Mainstreaming the Green Marketplace

We stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history, a time when humanity must choose its future. ... We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace. Towards this end, it is imperative that we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations.          

Excerpted from the Preamble to The Earth Charter at  www.earthcharter.org. 

At Bowie Urban Planners, we are committed to the foundational principles expressed in the Earth Charter.  We are committed to visioning change and empowering both businesses and individuals to support social, economic, and environmental actions that create healthy, sustainable communities. We are committed to igniting the flame, nurturing the passions, and moving the mountains to gently propel our community toward the future--a future where responsible businesses meet the needs of caring individuals, who make the wise choices necessary to sustain our community.  We are committed to buy green, eat organic, keep poisons out of our environment, walk and bike instead of driving our cars whenever possible, and support conservation of our natural resources. To this end, we are committed to mainstreaming the green marketplace.

Contents:

• Building a Future That Works for All

• Vision of Venice Green Marketplace

• Community Participation and Visioning

• Economic Revitalization

Growing the Green Economy

How can green products and services be mainstreamed in a community? How can the Earth Charter, a mission statement of sustainable values and principles developed over a 12-year period by thousands of people from 75 countries, be championed? Urban planner Mary Anne G. Bowie, FAICP, has accomplished these goals in Sarasota, FL by creating easy-to-use directories of green products and services and by hosting over 5 years of monthly community eco-forums.

The concept of promoting a green marketplace as an economic redevelopment strategy was developed by Mary Anne G. Bowie, FAICP, in the Bowie Urban Planners 2001 Sustainable Smart Growth national award winning Vision for Venice. Bowie has addressed national conferences regarding sustainable planning and economic development approaches since 1994. In 2002, Bowie made the commitment to deliver local sustainable solutions. Sarasota’s most dedicated environmentalists were invited to discuss two critical questions: “How can we maintain green?” and “How can we promote the Earth Charter?”

The Sarasota Green World Café eco-forum was created in 2003. Each meeting is hosted by Bowie and uses the interactive world café technique of facilitating powerful and meaningful discussions that are often “outside the box.” Free and open to the public, The Sarasota Green World Café features presentations by local speakers who are committed to sustainable principles and practices. A discussion follows concerning one principle from the Earth Charter that particularly “speaks” to the presenter. Two questions are addressed: “How can I live that principle?” and “How can I promote that principle to my larger community?” Through the Sarasota Green World Café, Bowie has been able to create and foster community while teaching about the Earth Charter and providing sustainable business owners a venue to share their passion.

Bowie has been able to spotlight the increasing demand for green products and services through the visibility provided by the Sarasota Green Marketplace™ (SGM), a retail store (initially 18 months of outside vendor events), Sarasota Green Connection Approved Businesses (SGCAB), a clearinghouse for businesses selling environmentally preferable products and services, an on-line SGCAB directory of over 200 local businesses, and the Sarasota Green Pages™, the first local green pages licensed by Co-Op America.

Incorporated in 2004 (initially under the name Sarasota Green Connection, Inc.), Sarasota Green Marketplace, Inc.™ achieved status as a Green Spec listed green building store containing both green living and green home and building products. Building on Bowie’s philosophy and practice of providing viable choices to encourage positive change, Sarasota Green Marketplace™ enables customers to find environmentally preferable building products and supplies that meet the green building rating systems of both the U.S. Green Building Council (LEED) and Florida Green building Coalition. Sarasota Green Connection is a division of the Sarasota Green Marketplace, Inc.™ The for profit "growing the green economy" efforts of Sarasota Green Marketplace Inc and Sarasota Green Conenction are now under the direction of non-profit www.greenconnectionus.org

Mary Anne Bowie is available to assist other communities in developing their Green Economy.

Sarasota·Green Marketplace History

Sarasota·Green Marketplace Began as an 18 month vendor event; Turned into an on-line directory at www.sarasotagreenconnection.com with over 250 local businesses providing eco-friendly products and services... AND a physical retail store located at 2864 Ringling Blvd.Sarasota, FL 34237, which operated until June 30, 2009. A victim of the economic downturn.

