executive director's report
After nearly three years of providing leadership and vision for Urban
Ecology, Diana Williams left her post as Executive Director in September of
2005. During Diana's tenure, Urban Ecology continued to develop and promote vibrant neighborhoods and sustainable policies throughout the Bay Area. Donald B. Neuwirth, a long-time Bay Area planner, will be Urban Ecology's new Executive Director.
Hello and Help!
This is the first thing I am writing as the new Executive Director of Urban Ecology. I'm very excited to celebrate our 30th Anniversary and to work with this talented organization. In my career, I have had many different roles, but the underlying context has always been viewing the city as an ecosystem. From being a lifeguard in Coney Island, to working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Latin America, to working for the Coastal Commission and State Coastal Conservancy, to running the Marin Conservation Corps, to being an independent planning consultant, I have worked with cities and the environment. The question that brought me to Urban Ecology is: After thirty years, how do we continue to be relevant and vital as an organization?
My preliminary answer is to innovate by building on our successes to meet real community needs and implementing our historic vision. Urban Ecology's goals thirty years ago have been adopted today as public policy. ExxonMobil's advertisements read like our Blueprint for a Sustainable Bay Area ; developers call sustainability their bottom line; and energy conservation and alternatives to the automobile are now mainstream topics. Our challenge is to reinvent Urban Ecology to make these abstract policies a daily reality for all communities. The ecologic alternatives are not always apparent in the city. By working with community-based organizations we can apply our technical and educational skills to conserve neighborhoods. Coalitions and collaborations are difficult but essential. We need to reinvigorate our community of urban planners, architects, landscape architects and designers to help reframe our mission and continue to implement our historic goals. We need your support in many ways:
- Volunteer to mentor our staff and interns
- Connect us with potential projects and funding
- Donate to meet the modest overhead costs that large funders do not support
- Spread our message in your community
As you can see from this newsletter our staff has done some very impressive work. Please call me at (415) 617-0165 or e-mail me at don@urbanecology.org. Thanks, and I look forward to your help.
Don Neuwirth
