Sustainable Awards Ceremony

Peter's Journal May 13, 2008

Alexandra Paul, my wonderful co-host on Earth Talk Today and I hosted the Sustainable Quality Awards for the City of Santa Monica today.  A yearly event that honors those individuals and businesses that are making the changes necessary to ensure a sustainable planet for tomorrow’s generations.  The recipients were a mixed lot reflecting the diversity in our culture and the cooperative effort required to turn the ‘ship around.’ 

We were proud to be a part of such an event that has been spearheaded by Craig Perkins, who has left the City after 17 years to pursue work in the non profit environmental sector, and Dean Kubani, who heads the environmental program division of the city.  Leadership is about empowerment and respecting those individuals to whom one offers direction and guidance.  Santa Monica is a leader nationally because of people who have stepped forward and risked much on behalf of the greater good.  Craig, Dean and the many people who work with them and have worked with them have created a model to which all cities large and small should aspire.

The Award ceremony is simply an outward and visible sign of the permission granted to the wider community to change behavior so as to promote a sustainable agenda.  When the leaders lead the people will follow, and today it is rare that our leaders lead the way they have in Santa Monica.  Too often the people lead and the leaders follow, but here, the process has worked from the top down and the bottom up simultaneously and the results are well documented.

Today was a special day in many ways, but here are a few to note and hopefully to be replicated elsewhere. 

1. Mayor, council people, administrative leadership, and workers in many of the cities departments were present along with the people in the community who are dedicating their lives to a greener city.  Approximately 200 people shared an organic and sustainable lunch.  

2.  Pride in the City and pride in the people was evident.  Too often award shows are meaningless self congratulatory events.  Today was different as their was a sense of purpose and mission and that each award recipient was a participant in the over-all success of the project to green Santa Monica. Architects, restaurants, taxi services, hotels, and others were affirmed for their contributions

3.  There was a sense of joy and celebration in the accomplishments of others.  When we validate others and recognize their contributions everyone benefits.

We can attend award ceremonies and walk away with nothing; or, we can use each event as a teachable moment and learn from the experience and apply the learning’s to our lives.  Alexandra and I prefer the latter and rarely attend such events, but we are honored to have participated today.  We lent our support because we much shift the paradigm and a city like Santa Monica is an environmental hero on many levels.  Congratulations mayor, city council folk, and all those who are leading the way with a vision of tomorrow today. 

Best wishes from Alexandra and Peter, and keep up the good work.