Boggs Center Living for Change News – May 29th – June 5th

May 31, 2016 in Get Involved, Living for Change

	Living for Change News May 29th – June 5th
Introduycing the Water Cycler Bart Eddy This will just be a quick update with some pictures of the water purification trike that is now nearly complete. The great thing about this project is that it has been a truly collective and imaginative effort on the part of students and instructors to connect with a real community need with global implications i.e. Climate Change. It also addresses the more immediate needs of residential water shut offs in Detroit and the lead water crisis in Flint. This vehicle is a prototype, and it is our hope and intention to market it/them into the larger community through the support of philanthropic foundations and corporate entities. There are several features to this trike that have become great learning opportunities for all of us. They are: ·       The ‘electronic assist’ that operates the trike leaves no carbon ‘footprint’ other than the fact that we have to hook up to the traditional power outlets to charge the batteries. This will lead us in the direction of creating a solar charging station for the re-charging of the lithium batteries. At that point, we will become fossil fuel free! ·       The dual water purification system filters both coarse and fine particles out of the water, and the water barrel roof hook up helps with the problems associated with water run off. It is also possible to change the filters so as to filtrate lead out of the water. ·       The design components are both mechanical and artistic and begin to fulfill the ideas and ideals behind STEAM education. Additionally, these projects involve a high degree of student engagement through problem solving and ‘trouble shooting’ as well as hands on learning. And in order to complete the project, it has taken many hands in a variety of disciplines. ·       With the artistry and design capacities of the University of Michigan Stamps graduates, the strategic business and marketing strategies of the MBA students from the Ross Leadership Academy and the enthusiasm and knowledge of community activists, we are not only fulfilling the ideal of diverse communities working together, but are creating career pathways through practical social entrepreneurship. ·       In the future, we are looking at the issues of community transportation and mobility and will soon begin on a “Water Carrier” trike with a sprinkling system for our community market gardeners. Become a Boggs Center Fellow! The James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership’s mission is to nurture the transformational leadership capacities of individuals and organizations committed to creating productive, sustainable, ecologically responsible, and just communities. Through Visionary Organizing: local, national and international networks of activists, artists and intellectuals we foster new ways of living, being and thinking to face the challenges of the 21st century. Fellows will participate in this mission through regular political education discussions, assigned readings and writings, and by engaging in local grassroots initiatives, programs, forums and conferences. Fellows may also make regular written contributions to the Living for Change Newsletter and Boggs Center Magazine. The Boggs Center Fellows Program has been created in order to provide a consistent and strategic planning and artistic space for visionary organizers to build camaraderie through organizing, focused political education and study. This unique fellowship opportunity will be for a period of 1 year and will consist of regular fellowship with James and Grace Lee Boggs Center Board Members and affiliated grassroots organizations. Fellows benefit from small financial stipends for selected events and contributions, engagement with Boggs Center comrades rooted in political ideology centered around The American Revolution, The Next American Revolution, American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, We Are Not Ghosts and other selected writings, films and discussions. Precise terms and stipend levels of fellowships vary widely, based on fellowshipcontributions and particular programs and events. Most contributions will not carry a stipend. If you are interested in learning more about the James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership Fellowship, please emailboggscenter@boggscenter.org. Please place “Boggs Center Fellowship” in the subject line. How to Apply to the Boggs Center Fellows Program: To be considered for the August 2016 Fellows class, you must apply by June 1, 2016. The Fellowship will run from August 2016 to August 2017. Please write a statement of interest, not to exceed 2,000 words. Describe why you feel this fellowship will enrich your work, and how you plan to contribute to the mission of the James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership. Applications should also include three writing samples. The above requested materials should be mailed or emailed to: James and Grace Lee Boggs CenterFellowship Committee, 3061 Field St, Detroit, MI 48214 Phone: (313) 923-0797 (allow 24-48 hours for response) E-mail: boggscenter@boggscenter.org (For email submissions, please send documents in PDF format) This year join Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage in thinking of the 4th of July as Interdependence Day and come together to learn, network, explore, and inspire each other to create a more cooperative and sustainable world on the weekend of July 2 to 4, 2016. Workshops and networking sessions throughout the weekend will bring us new ideas for how to live sustainably and collectively. From Starting an Intentional Community and Simple Off-grid Solar, to Natural Death & Burial and Holistic Animal Management. Those wanting to deepen their understanding of the sustainability-community connection can get together for a weekend and create some community! Tawana Petty of the James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership and the Detroit Community Technology Project, Matt Stannard JD of Commonomics USA and Dr. Jifunza Wright MD of Black Oaks Center for Sustainable Renewable Living are just 3 of the amazing conference speakers who will present during the Midwest Sustainable Communities Conference. Additional information and tickets can be purchased at dancingrabbit.org.
The James and Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership . 3061 Field Street Detroit, Michigan 48214 US

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