The Center for Regenerative Society, a new NE Iowa nonprofit, is in conversation with participants in the Sustainable Decorah initiative about a proposal to bring in a "Humanist in Residence" to facilitate continued conversations about sustainability in Decorah.
Gary Holthaus will make an exploratory visit to Decorah Wednesday through Friday to test the waters in the community about the concept. Holthaus recently finished doing a similar program in Sitka, Alaska, hosted by the Island Institute. He helped to foster discussions about sustainability in Sitka, meeting with numerous groups and individuals, offering a public reading and discussion series and, at the end of his time there, wrote a report for Sitkans about what he'd heard.
If there's sufficient interest in the idea, the Center for Regenerative Society will request grant funding from the Iowa Humanities. If a grant is approved, Holthaus will be in Decorah for two months, leading discussion about sustainability.
Anyone who is interested in talking with Holthaus during his initial visit to Decorah can contact Hannah Mc Cargar at 419-1624 or email her at Hannah@regenerativesociety.org. Conversations will be happening mostly at Java John's and Magpie.