2014 African American History Calendar Sustainability Takes Root in Urban Environments
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2014 African American History Calendar History American African 2014 African Americans creating sustainable neighborhoods sustainable creating Americans African Community transformations Community Intelligent solutions Intelligent Financial well-being Financial Healthier living Healthier Quality health plans & benefits & plans health Quality Scan with your smartphone to view the calendar online. Follow us! http://twitter.com/aetna Like us! http://facebook.com/aetna Connect with us! http://linkedin.com/company/aetna © 2013 Aetna Inc. 00.00.924.1 D Sustainability takes root in urban environments Urban communities across the country are looking deep within themselves In this 33rd annual Aetna African American History Calendar, you will meet About the production of this calendar: to restore hope. Community members are becoming energized thanks to 13 passionate and motivated individuals who believe communities can thrive 2,318 trees preserved for the future powerful initiatives to revitalize neighborhoods, stimulate economies, when neighbors understand the problems and become part of the solutions. empower the workforce and provide accessibility to healthful food options. 6,694 pounds of water-borne waste not created In each month, you will discover the positive impact they are making in Aetna is pleased to celebrate African American men and women whose their urban neighborhoods. We also have included a relevant sustainable 108,965 pounds of solid waste not generated life work has guided them to transform their communities from the ground fact on each month. And you can read each individual’s response to Aetna’s 984,837 gallons of wastewater flow saved up, and in many cases, quite literally. what’s your healthy?SM, a campaign that shares personal health messages. The Mohawk environmental calculator used calculates savings derived from use of paper manufactured from recycled They have planted urban gardens to feed schoolchildren and neighbors. There is still much work that has to be done to transform urban communities, tree fiber in lieu of virgin tree fiber. They have given disadvantaged mothers the chance to succeed by providing especially those that have experienced unforeseen hardship. Voices are being Printed on paper fulfilling employment. They have taught at-risk teens how to build and run lifted; action is being taken; and children are growing and eating colorful, matched with Green-e Certified From well- small businesses. They are nurturing the soil, while caring for their neighbors. nutrient-rich produce. The groundwork is now being laid across the country, Renewable Energy managed forests They are creating natural living cities by believing it can be done from the and sustainability is beginning to take root. Certificates (RECs). community within. A movement toward self-sufficiency in urban communities By Roland V. Anglin, Ph.D. Building sustainable communities has become my life’s work. I am certain help of public and private sectors, to build affordable housing, encourage that all the individuals featured in this year’s calendar feel the same way small business growth and train the unemployed. Collaborative efforts have I do about encouraging community-based solutions to difficult social brought significant swaths of urban and rural communities back to life. and economic challenges. Communities are now seeing the need to be more sustainable, not just because of limited choices, but because sustainability is now being accepted We are passionate about ensuring children; families; and anyone with the as an operating principle. desire to live safe, healthful, productive lives can do so. We do this by creating fruitful connections to neighbors and building meaningful community They are growing their own food. They are building their own local economies environments. We are working diligently to ensure future generations through the exchange of goods and services. They are training residents for can enjoy these options. work. They are leveraging opportunities through housing deconstruction, which brings the reclamation and reuse of building materials from existing Sustainability is not a new concept by any means. At the midpoint of the structures. There are many examples of sustainable practices emerging in last century, examples of community development in the United States communities across the country. incorporated now-popular concepts such as recycling, urban farming and reclamation of brownfields. This was done out of necessity. Marginalized The important work of the individuals featured in this year’s calendar communities had limited resources through which to generate livelihoods, illustrates the search for sustainability, the search for collaboration and the build shelter and assure a food supply. So they used what was at hand. search for community. They are beacons who will help take the concept The concept of sustainability gained mainstream interest with the work of forward in their own creative way. They are champions who illustrate that the United Nations’ World Commission on Environment and Development. community development and community sustainability are two sides of A 1987 report delivered by the commission suggested that in a world with the same coin. finite resources, focus must move toward using renewable resources and encouraging environmental stewardship so that future generations could enjoy access to and use of natural resources. Dr. Roland V. Anglin is associate research professor and director of the Joseph C. Sustainability is now at the forefront of contemporary community development Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers University-Newark. His 20-year practices. Over the past 40 years, the community development movement career has focused on promoting economic and community development in and in the United States has supported residents working together, with the for marginalized communities. 2014 Aetna African American History Calendar • www.aetnaafricanamericanhistorycalendar.com Kirk Mayes Brightmoor Alliance Detroit, MI After graduating from Michigan State University, Kirk Mayes had to decide things together with understanding and trust. We are working together employment of inner-city youth; and ensuring a safe community between a safe or risky career path. He followed his heart, took a risk and for change. We are focused on capacity building,” he said. environment. The Alliance also hosts events and neighborhood dinners dedicated his life to urban revitalization. His choice has been a big win for to bring the community together. “We have set a table where we can Detroit over the last 12 years. Mayes is building bridges between businesses, civic and charitable partners. all have a conversation,” Mayes said. They work together to find and present opportunities to renew and restore Mayes is executive director of Brightmoor Alliance, a group of more than the neighborhood. “We have begun to create a space for deeper relationship “Collaboration is an unrecognized community asset, but it is needed to 50 member organizations and hundreds of community residents working building,” he said. grow in harmony. We are doing partnerships in ways that have never been to create a more sustainable northwest Detroit. The young professional has done before. Community members are taking on leadership roles, and brought hope and harmony to the once ill-perceived urban neighborhood. The Alliance’s work includes support of a neighborhood renewal we are helping to lift their voices,” said Mayes. program; participation in Tech Town economic development; advocacy for “I have been able to play an important role to get our Alliance members to early childhood development, school improvements, and attendance To learn more, visit brightmooralliance.org. look at Brightmoor’s issues from a common perspective. We are going into issues; increasing access to healthful foods; encouraging summer Sustainable Fact: Older adults who have more exposure to what’s your healthy? SM green common spaces report a stronger sense of unity among JANUARY 2014 “spending time with family” residents within their local neighborhoods.1 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 1863: Abraham Lincoln issues 1965: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. calls 1624: William Tucker, first African child born 1971: The Congressional Black Caucus organized. Emancipation Proclamation. for nonviolent protests if Alabama blacks in America. are not allowed to register and vote. New Year’s Day 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1943: George Washington Carver, 1831: The World Anti-Slavery Convention 1890: William B. Purvis patents fountain pen. 1811: Charles Deslondes leads slave revolt 1866: Fisk University founded in 1864: George Washington Carver, 1940: Benjamin O. Davis Sr. becomes agricultural scientist and inventor, dies. opens in London. in Louisiana. Nashville, Tennessee. agricultural scientist and inventor, born. U.S. Army’s first black general. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1948: Supreme Court rules blacks have right 1990: L. Douglas Wilder inaugurated as 1975: William T. Coleman named secretary 1929: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a major 1978: NASA names African American 1942: Three-time heavyweight boxing 1856: Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, pioneer heart to study law at state institutions. first African American governor (Virginia) of Transportation. voice for civil rights in the 20th century, born. astronauts Maj. Frederick D. Gregory, champion Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay), born. surgeon, born. since Reconstruction. Maj. Guion S. Bluford Jr.