What Are They Up to Now? Sustainable Seattle's 2011 Award Winners

There are just two days left to submit nominations for Sustainable Seattle’s Sustainability Leadership Awards!  These nominations are a great way to acknowledge the contribution of organizations, businesses, and individuals to sustainability.  So far, this year’s nominees cover a broad range of sustainability – but we still are looking for a few more!  Who do you think deserves to be recognized?

For a little inspiration, we have gathered updates from some of the 2011 Award recipients.   These businesses, individuals and organizations continue to be positive forces in their community and we are excited to share about their success!  Who should we be paying attention to this coming year?

Submit your nominations here!  

These awards will be presented at Sustainable Seattle’s Sustainability Leadership Awards Dinner, our annual fundraiser.  Buy your tickets here.  Our Early Bird prices are available through November 5.

Community Kitchens NW

CKNW has been growing steadily this past year! Their afterschool cooking program is now in 8 schools and some of them being the most popular afterschool option! CKNW’s coalition is also getting stronger with more organizations and creating more dialogue and collaboration between groups doing great work in the community and using food to build community strength. CKNW has been highlighted in several articles and even had a clip on Evening Magazine that featured the Rainier Community Center Community Dinner where we had over 100 guests! Learn more. 

West Seattle Tool Library

After receiving a Sustainable Seattle Leadership Award in 2011, neighbors have continued to discover the West Seattle Tool Library in 2012, with participation in the two year old organization now over 900 members.  From a single, community collection of mostly donated tools, these members have completed over 5,000 free transactions since The Tool Library opened its doors, saving an incredible number of tools from an underutilized existence in local basements and garages.  To accelerate this effect even further, The West Seattle Tool Library rolled out a mobile unit in July, which will help create even greater access to this collection.  It can fully supply community work parties or even serve as a starter tool library for communities interested in starting their own.  In 2013, the Tool Library looks forward to expanding its community workshop series - which currently offers classes in everything from soap making to CNC milling - and, with any luck, you'll also be seeing their mobile unit at a farmers market or community workparty near you!  Learn more.

Pomegranate Center

The Pomegranate Center had a number of highlights in 2012 all over the country!   In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, they used wood, concrete pads, and metal debris from 2011’s devastating tornado to construct a small amphitheater at the Alberta Gathering Place with the help of 450 volunteers who gave 3500 hours during the first 10 days of June.  This project was made possible by the $100K grant from Tully's Coffee’s Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in Vermont.  Businesses and individuals donated additional in-kind services and materials that doubled the value of the project.  The City of Kent, Washington, asked the Pomegranate Center to hold a series of community meetings to identify East Hill’s priorities for the future, resulting in the East Hills Revitalization Plan.  Plans are also underway at Pomegranate Center to construct a gathering place in San Diego in April 2013 to train local organization and community leaders in their community-building methods.  They are also working with residents in Waterbury, Vermont to envision and design a gathering place that will be built in May 2013.

Finally, right here in Seattle, the Pomegranate Center is planning Multiple Victories workshops for early 2013.  You can learn more about these classes on the Pomegranate website.

Professor Sarah Elwood, UW

Geography Professor Sarah Elwood’s award winning year did not end in November with Sustainable Seattle’s Innovator in Sustainability Award.  In May, she received the University of Washington’s Distinguished Teaching Awards, the highest award the University of Washington presents for outstanding teaching.   You can read more about her work and what student’s are saying about her here.

Green Plate Special

In its second summer, this youth driven gardening programming in the Central District is thriving.  This past summer, they hosted youth from the Middle School Enrichment Program at Madrona K-8 and the Summer of Service program through the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department.  With herbs, vegetables, and fruit from the garden, GPS was able to take the youth through the process of seed-to-table eating!  Learn more about this great organization here.

Reed Painting

This innovative paint company that strives to reduce waste in professional and home painting had a busy year!  They continued to run paint recycling drives, and donated this recycled paint to organizations throughout Seattle!  One of their recipient’s was in Sustainable Seattle’s neighborhood: Fremont Art Council’s Solstice Day Parade.  They are still looking for organizations to donate this high quality sustainable paint to – learn more here.