About us

EARTH BEING Our organizing principle

MISSION
Ecolocity exists to empower residents and groups in the Metro DC area to build environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable communities. To meet this urgent need, the group provides a hub for networking, connects people to local resources, creates cohesion from existing projects, and meets needs that are not yet met elsewhere.

ORGANIZATION
We are a community organization that was formed in 2008 and formally incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 2010. Our founder acts as convener and communications director, encouraging the emergence of self-organizing sub-groups and programs. Weekly meetings are held on first and third Tuesdays, 7-9 pm, at and through the sponsorship of Emergence Community Arts Collective, 733 Euclid Street NW, Washington 20011. This is also the site of the Emergence Garden & Sustainability Center being developed in partnership with ECAC which hosts community gardens, a forest garden, and rain water harvesting projects originally organized by Ecolocity.

Donations and grants allow Ecolocity to carry out its programs. Tax-free contributions can be made through our fiscal sponsor, Washington Peace Center, clearly designated for EcolocityDC.

HISTORY
In seeking to live in an intentional community, Larry Chang decided to create one. He soon realized it could not flourish in isolation but needed to be integrated in a supportive environment. In June 2008, he began by creating online social networks on Facebook, Meetup and Ning. Real-time meetings were set up and have been held continuously since. Attendance at meetings ranges from 6-30 people, of various ages, income levels and backgrounds. Our membership list tops 700 and we welcome new members every day.

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

• 1st Tuesday - Planning for Action
• 3rd Tueday - Hands-on activity

CONTACT

• Mail: P O Box 66154, Washington DC 20035-6154
• Email: ecolocitydc@gmail.com
• Tel: 202 545 0869 Fax: 866 525 0247

The majority of the world's inhabitants live in urban areas. It would be impossible and disastrous for large numbers to seek refuge in the countryside. Cities therefore have to be made sustainable and not continue to be toxic to the biosphere. Many towns in Ireland, Britain, Australia and New Zealand have taken the initiative to transform themselves into Transition towns. Curitiba, Brazil is cited as being at the forefront of most sustainable cities. Cuba has been forced early into solutions by its own peak oil crisis when they lost Russian oil support. In the US, Portland, Oregon, San Francisco and Oakland in California, have begun the process of becoming ecocities.

The District of Columbia has a lot of catching up to do. While there are some admirable and necessary individual and municipal initiatives, they are too little, too late. The air quality in DC is one of the nation's worst despite extensive tree cover. The exigencies of our current national and global situation demand that urgent, drastic action be taken now. What is accomplished in DC, the capital of the US, will have far-reaching influence and tremendous impact in halting environmental decline.

Ecolocity is definitely about cross-fertilization; we don't know everything, nor have all the answers or can attempt everything. We will support anyone or group who we consider is doing good work. We don't wish to duplicate efforts, reinvent the wheel or compete. We're like connective tissue, trying to bind all the existing efforts together into a cohesive whole; or like stem cells which can morph into required structures and functions as the conditions require. Primarily we are interested in stimulating, catalyzing thinking leading to action that addresses specific issues rather than prolonged discussion, waiting on authorities and finding every reason why something cannot be done.

Our primary focus is making DC a Transition town, working with other groups to devise and implement an Energy Descent Action Plan to get DC more carbon-free by 2020. However, environmental considerations are not the only concerns. Human ecology is equally critical so we have to address the impact of decline on already vulnerable populations: the aged, homeless, unemployed and the infirm.

We intend to establish an intentional community in the District that will put into practice alternative solutions that can be spread to neighboring areas and ultimately be applied on a wider scale.