Our Values
Sustain DuPage strives to embody the following values:
Sustainability
Sustain DuPage is a community of organizers and volunteers working toward the shared goal of advancing sustainability in DuPage County.
The Sustain DuPage community envisions a world where humans live in balance and harmony with the ecosystem. We envision a world where our needs and the needs of the ecosystem are mutually met- not at a cost to one another. We envision a world where our lifestyle creates more biodiversity, more biomass, more soil, more water retention, and more renewable energy, as well as equity for both present and future generations.
We also believe in personal sustainability. The truth is that the amount of work needed to create positive change can be overwhelming. Whether you have minutes or hours to devote to volunteering with Sustain DuPage, your role is appreciated, and your personal well-being should always be a priority.
Abundance Mentality
When we live with sustainable values, and focus on community, we learn from nature that we need not operate under a scarcity mindset. Instead of hoarding and competing, we collaborate and share. Instead of focusing on the habits that are not sustainable, we celebrate things that are. Instead of criticizing ourselves and others, we highlight what we are doing to help.
Transformative Experience
All of our programs and community outreach are designed to either help engage people with the land and personally experience the value it has in and of itself, or to teach the knowledge and skills we need to live more sustainably.
Indigenous Wisdom
We aim to learn from, promote, and respect the indigenous wisdom of people from around the world, including those who nurtured land in DuPage County for thousands of years before colonization from Europe, such as the Potowatomi. We believe their wisdom helps us learn how to center community and honor relationships with the land through sustainable land management methods, such as controlled burns, foraging and agricultural practices that will support rather than deplete the land.
Intersectionality
We believe building community is an essential part of growing sustainability. To that end, intersectionality means creating spaces where each participant knows they are accepted, appreciated, and has value to our community and goals. We welcome everyone and want to create safe environments for each of us to be our authentic selves where we can share our unique skills and perspectives.
We understand that many factors, such as income and time constraints, can actually make it harder to live sustainably, and support making sustainability more accessible to everyone
Horizontal Leadership
As an entirely volunteer-run organization, we believe that all volunteers have potential to contribute to our leadership.
We see our leadership structure more as an ecosystem than a hierarchy. Our leadership aims for consensus while being dynamic and responsive to the needs and passions of our community and volunteers.
We welcome anyone with an idea or specific skill that is aligned with our mission and values to reach out to us at info@sustaindupage.com