Archive for the 'Community Involvement' Category

A Streetcar to Inspire… (Hybrid streetcar to lead Savannah Climate Action Parade)

Posted by
Summer Teal Simpson
on December 5, 2008 at 12:02 PM

I’m telling you, Savannah is full of surprises.  Just when I think I’ve seen everything this not-so-big city has to offer, something unexpected arises.  Which is precisely what happened yesterday when, as I busily typed away at my eco-geek dayjob, an email came across my screen from the Savannah Chamber and CVB with talk of a fully restored, green-powered 1930’s era streetcar in operation.  Do my eyes deceive me or are we getting freakishly progressive around here?

Yes, it’s true.  Savannah is unveiling North America’s first hybrid streetcar in celebration of Local Climate Action Week, which begins on December 8th and runs through the 12th.  Climate Action Week is sponsored nationwide by ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) and Climate Communities, a national coalition of cities and counties that is educating federal policymakers about the essential role of local governments in addressing climate change and promoting a strong local-federal partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.


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Categorized as: Community Involvement, Green.
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Savannah gets hip to the recycling game

Posted by
Summer Teal Simpson
on December 2, 2008 at 01:06 PM

Apologies, I feel like I am behind in reporting the seemingly biggest news of the New Year. Yes, our local blog friends and news providers were on top of this subject in way I wasn’t, which is surprising considering the topic is decidedly GREEN. What SustainableSavannah.com and Savannah Morning News (among others) have been trying to remind us is that we’re mere weeks away from our very own curbside recycling program. Gasp, sputter, cheer, grin.

Savannah has caught up with the rest of the world and is ringing in the New Year with a bang. The brand spanking new recycling program is the product of many years of negotiations among residents, City government officials and contracted service providers. To be sure, it has turned many a hair gray and the stress is not over, as the government now has to enact the program and make it work. But I for one feel like this is a huge step in the right direction. (I’m sure you were expecting me to say that, though.)


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Categorized as: Community Involvement, Events & Happenings, Green.
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Economic development, one couch at a time

Posted by
Summer Teal Simpson
on November 21, 2008 at 04:53 PM

For too long couches have been given a bad name.  Couch potato.  “You’re sleeping on the couch tonight, mister.”  480-Pound Woman Dies After Six Years On Couch.

Can’t a sofa catch a break?

Allow me to reprieve this everyday household item from the abyss of the unappreciated.  Because the average couch is making waves worldwide, having now become an opportunity for economic development here in Savannah and in communities around the globe.

The phenomenon is called “couchsurfing.”  Anyone who went to a large state university like I did is familiar with the concept.  In essence, it is an extended stay by someone (familiar or not) who sleeps on the couch.  At worst it is associated with vagrancy or drunken youth.   At best it is redefining travel and lodging the world over.

From the wreckage of the couchsurfing of old emerged the CouchSurfing Project, a free, Internet-based, international hospitality service that, evidently, is currently the world’s largest hospitality exchange network. Launched in 2004, the site now boasts more than 827,000 members in 229 countries and territories. And it may well rank as the most visited hospitality service on the Internet, averaging more than 30 million daily page views in July 2008.


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Categorized as: Community Involvement, Econ Dev, Global, Groups & Clubs.
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CASA’s Dancing with the Stars: Best Damn Fundraiser, Period?

Posted by
Summer Teal Simpson
on November 14, 2008 at 01:57 PM

Last night was a whirlwind of fun that left me completely breathless.  At the last minute, Brynn asked me to serve as her proxy and accompany Fitz for an evening at the Charles Morris Center to watch some of Savannah’s locally famous twist, twirl and tango across the dance floor.  And it was all for a good cause.

Local organization Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), took it to another level this year with Savannah’s first ever “Dancing with Savannah Stars.” A spin-off of the national phenomenon that is ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” CASA turned the Savannah fundraising paradigm on its head, approaching the often arduous task of asking for money from a different, fresher and decidedly more “active” perspective.

(having trouble viewing? Try the full sized slideshow.)

Eight recognizable Savannahians put their bodies to the test and their dignity on the line to raise money for children who need it most.  The line up was a start-studed one to be sure, including:


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Categorized as: Community Involvement, Events & Happenings, Groups & Clubs, Quirkilicious, Schmoozing.
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We’re dead last in United Way fundraising. Miller to small business: “Step up to the plate.”

Posted by
Fitz Haile
on November 10, 2008 at 11:56 AM

The United Way of the Coastal Empire faces a tough prospect this week: that for the first time in memory they may not reach their Campaign goal.

It’s not entirely surprising considering the economy’s in the toilet and people and businesses are cautious of what’s to come. But it starts to get kinda scary when you think about what this annual campaign provides for; the United Way Campaign helps support 37 health and human service agencies that provide 90 programs and services to individuals and families in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties. All proceeds from the $8,288,888 goal benefit the United Way of the Coastal Empire, whose mission is “To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community.”

The 2008 Campaigns follows several very successful years of memorable Campaign themes, including “The Wizard of Oz” in 2006 and “Superman: the Man of Steel” in 2007. This year, with the days dwindling on the “Team United” NASCAR theme, the Campaign still needs to pick up speed. Official reports from October 15th proclaim 43% of the goal having been met. Signs about town point to about 65% today.


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Categorized as: Community Involvement, Local Bid-ness.
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Destination Savannah Forward: Take the online survey!

Posted by
Summer Teal Simpson
on November 7, 2008 at 11:20 AM

With the time- and attention-monopolizing presidential elections behind us, our thoughts can return to life at home.  And to another important deadline: November 15th.

