Topic: Pando: Leveraging Society’s Pillars for Change!

Presenters: Eugene Shirley & Friends

Earth’s largest organism, Pando the Tree, inspired graphics for the 2015 Claremont Conference, “Seizing an Alternative.”  Pando the organization is a “non-profit producer of educational programs for civic engagement with the end goal of building a more sustainable California Southland.”  Eugene Shirley, Founding President of Pando, has rounded up a talented crew to creatively engage folks in Los Angeles County in aiming for its ambitious sustainability goals.  The CSO Strategic Task Force brings together Chief Sustainability Officers from government, higher education, business, and NGOs to focus on the common good of strengthening community resilience in Los Angeles County.  

         Heidrun Mumper-Drumm, head of the CSO Task Force, will join our conversation, along with John B. Cobb, Jr., Pando’s Founding Board Chair, and Vice-Chair Ed Bacon, former long-time pastor of Pasadena All Saints Episcopal Church.  A brief documentary film by award-winning Lyn Goldfarb will be shared during the presentation.

          Conversation will focus on the traditional pillars of civil society and how we can utilize them to bring about change.  How do we involve education, faith institutions, professional organizations and others in a broad ambition to create the more ecologically balanced and socially just environment that the LA County sustainability plan, integral ecology, etc. envision?  Additionally, what is the role for public agencies?  Pando is building a unique model in Pando Days, Magenta House, and the CSO Taskforce that we’ll explore as specific test-cases.  

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Can’t make it to the live session? Click here to access our archive of Cobb & Friends recordings.