There are many reasons I recently partnered up with Lisa Negstad to get a full-time office space at CoCo Minneapolis. High on that list is that the space gives me excuses to expand my professional network. That’s possible because it feels good – both physically and socially. The way the physical space feels makes me (and hundreds of other […]
For the last nine months, I’ve been exploring a new way of thinking about what I do. That’s when I went to a workshop on Newtork Weaving, an introduction session to the concept. I immediately saw ways it could support my work with the Alliance for Healthy Homes and Communities (through Minnesota Green Communities), as well as with the Minneapolis Bicycle […]
While I’m trained as an applied anthropologists, mostly my work is around green building work. So when one of my green building newsletters came with an article heading, “Anthropologist on the Design Team: The Making of An Unangan Home,” I took notice. Mostly, we anthropologists “pass,” with job titles hat don’t reveal our training. I […]
Last weekend, someone mentioned how difficult it is to supervise people if you don’t have the authority to impose consequences when they don’t their job. That reminded me how I often work in settings where I’m accountable for making things happen, but I don’t have any formal authority. I facilitate collaborative initiatives, or write […]
I am constantly challenging myself to find effective ways to leverage change in the world. Sometimes it’s minor, like how to reduce my yardwork responsibilities. Often it’s ambitious, like reducing apartment building utility consumption across Minnesota, or changing culture to make bicycling so normal people don’t even notice they’re doing it. I embed those efforts […]
Doing outreach for the EnergyScoreCards Minnesota pilot project, our team spent a lot of time developing language and materials to share with the hundreds of owners we were inviting to participate. Making follow-up phone calls to folks who received electronic outreach, a few comments have surprised me. One, in particular, stays with me. The company […]
At Minnesota Green Communities, we’ve been hearing more and more frequent requests for assistance in successfully engaging residents in sustainability living. Building owners know they – and residents – won’t see the full energy and water efficiency benefits or the health benefits of building green if the residents aren’t on board, too.
This month, I’ve been trying to figure out how to help colleagues take advantage of people who want to help out. Basically, helping busy people get the help they want and need. This is my daily task as the manager of a collaboration and meeting facilitator. As of a couple weeks ago, I’ve volunteered to do […]
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