energy consumption, job creation, and transportation. The conference features a screening of In Transition 2.0, a film showcasing the success of communities around the world in creating sustainable changes through localization, collaboration, and dedication. Participants then learn more about initiatives in the Michiana community while working to develop action plans for the community’s future. The full agenda can be accessed here.
The conference is part of Transition US, a facet of the international Transition movement encouraging community involvement in facing resource, economic, and climate change challenges. Originating in Ireland in 2005, the Transition movement has since grown to include more than a thousand groups worldwide committed to moving beyond fossil fuels and creating a just and sustainable future through local efforts.
All members of the community are encouraged to become involved with the movement. It is a dynamic process relying on cooperation, input, and innovative ideas. “The Transition movement fits for me because it is a grassroots effort, that at the same time involves government on the local level, and encourages efforts that are already ongoing at the same time as it tries to engage new efforts,” Wolfe explains.
Interested students, staff, faculty and community members are encouraged to register and attend any portion of the three day event.