Transition Town OKC Featured in OKC Biz magazine

(OKLAHOMA CITY) July 21, 2009 -- OKC Biz magazine's August 2009 edition features an article called "Twelve-stepping to transition" with interviews from Transition Town OKC co-chairs Shauna Struby and Christine Patton.  The article, subtitled "Grass-roots project aims to wean Oklahomans off oil addiction," hits many of the Transition highlights, including the perspective that we can move to a brighter future in spite of our problems, but that it will take more work than many people anticipate. 

For example, many people believe that wind and solar will easily fill the gap when oil production starts to decline. However, data from the Energy Information Administration shows that these renewable energy sources are not liquid fuel substitutes, and only make up a tiny portion of our energy sources - less than one percent.


Transition Town OKC Gathers Steam

(OKLAHOMA CITY) July 11, 2009 -- Ever since returning from the Transition Training in Albuquerque, events seem to be gathering steam. Two weeks ago, several TTOKC members met with a local former minister to brainstorm on the best ways to engage the faith-based community with Transition Town and "going local". Then, one of our team members invited us to speak to the Board of one of her projects, and we were invited to speak to a local university class about TTOKC.

But wait, there's more! This Sunday, Shauna Struby is screening the DVD of Energy Crossroads at her house so our group can decide if we would like to use it to raise awareness of the peak oil issue. Next Tuesday, we will be tabling at the Local Food Fair, sponsored by the ever-active Sierra Club and Buy Fresh Buy Local, at the historic Harn Homestead. And next Saturday, one of our members is hosting us at a local church foundation for a day-long strategic planning retreat.  

Transition Town OKC is an all-volunteer organization, with no paid staff members, and our volunteers have jobs, families, gardens, and other non-profit obligations. We want to get more people involved, and empower the people we already have to pursue their passion and ideas. And finally, we hope to start reaching critical mass of awareness in the next 6 months!


Jim Roth asks "Is Oklahoma City a city in transition?"

(OKLAHOMA CITY) May 18, 2009 -- The Journal Record today highlighted Oklahoma City's recent shift in focus to sustainability and urban planning.  Jim Roth, former Oklahoma County Commissioner, stressed the efforts of Jim Couch, city manager, and Russell Claus, planning director, to steer Oklahoma City to a future of smarter growth and energy use.

Mr. Roth also lauded the efforts of local group Transition Town OKC in raising awareness about our future energy challenges, especially declining world oil production.  Transition Towns, he reports, are spreading across the country "as citizens begin to realize we have the power to collaborate and cooperatively plan for the future with less energy." 

Mr. Roth concluded that this initiative is suited to the independent, common-sense approach favored by Oklahomans.  "These aren’t ideas forced upon us by outsiders. Instead, it’s about localized solutions to improve and enhance the cost and quality of life for our local communities." 

Transition Town OKC presents to Unitarians

(OKLAHOMA CITY) Apr. 26, 2009 -- The First Unitarian Church hosted Transition Town OKC speakers at an Earth Day Forum before the church's service on Sunday. TTOKC spoke about Oklahoma City's dependence on oil, as well as the need to transition to a more energy efficient, localized economy and lifestyle. 

TTOKC presented convincing information about the pending decline of world oil supplies, including the U.S. Department of Energy's Hirsch report, which concluded that "the peaking of world oil supplies presents the United States, and the world, with an unprecedented risk management problem."  Although their message was serious, ultimately they offered a message of hope: that we can reconnect with our communities and families and build an even better life than when oil supplies were cheap and plentiful.

Neighborhood newsletter features Transition Town OKC

(OKLAHOMA CITY) Mar. 7, 2009 -- The Suggs Park Neighborhood Association featured a front page article about Transition Town OKC in their spring newsletter.  Suggs Park, located in Northwest Oklahoma City, has many attractive features, including a walking track and brand-new playground in Smitty Park, and amenities such as a library, mall, and Target within walking distance.  Additionally, the Monroe elementary school is slated to be remodeled via the MAPS program starting in 2009, and the Belle Isle Enterprise middle school is only a two minute drive away. 

Suggs Park is close to employers such as the Baptist and Deaconess hospitals, as well as a short 15-minute drive from downtown, Bricktown, and the OU medical center.  With it's walkable features and central location, Suggs Park is in prime real estate to begin a Transition Town initiative.

"Power of Community" film screening packs seats

(OKLAHOMA CITY)  Feb. 28, 2009 -- Sierra Club screened the film "The Power of Community:  How Cuba Survived Peak Oil" yesterday evening to a packed audience at the Backwoods store at 122nd and May. A short happy hour, complete with wine, cheese and crackers, and camraderie, was followed by the filming and a short but lively discussion about peak oil. 

Sierra Club chair Rick Wicker introduced Transition Town OKC Co-Chair Christine Patton, who presented the Transition Town initiative and invited questions. Sierra Club's Carole Straughn announced the Transition Town book discussion on April 13, May 11, and June 8. Sierra Club movie night will continue next month with the entertaining and award-winning film "End of Suburbia" on March 27. 

Urban Harvest offers "Back to Basics" Gardening class

(OKLAHOMA CITY) Feb. 16, 2009 --  Want to start a vegetable garden? Urban Harvest is offering a class targeted to beginning vegetable gardeners on either March 7 or 14 at the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank on 3355 S. Purdue. The class will teach interested gardeners how to get started with composting, building raised beds, and growing food. Course cost is $25. Sign up with Bruce Edwards at (405) 604-7108 or bedwards@regionalfoodbank.org.


Transition Town OKC launches Envision 2020 blog

(OKLAHOMA CITY) Feb. 9, 2009 -- Transition Town OKC launched the Envision 2020 blog today with an inaugural post from the year 2014 entitled "Bob Waldrop elected Mayor of Oklahoma City." 

The Envision 2020 blog is an effort to picture the events in Oklahoma City as we transition from today, a time of cheap and abundant energy, to the year 2020, a time of declining and expensive energy.  What can happen along the way?  The bloggers of Envision 2020 can only imagine. 


Transition Town Oklahoma City is live

(OKLAHOMA CITY) Feb. 1, 2009 -- Oklahoma City has joined the growing number of Transition Town groups at the Transition USA networking website. Other Transition Towns include Austin, Tucson, Portland, and Willits, Calif. Join Transition Oklahoma here to learn more, set up your profile, and start networking! 





Sustainable OKC launches Transition Town OKC initiative

(OKLAHOMA CITY) Jan. 25, 2009 -- Sustainable OKC is seeding the work of a new project, Transition Town OKC, focused on public participation and creative engagement.

“The goal of Transition Town OKC is to act as a catalyst for our community to explore our own energy solutions. And in so doing, we hope to help our community become more resilient, sustainable, locally oriented and energy-efficient,” said Shauna Struby, president, Sustainable OKC.

Transition Town OKC evolved from the Sustainable Energy Alliance (SEA), a project created by Sustainable OKC in 2008 to facilitate discussions about energy in Oklahoma City. Targeted to specific organizations, the group met several times to further dialogue. This model project illustrated the need for a wider, more in-depth project. Hence, in 2009 SEA is transforming to the Transition Town OKC initiative in order to work more directly with the public.

The Transition Town goals are similar to SEA's goals, but will more specifically:

·         raise awareness about peak oil

·         invite public participation in creating solutions and envisioning a more local and sustainable future

·         facilitate preparation of individuals and the community for energy transition