(Shout out to our good friend Dr. T Gongaware for passing along the info on this awesome opportunity.)  Several Savannah organizations, including the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC), Downtown Neighborhood Association, Historic Savannah Foundation, Savannah Development and Renewal Authority, Savannah Tree Foundation and the Trustees’ Garden Club, have arranged a 2009 lecture visit by Fred Kent. Kent, a leading authority on revitalizing city spaces and one of the foremost thinkers in livability, smart growth and the future of the city, is the founder and president of Project for Public Spaces.  And he follows a list of prolific “idea men” who have come to town, including Richard Florida and Charles Landry.

Project for Public Spaces focuses on environmental design, architecture, urban planning, urban geography, urban design, environmental psychology, landscape architecture, arts administration and information management. They also collaborate on projects with architecture, landscape architecture and engineering firms, graphic design firms, transportation consultants, retail planners and community organizations in the United States and abroad.


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Categorized as: Community Involvement, Creative, Econ Dev, Events & Happenings, Local Bid-ness, Local Government.
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TCCa’s Readers’ Poll: Who gets (got) your vote?

Posted by
Summer Teal Simpson
on November 4, 2008 at 03:18 PM

Inquiring minds want to know!

While The Creative Coast Alliance as an organization does not affiliate with any given party or candidate, we recognize that this is not likely the case for our readership. And so, in this busy week - the culmination of countless hours of campaigning, serving as the single most historic election season we’ve seen - when you get out the vote, who’s it gonna be?! McCain? Obama? Barr? Nader? Write in: Fitz Haile???

Don’t worry; the results are 100% anonymous, statistically insignificant and non-binding. It’s just our curiosity getting the better of us. And besides, after all the rhetoric and politicking, it’s time for you (read: your fingers) to do the talking.

Who was your choice for president? (P.S. Options are randomly sorted!)

Loading ... Loading …

Popularity: 6% [?]


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Categorized as: Activism, Community Involvement, Issues & Topics.
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Event photos, Thank You’s and Shout-outs: The Final Wrap up

Posted by
Fitz Haile
on October 29, 2008 at 10:00 PM

As Porky Pig would say, that’s all folks.

The event that will henceforth be known as the TCCa Typhoon of 2008 (sponsored by Lott + Barber) has finally been put to rest for her winter slumber.  To those of you that came along for the ride, we thank you - sincerely.  To the winners, CONGRATS. We are humbled by the turn-out given the less than cooperative weather and we are grateful to everyone who put in their time, money and effort to help make our first Innovation Awards a resounding (if not a little damp) success.

But before we return Summer to her regularly scheduled blog fodder, we have a few thanks to give and some pictures to show. If it gets a little mushy, its only because we love ya. For the sake of brevity, I’m listing only the key players, but to the dozens more that helped us pull this thing off - THANK YOU.

The event…

(having trouble viewing? Try the full sized slideshow.)


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Categorized as: Community Involvement, Events & Happenings, Innovation Awards, Local Bid-ness, Schmoozing, TCCa Stuff.
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GreenDrinks Birthday Bash + Candidate Forum = Durn Good Tuesday Night

Posted by
Summer Teal Simpson
on October 14, 2008 at 11:50 AM

Tonight is a power night for parties and politics.  Not only is it the one year anniversary and birthday of GreenDrinks Savannah, a local installment of an international institution dedicated to green social networking, but today marks three weeks out until Election Day, making this evening’s County Commission Candidate Forum all the more important to attend.

Yes, it’s a two-fer, a tag team, double trouble.

It begins at 5:30 pm at Moon River Brewing Company on Bay Street (map) when GreenDrinks will celebrate its birthday and one year anniversary Oktoberfest-style.  Festivities include drink specials, a cocktail buffet and a special rendition of “Happy Birthday” sung by Savannah’s own Roger Moss.  Special anniversary GreenDrinks koozies will be on sale for $1, as will be raffle tickets to win a host of items, most enticing of them being two tickets to the 2008 Innovation Awards (a $150 value).


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Categorized as: Activism, Community Involvement, Events & Happenings, Food & Drink, Green, Groups & Clubs, Local Government, Schmoozing.
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“Good things are happening in West Savannah:” Groundbreaking on Sustainable Fellwood

Posted by
Summer Teal Simpson
on September 17, 2008 at 03:42 PM

Yesterday, I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Sustainable Fellwood - Savannah’s first affordable green housing development and the site of a true West Savannah institution.  Despite the sweltering weather (I worked up a good nose sweat), well over 100 attendees gathered for the historic occasion.  So much support was exhibited for the ceremony, in fact, that event organizers underestimated the number of attendees by half when erecting a shade tent.  Those of us arriving around start time (10 am) found ourselves under the hot eye of the mid-morning sun.

No matter, the groundbreaking was a hope-filled gathering place for stakeholders.  Local elected officials, community leaders, former and current residents of West Savannah, developers, architects, investors, banking partners, environmentalists, the non-profit sector, government agencies, green building designers, activists and even area children came out to unite under the banner of the new Fellwood.

The event began with a few words from project partners and Alderman Van Johnson and Mayor Otis Johnson.  It ended with cake and refreshments at the Moses Jackson Center.  At some point in between, photographers captured the symbolic hardhat/shovel group shot, paying ceremonial homage to the years of effort that have led up to the groundbreaking and the eventual development that will stand on the site, encompassing the efforts of so many.


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Categorized as: Community Involvement, Econ Dev, Green, History.
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