Building regenerative communities is about more than reducing our carbon footprint (as important as that is). To truly heal our relationships with each other and our living planet, we must transform everything about how we live. As daunting as that seems, it is also a beautiful opportunity to imagine and create ways of life that are better for everyone.

This holistic endeavor requires work in multiple areas--shifting our culture, values, and worldview to be life-giving and reconnect people to land; meeting our needs in ways that do not exploit people or planet; restructuring our systems of governance and economics; and bringing justice and healing to those who have suffered the most under oppressive systems. Many organizations are already working toward building the communities we need.

Each of us has unique gifts, talents, skills, and interests that are needed to build regenerative communities throughout the world. The activities in the Action section of Start with a Park will help guide you toward your role in transforming your community, whether through connecting with a local organization or finding your own way to contribute.
You can use the network above to explore organizations in the Twin Cities working toward regenerative communities and find your niche.
  • From the overview with "Building Regenerative Communities" in the center, click on any of the green bubbles (shifting culture, meeting needs, governance & economy, healing from oppression) to go to a view centered on that area.
  • Each area's view includes periwinkle bubbles that link to key organizations.
  • Clicking an organization's bubble will open a pop-up with a link to the organization's page. Click that link to open the page in a new tab.
  • From each area's page, click the Building Regenerative Communities bubble to return to the overview.
  • Click the four outward-pointing arrows to view the diagram in full-screen.

While I admire and appreciate the work of all of the organizations linked above, I have chosen to invest most of my energy with two organizations, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ and Transition Town - All St. Anthony Park. As someone who is drawn to making connections and working across multiple strands, the broad, multi-faceted nature of these organizations appeals to me.
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ (SPUCC)
At SPUCC, I have served on the Earthwise-Creation Justice committee, Ministry of Social Justice and Outreach, Creation Justice Church Task Force, and Land Acknowledgement Task Force, as well as teaching Godly Play and Story and Stretch Sunday School classes, coordinating a CSA drop site, and facilitating reading and discussion groups. In the course of these roles, I have been involved in writing several pieces:
Transition Town - All St. Anthony Park (TT-ASAP)
TT-ASAP is a Transition Initiative, affiliated with the international Transition Movement. Some of TT-ASAP’s on-going activities include: TT-ASAP also curates a monthly column in the St. Anthony Park Bugle neighborhood newspaper, supports the efforts of allied organizations, and participates in the St. Anthony Park annual July 4th parade, Art Fair, and other neighborhood events.
Know of a great community-oriented organization working toward positive change that you don't see here? Tell me about them in an email to [email protected]!

The organizations represented here are primarily St. Paul- and Minnesota-based because that is where I live and know the networks. I would be happy to explore creating similar networks for other areas. Let me know if you'd like to work with me on one for your area.