RCE Grand Rapids-2016
a) Criteria/ indicators used to assess aspects of RCE work/ project: Character count 300 words:
1. scope and breadth and partner projects in our RCE region.
2. active participation in RCE initiatives by partners.
3. recognition of RCE partners' work in form of awards, etc.
4. penetration of sustainability into systems (governmental, education, and business).
2. active participation in RCE initiatives by partners.
3. recognition of RCE partners' work in form of awards, etc.
4. penetration of sustainability into systems (governmental, education, and business).
b) Successes of the RCE and lessons learned: Character count 300 words:
Successes: Ongoing partner projects continue to enjoy success; e.g. partner Calvin College secures additional grant funds for Plaster Creek Stewards initiative; third annual Youth Virtual Conference involves students form RCE regions on three continents; partner Kendall College of Art and Design hosts third Wege Prize competition with international undergraduate-student team winner; partner Catalyst Design recognized for excellence and helps develop new LEED standards for green buildings; partner Grand Valley State University (Norman Christopher) prepared and submitted two white papers - 1. guide for forming community sustainability partnerships and 2. community-based health initiatives - to UNU for distribution among members.
Lessons learned:
1. Collaboration among partners expands our efforts geometrically
2. we have technology - and a methodology to use it - that can benefit the entire RCE network should others wish to host regional Youth Virtual Conferences
3. respect cultural differences with regard to our mutual work with international partners (see "challenges" section below)
Lessons learned:
1. Collaboration among partners expands our efforts geometrically
2. we have technology - and a methodology to use it - that can benefit the entire RCE network should others wish to host regional Youth Virtual Conferences
3. respect cultural differences with regard to our mutual work with international partners (see "challenges" section below)
c) Challenges experiences: Character count 300 words:
We need to better appreciate and respect cultural differences among RCEs. Our Western culture tends to be a bit more individualistic as contrasted to a more communitarian culture of the East. Our Northern culture tends to be more fact-based and time-driven in contrast to the relational, person-driven culture of the South. As we engage with international partners, recognizing that our culture is not normative for any other than our own and acting out of that recognition will ensure more productive partnerships. Illustrative of this is the Americas regional conferences. Extraordinary work was done in Lima and Grand Rapids while we were together. Big plans were developed and aggressive timelines were established. Deep fellow-feelings were shared and promises made...while we were face to face ("relational"). When we returned home the cultural differences manifested: Northern RCEs set about doing the fact-based, task-oriented work we had agreed to, obsessively watching timelines; Southern RCEs paid less attention to tasks and timelines as they did their work of building and nurturing relationships.
