Governing Sustainable Communities

Government and Governance mean to different things. Government is centered around delivering services and keeping order.  Governance is about leading society, spurring people together to work towards common goals.  The ideals of a sustainable community can be put into reality through governance.

I have a personal story about an example of governance that promotes a sustainable community.  There is a group in my hometown called the Little Falls Creek Clean Up which my mom is a member of.  This groups promotes the health of the Little Falls Creek that runs through out the neighborhood.  The group hold Creek Clean Up days and is active in restoring the banks, removing invasive species and planting native plant species.  The group is an act of governance by promoting conservation, restoration and a healthy neighborhood.  The creek clean up days have become very highly attended and is now a large social event.  The Little Falls Creek Clean Up acts a guide to show people what actions benefit the community, such as picking up trash.  This group and it's members are public participants that are critical more creating a sustainable community.  We need to combine ideas with action to have a successful sustainable community.