Good Morning, SuperForest!
We’ve mentioned several times how so much of what goes on behind the scenes here at SuperForest fails to be mentioned up on the blog, we’ve also mentioned several times that we would work to improve this nasty habit of ours and time and time again have failed to do that. But upon further reflection, perhaps it’s not a failure. Perhaps the incredible stories of what goes on behind the scenes just need some time to ferment and process before reaching your eyes. Perhaps, they themselves know the best time to present themselves to you. In the case of our behind the scenes workings with The Global ARC, that time has come.
Very frequently, SuperForest comes across groups and organizations that are very much in tune with the message and themes of our website, but every once in a while that connection is so strong, that in a process that seems almost cosmic and magnetic, partnerships are formed. It happened with SuperForester Jon of Blend Apparel, it happened with SuperForester Vallie and Mel of the Feeding the Soul Foundation, and it most definitely happened with the Pezzoli Family and The Global ARC. We’ve mentioned the Pezzolis a few times here on the site, but a formal introduction has been about six months overdue.
I had the pleasure of having Dr. Keith Pezzoli as my professor in several Urban Studies and Planning classes that I took at UCSD. Now, I’ve had several jaw-droppingly amazing professors during my time there but few compare to this one for his enthusiasm and dedication to the environment, to regional planning, and to his students was something that made attending his classes not only engaging, but fun (yes, fun). Another thing Dr. Pezzoli showed a lot of enthusiasm towards was what he called the Global ARC (or the Global Action Research Center) which is an organization he and his wife Janice were starting to “share, grow and scale up sustainability solutions” in order to eradicate some of the biggest problems we face on both a local and global scale. As such, this organization is building a sustainability database, an Open Access digital library, and what they are calling the “Journeys of the Global ARC” (bike tours meant to showcase some of these sustainable solutions). I was sitting in class as he was explaining his vision of bridging grassroots organizations to academic research performed at universities and I kept thinking to myself, “This is so SuperForest.”
A few months later, SuperForester Jackson and I met with Janice and Keith as a means of introducing ourselves to each other and a few weeks after that, we were meeting their son Chris, their dog Morgan, and were having dinner at their house discussing both SuperForest and Global ARC plans and how we could help each other out.
Since then, this friendship and partnership has only grown, and most recently, SuperForest has been working the the Global ARC to help plan their first Global ARC Journey. Starting on July 15th, The Global ARC organization is going to embark on a 2000 mile long bicycle journey from Vancouver, Canada down the west coast of the United States to San Diego, California. Along the way, they’ll be stopping at several key locations to learn first hand from organizations and institutions about the actions they’re taking to better this planet (community gardens, universities, etc.). It’s going to be epic and SuperForest has been helping organize it all. Specifically, SuperForester Maureen and I are going to be in charge of organizing both the stops in Los Angeles and San Diego.
Goodness, it’s even more intimidating to read that back in writing.
You see, SuperForesters Maureen and I have never planned anything like this before.
Nothing even close to this.
And as I write this, I’m filled with an incredible sense of anticipation, nervousness, and excitement. These are all signs that SuperForest is expanding its horizons and is stepping out into an opportunity full of growth and learning. I have little doubt this is going to be amazing. SuperForesters Maureen and I will be sharing much more about the Global ARC, this west coast journey, our Southern California stops, and we’ll most definitely be reaching out to you guys for help because if there’s anything I’ve learned from here on SuperForest, it’s the incredible power of community and how together, we SuperForesters can accomplish the most daunting of tasks…like planning major bike tours.
Journey starts on July 15th. Let’s do this thing.
Yours in adventure,
Carla
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