Dear Subscriber,
Looking at the events in this newsletter, a newcomer to Transition may ask, "How can this all be one project? Are these people lacking focus?" The range of events is indeed broad, from a support group mentioning "inner journeys" to a forum on desalination.
However, this is not a problem with lack of focus. Rather, it reflects the large—and sometimes daunting—size of the task that lies in front of us. The Transition project is really about facing the inevitability of major changes in all aspects of how we live, and taking responsibility together for the direction of those changes. (For more on this, check this page on our website.)
Transition Santa Cruz does not pretend to be the group that will get this done. This is a body of work that can only be undertaken by the whole community. TSC's role at best is to link together all the local efforts for community resilience and relocalization, bring more attention to them, and to inspire ever more participation and creativity.
The ways to get involved are as many as the number of people in Santa Cruz. Here's to your piece of the puzzle.
Best,
Michael Levy
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Nature Connection and Permaculture Design Courses in Santa Cruz
|  March 12, then 3rd weekends
Year-long
Held at Santa Cruz Waldorf School
For the first time ever, a weekend series is offered in Santa Cruz that weaves Nature Connection, a Permaculture Design Certificate Course, and Integrated Kids Programs - all centered around community celebration! And each week will include collaboration with Transition Santa Cruz to provide updates and opportunities for creating the Santa Cruz we want to live in.
For information and to register, click here.
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"The Garden" Documentary
|  Thursday, March 25, 7 pm
Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Doors open at 6:30, panel discussion to follow the film
Tickets: $15 online, $20 at the door
From the ashes of the L.A. riots arose a lush, 14-acre community garden, the largest of its kind in the United States.
As bulldozers threatened its future, everyone told them to give up. What would you have done?
Panel discussion following the film with:
• Rufina Juarez of the South Central Farmers, talking about the personal experience of the eviction of the South Central Farmers and what they are doing now
• Shereen D’Souza of the California Food & Justice Coalition, talking about model policies and actions that communities are taking to protect land for food production
• Land Trust of Santa Cruz County representative, talking about what is happening in Santa Cruz County to protect farm and garden space as well as natural habitat
Purchase tickets online here.
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Housing Within Reach: Next Steps
| Thursday, March 11
United Methodist Church, 250 California St.
7-9 pm
Free/by donation
We've now completed four affordable housing workshops. We've heard some great speakers and we have been energized with the understanding that there are actions within our reach that can be taken to build more affordable, equitable and sustainable housing in our community. We have a list of ideas and dreams and program proposals that we've learned about. Where do we go from here?
This last workshop will be held as a round table discussion. It will be a community meeting to prioritize and unite on strategies that will increase and preserve housing affordability for everyone in our community. I'll bring notes from the speakers' suggestions and you can bring your suggestions. We'll see what suggestions have the most support, and create an action plan on how to implement them. Your participation is requested and appreciated!
—David Foster, Series Moderator
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Launched: Transition San Lorenzo Valley
|  We are excited to report that Transition Santa Cruz is no longer the only Transition Initiative in our county. Thanks to the efforts of Judith Broadhurst, Transition San Lorenzo Valley is now underway! She has been meeting with members of the Valley Women's Club and others, and is passing on the contagious "Transition virus."
Check out the TSLV site, and if you live in the Valley, don't hesitate to contact Judith.
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Two calls for your ideas
|  The Transition Santa Cruz Song Project
I am working on putting together a TSC Songbook and also an evening of locally-based music. If you know of a song that reflects (positively) on Santa Cruz, or just a song that tells of the beauty of local community, drop me a line!
—Michael Levy
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Do you know a great neighborhood?
In preparation for a Resilient Neighborhood Tour, we are looking for visible neighborhood projects that demonstrate how neighbors got together to improve their neighborhood. These could be as simple as a neighborhood message board, shared garden or composting area, park or gathering space, or as special as a neighborhood art project or tea kiosk.
If you know of something like this, let us know!
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Contact Details
831-427-9916
http://transitionsc.org
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Instead of our Monthly Gathering...
| Oops! The third week of March, we overbooked ourselves! In fact, we actually wound up with two events on the same night!
So, instead of coming to a monthly gathering this month, consider these two fine options. We hope to see you at one of them. (Hang on to your potluck recipes until April.)
Desalination and the Alternatives Forum
♦ Thursday, March 18, 6:15 pm
♦ Live Oak Elementary School Gym,
1916 Capitola Rd. at Chanticleer
♦ Free/by donation
John Laird will moderate an all-star panel of five water experts to help clarify issues around the proposed desalination plant and a resilient water supply. More information here.
Heart and Soul Gathering and Sharing Circle
♦ Thursday, March 18, 7:00 to 8:30 pm
♦ Louden Nelson Community Center
♦ $5 to $10 donations accepted
Those of us already working for transition, and people
wanting to reflect on the inner aspects of this work are all welcome to come together as we support each
other in our inner journeys and outer work for the healing of our
world. More information here.
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