On January 11, 2003, The Origianl Sarasota·Green Marketplace launched its inaugural outdoore vendor event with great success.  The first marketplace hosted 20 vendors and received more than 200 visitors, including Sarasota Mayor Carolyn Mason. The Marketplace began with three important functions: Mainstreaming "green" products and services; Helping to restore the section of Central Avenue north of 10th Street by supporting the revitalization efforts of the Action Central Project; and Promoting the Earth Charter, a declaration of fundamental principals for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global community. Initially similar in style to the Saturday farmer's market, the outdoor vendor marketplace transformed into Sarasota Green Connection, the Sarasota Green PagesTM and on-line directory at www.sarasotagreenconnection.com Back to top.

Jessie White of Sarasota Architectural Salvage and Mary Anne Bowie, founder of the Sarasota·Green Marketplace, cutting the ribbon at their Grand Opening on January 11, 2003. Internationally acclaimed artist Jack Dowd, sketching the Sarasota·Green Marketplace at the Action Central kickoff event.

Read the history of Green World Café

The summer 2002 Earth Charter celebration event in Tampa led by Jan Roberts, Director of the Institute for Ethics and Meaning, inspired Mary Anne Bowie to make the commitment to bring the Earth Charter message to Sarasota.  In August 2002, many key Sarasota environmentalists were invited to participate in the first Green World Café held at the Bowie Urban Planners offices. Two pertinent questions of the day were: "How can we celebrate the Earth Charter?" and "How can we mainstream green businesses?" Out of these discussions came the decisions to continue the Earth Charter conversations on a monthly basis—the Green World Café—and to create the Sarasota·Green Marketplace. 

The mission of the Green World Café is to grow our sustainable community by promoting the Earth Charter Principles.  The community provides education, networking, structures, and opportunities for business and individuals to support the development of green products, services, and concepts.

Green World Café conversation circles, like all World Café circles, explore issues that matter. Members encourage and honor each person's contribution. The Green World Café steering committee meets prior to each Green World Café to choose presenter and to add creative input. The Green World Cafe events are now produced by Green Connection US, a not-for-profit FL corporation. 

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Vision of Venice Green Marketplace

In the Vision Plan for the Island of Venice, Florida, Bowie Urban Planners developed a green marketplace concept as part of the recommended urban vitalization strategy.  To view the Venice Vision Plan presentation, please click here: Vision Plan for US41 Business Corridor.  This presentation is available in PDF format (992Kb).

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Community Participation and Visioning

Bowie Urban Planners believes that the best planning approaches are shared through workshops, presentations, and products. A variety of professional, proven techniques are utilized for facilitating effective public meetings. The chosen methodology includes: 

• Identifying expectations of all participants, recognizing the wisdom around the table;

• Using active listening to identify issues, concerns and positions;

• Using a variety of proven techniques to develop alternative solutions; and 

• Building appropriate decisions in concert with the group.

Bowie Urban Planners has facilitated public officials and citizen groups in addressing a variety of issues, including urban design standards, economic development solutions, controversial financial proposals, and sustainable development practices. Publishing articles in local and national planning magazines, Ms. Bowie imparts her professional knowledge of sustainable development approaches that address cultural and environmental sensitivity. Ms. Bowie has also completed the Conflict Resolution Consortium's training for public officials. The Public Sector Dispute Resolution Consortium provides public officials with an effective way to negotiate viable resolutions to disputes in a non-adversarial and low-cost manner. Such skills make community visioning assimilate well into governmental planning.

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Economic Revitalization

Bowie Urban Planners played a vital role in the Action Central economic revitalization project, a pilot project uniting city and citizens now underway in Sarasota.  The focus was to make the "forgotten" part of Central Avenue between 10^th and 15^th Streets safe and scenic.  Action Central is a laboratory for the Earth Charter principles, focusing on creating a beautiful and green neighborhood in a diverse mixed-use area that historically has been the home to artists, a concrete plant, and criminal behavior.

In North Fort Myers, for the Lee County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Bowie Urban Planners developed a community vision-driven economic action plan to revitalize the Business 41 corridor. This project involved extensive interaction with community and government representatives as well as a detailed analysis of the development potential of multiple sites within the corridor. The firm also prepared a redevelopment regulatory overlay zoning district draft ordinance and a conceptual waterfront site development plan as well as urban design guidelines for the Business 41 corridor.

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Contact: mbowie@bowieurbanplanners.com

Copyright © 2003 Mary Anne G. Bowie Associates">