VCC donates to ADPSR's Mumford Awards

This weekend, in Chicago, ADPSR (Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility) is hosting the 2009 Mumford Awards for Peace Community Development and the Environment. At this event community organizers, green activists, design practitioners, student, and people interested in sustainability will be coming together to honor 3 amazing organizations.

This two day event will feature guest speakers, FREE food from a green caterer, free drinks from a local brewery and winery, live local music, interactive art, and door prizes (provided by Vienna Coffee Company and Chopin Theatre). It will be a perfect way to allow people to know what is going on in Chicago, get connected, and honor organizations who are already doing some great things!

On Sunday they will be putting words into action and chartering a bio-diesel bus to Black Oaks Center for Sustainable Renewable Living's eco-campus. This day will be filled with different permaculture type projects (natural construction building, erecting a yurt, and erecting a chicken coop).

If you are interested in more information about this event check out: www.adpsr.org/chicago

Converge:Exchange

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, Vienna Coffee Company donated their La Armonia Hermosa coffee to the Converge Exchange dinner/conference.
The conference was a huge success with more than 100 communities, activists, and practitioners converging in a set of lectures and round table discussions to exchange ideas, current projects, resources, funding, etc. Also, on Wednesday night a wonderful 5 course meal with all local/seasonal food that the chef had a personal relationship with was prepared for about 35 panelists and organizers of the conference, and adding to the relational story Vienna Coffee was able to tell their story of their relationship with the farmers in Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala.

In this changing economic climate Chicago's design world is merging with communities and activists to make sense of the change and how to better our world through collaboration. It was great to hear about all of the amazing sustainable projects, activities, and organizations going on in the area. This event, spurred on by Vienna Coffee Company's coffee, allowed for all of these people to connect in hopes of making a larger impact. We look forward to seeing what comes out of this event in the future.

If you are interested in joining the discussion check out www.convergeexchange.org. They will be adding a discussion board onto their website shortly.