Save the date! The Institute on Social Exclusion will host its annual conference on June 3rd and 4th, 2010. The conference will meet to increase awareness and understanding of the impact of social conditions on mental health and well-being. This is the first conference in the US that will address the Social Determinants of Mental Health, and speakers will discuss how society impacts personal mental health.

click here for complete post

The Restoring Our Prosperity Policy Summit is the product of an initiative led by Greater Ohio Policy Center and the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings Institution. The Summit was the center piece of a multi-year research, policy development, and networking effort to revitalize Ohio’s core communities, create new opportunities for the people of Ohio, and invigorate the state’s economy. This year, the summit will be held on February 22nd at the Statehouse Atrium in Columbus.

click here for complete post

We featured the Dequindre Cut a few months ago, but this photo taken on the Rustbelt Road Trip is a great representation of an old space that could become a much-used thoroughfare for pedestrians and bikers. Although the Cut is only a mile long now, some groups will try to extend the paths for 100 miles, bringing with them a shift towards new, modern transportation. This long-unused path could connect Detroiters and help revive the city. If the Cut can keep growing, health, transportation, and modernization can reach Detroit and other Rustbelt cities grow faster and more effectively. So keep walking, biking, and letting your city know how important greenways are to your sticky city!

click here for complete post

Eerie and beautiful, we’re featuring Postmodern Sleaze’s (a.k.a. Andrew Faulkner’s) photos of abandoned St. Louis buildings this week. Thanks for sharing these great photos, and thanks to everyone else who’s still submitting!

click here for complete post

The Revitalizing Older Cities Capitol Hill Summit, which will be held on March 3rd this year, is a great event. During the summit, stakeholders and experts will discuss the impact of federal policies on local-level with Members of Congress and their staff. The summit is a venue for an open discussion of Congress’ role in addressing the needs of the nation’s transitioning industrial communities. Talks will focus on transportation, land, green infrastructure, and job creation. Also, you’ll have a chance to emphasize to Members of Congress that revitalizing America’s cities must be a top federal priority…

click here for complete post

This email went out this morning. Please take the survey and forward to others! Dear Clevelander-in-the-know: GLUE (the Great Lakes Urban Exchange), a network of young leaders and activists who share ideas and best practices for revitalizing Great Lakes cities, is currently planning its third annual conference. Participants in the first two conferences, in Buffalo in 2008 and Milwaukee in 2009, have said things like: “You have re-energized and inspired me… I can’t wait until next year!”

click here for complete post

I spent last weekend at home, relaxing, reveling in the mid-Winter warmth (can I call 37 degrees warm? It’s been soooo much colder in January…), and visiting the auto show in Detroit. The show was a lot different than it has been in the past, but one of the best additions was “Electric Avenue,” an exhibition of about 20 new, electric cars from around the world. It’s totally different from the loud, flashy displays on the main level; these cars are quiet and seem like their from another world, but there’s something cool about seeing the cars today that everyone will be driving tomorrow.

Satsun74’s ‘88 Cadillac isn’t like that. It’s big and loud, but it’s cool. It might need more gasoline than a Prius or Volt, but auto companies haven’t yet figured out how to make these modern machines as exciting as they used to be. Thanks, satsun74, for submitting pictures of this Cadillac (check out more on the Flickr pool!), and thanks again to everyone else who’s sending in photos.

click here for complete post

The 2010 Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference, which will be held from May 4-6, 2010, at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C., is a conference that focuses on the implementation of the green economy and building a revitalized, green economy that creates good jobs, reduces global warming and preserves America’s economic and environmental security. The 2010 Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference is coordinated by the Blue Green Alliance, a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations working to expand the number and quality of jobs in the green economy.

click here for complete post

Every year, Michigan State University hosts a Climate Change Symposium with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. This year, the Spring Symposium will be held on April 26th and 27th and is titled “Climate Change Vulnerabilities and Opportunities: Michigan and Beyond.” The event will include multiple simultaneous sessions and several plenaries on topics including: connecting science with policy, economic and social impacts of climate change, adaptation strategies, business and local government responses, and challenges and opportunities in a green economy. You can learn more about the symposium here.

click here for complete post

 
This week’s photo by “AJL Still in Chigago” was our favorite shot of the night sky. Taken back when it was still warm (sigh…), Lake Michigan looks beautiful as ever with the moon shining along it. I especially loved how the photo made me feel as though I was up in a tree, watching Lake Michigan at night. Thanks for your am

click here for complete post