There’s no denying that there’s a lot of worry out there: over the health and future of our communities, our nation, and our planet at large. And many folks I’ve spoken to are also acutely aware that there’s a lot of differing opinions on how to address the problems we face.
In our work at Delta, we hear a lot of different perspectives about how to move things forward. We hear differences of opinions frequently through our partnerships and in the communities where we work. We don’t pretend to know if there’s a correct way to create change, and yet I believe it is our job to do so … in a way that’s rooted in our values:
So, how do we at Delta Institute live out our values?
We are adaptive.
We imagine new pathways forward if other attempts fail. We’ve learned a lot about what works—and what doesn’t—over the years, as we look for ways to have climate-smart agriculture practices be adopted by more farmers throughout the Midwest. We’ve learned about the barriers that farmers face and have been working to rethink the entire way that we value agricultural lands with the ultimate goals of supporting farmers, their livelihoods, and their environmental stewardship of Midwest farmlands.
We are cooperative.
We work toward common goals that none of us could accomplish alone. Just like the Tree Planting Consortium we convened in Northwest Indiana: a coalition of dozens of municipal agencies, local businesses, and community groups all working together, bringing out hundreds of volunteers and youth, to plant thousands of trees in a region long impacted by industrial pollution.
We are equitable.
We recognize that redevelopment efforts without community voice and inclusion are as extractive and inequitable as they are ineffective. That’s why we work with place-based organizations to host community-driven biodiversity events that train residents and youth as “citizen scientists” for the day, uncovering the nature found in their backyards.
We are passionate.
We bring our hearts toward reaching big, impactful goals. Thinking of our restoration of Duck Creek Tributary in Indiana, for example … After years of work, we are seeing wildlife come back and cleaner water flowing into the Little Calumet River and ultimately into Lake Michigan. We’re not the only ones who noticed, either—this project won the Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence this past fall!
We are pragmatic.
We recognize that the challenges we face won’t be fixed overnight. We love seeing our partners continue long-term implementation toward big goals—like the City of Chicago continues to implement Delta’s 2021 Chicago Waste Strategy. Most recently, the City brought waste solutions directly to people’s doorsteps, offering backyard composting bins to 1,000 Chicagoans across all of the City’s 50 wards through a new pilot!
We are tenacious.
We are determined in our efforts to reclaim & revitalize green space on Chicago’s South Side, working hand-in-hand with community-based organizations in environmental justice communities—like we’re currently doing with Blacks in Green in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. Our partnership is advancing their vision of a Sustainable-Square-Mile and honors the legacy of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley as national beacons of justice.
We are transparent.
in all that we do, earning Delta Institute a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid for four years in a row – and Charity Navigator’s highest “Give with Confidence” Four-Star rating … recognitions received by fewer than 1% of all nationally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations!
Yes, I recognize that it is absolutely harder to do this work when you feel like the systems and the leaders in charge of impacting those systems seem so against a sustainable, resilient, equitable, and just future. And yet – I equally know that we’ll continue to figure out a way to move our work forward based on values and our commitment to creating a more sustainable and equitable Midwest – no matter what comes our way.
But we can’t do it alone. None of us can.
Support from our community today is now even more important in advancing this vision. If you can help, please consider donating an amount that is meaningful to you this year. The more resources we cultivate by the end of 2024, the more we’ll be ready to enact big changes in the year ahead. And if you can’t give now for whatever reason, send us a note instead. We’d love to hear from you.
We have work ahead of us to do. When you’re ready, join me in rolling up your sleeves and working toward the next chapter of a more sustainable and equitable Midwest.
Onward,
Bill Schleizer
CEO, Delta Institute