Welcome to the Sustainable Communities Inservice. We are happy that you can join in this discussion of:

What is Sustainable Development?

How can we build Sustainable Communities?

The purpose of this section is to provide a common understanding among the Inservice participants regarding the above two questions. We hope this goal is accomplished through three activities:

1. sharing a common tutorial regarding Sustainable Communities
2. sharing our individual reactions and thoughts to the topics presented in the tutorial
3. individually providing additional web reference materials for greater depth of understanding

The following tutorial is designed as a beginning discussion piece for the participants of this In-service. This tutorial was designed in cooperation with the United States Environmental Protection Agency through the CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES, Cascadia Community and Environment Institute, University of Washington. Contained in the tutorial are nine sessions:

• Session 1: History and Definitions of Sustainability
• Session 2: Foundation for Sustainable Communities
• Session 3: Discussion of Ecology
• Session 4: Discussion of Economics
• Session 5: Discussion of Equity
• Session 6: Linking Ecology, Economics and Equity
• Session 7: Steps for a Sustainable Community
• Session 8: Indicators
• Session 9: Educational Exercises in Sustainable Communities

Each week during the in-service you will be asked to read the short tutorial session (takes about 15 minutes). You are then invited to post your thoughts and comments regarding the session materials to an archive list where all participants can read and share thoughts. You are also encouraged to share information regarding additional websites you find helpful in deepening the concepts presented in the weekly tutorial. The archive allows each participant to work on the study session at their own pace.

The following steps will connect you to the course materials and listserve:

1. Subscribe to the listserve by sending any e-mail to this address: esco-on@ag.ohio-state.edu
2. After you have subscribed you may post to the list by sending e-mail to: esco@ag.ohio-state.edu
3. You may access the e-mail list archive at the following:
   http://postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu:8100/Lists/esco/List.html or follow the link entitled in-service on the Esco home page.

Thank you for joining us as we combine the written materials with the expertise of each participant to better understand Sustainable Communities. If you have any questions or need assistance please contact:

Bill Grunkemeyer, Program Leader, Community Development
E-mail: grunkemeyer.1@osu.edu
Phone: 614-292-5942