History of Growth and Accomplishments:
The Northwest Earth Institute: .
Founded in 1993 by long-time activists Jeanne and Dick Roy, the NWEI initially brought a single course, Exploring Deep Ecology, into mainstream workplaces to engage people in earth-centered conversation. Today, NWEI volunteers offer a variety of programs in workplaces, homes, centers of faith, neighborhoods, and other places where groups of 8 to 12 can meet. Check out the NWEI website for a more detailed history of the Northwest Earth Institute.
The NWEI develops innovative programs that foster cultural change in their main headquarters in Portland. They distribute them to northwest communities where they are offered through chapters or local volunteer groups, and replicate them in other regions through autonomous groups. Nationwide, NWEI courses have been offered by local organizers in more than 500 communities in all 50 states. As of 2008, 100,000 people in the United States have enrolled in NWEI courses. Courses have been offered in Canada, New Zealand and Sweden. These courses have been offered in hundreds of businesses and organizations. NWEI’s work has been featured in two PBS documentaries, Affluenza and Escape from Affluenza, as well as the National Public Radio series, Deep Ecology for the 21st Century
The Corvallis Chapter of NWEI: The first courses outside Portland were offered in 1994 in Corvallis, which became NWEI's first chapter in 1999. Since then, Corvallis NWEI, with a growing membership of over 80 members and 20 volunteers, has started over 300 courses and 3000 participants, facilitated numerous eco-parties, sponsored a Chautauqua Lecture Series with our public library on our bioregion and other environmental topics, published monthly articles in the Co-op Thymes and the Gazette-Times on sustainability topics and events, given numerous presentations and workshops at service clubs, schools, businesses, churches and other venues; and every fall since 1999 has produced the "Passport to Healthy Gardens Organic Garden and Sustainable Living Tour" where hundreds of local folks learn to live more lightly on the planet.
Also in 1999, the
Corvallis Chapter of NWEI took on the project of bringing
The Natural Step (TNS) to Corvallis by sponsoring a
lecture attended by 250 folks followed by a 1/2 day
workshop at Hewlett-Packard where 125 participants
learned about this sustainability framework developed in
Sweden. The Corvallis Chapter of the Oregon Natural Step
Network, formed in 2000, now has
18 local members including Hewlett-Packard, Benton
County, Intabas Kitchen, First Alternative Co-op, Bombs
Away Café, Nearly Normals restaurant, Corvallis Chamber
of Commerce, OSU Facilities Services, Edge Design, CORE Communications and Blackledge Furniture.
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