1 person found this review helpful
CENTER FOR RESILIENT CITIES
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April 24, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
Our agency has collaborated with Center for Resilient Cities many times over the years on a number of projects and successful grant proposals dealing with inner city greening efforts and food system work. One of the Center’s programs – Alice’s Garden – has been a key participant and vendor in our farmers market, selling sustainably grown produce sown, nurtured, and harvested by by local neighborhood residents at the Garden. Several participants from Alice’s Garden are also participating at our Port Washington farm to help transition from a smaller, “backyard” garden to a larger, income-producing plot.
As a background, our agencies are located in an area underserved by quality grocery stores and overpopulated with fast food restaurants and corner convenience stores. The chronic shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables, when combined with poverty and a lack of transportation, create “food insecurity,” or the inability to obtain and consume affordable food. While our agency is working to solve some of the food security issues in the area, we also realize that healthier food is meaningless without safe places for families to walk and play, nutritious school lunch programs, and access to educational and economic opportunities.
This is where the Center for Resilient Cities comes in. The Center brought together many competing nonprofits, social service agencies, government agencies, and churches and started a shared conversation about how to create a vibrant, robust, and healthy community. The strength of the Center for Resilient Cities lies in their ability to listen to residents and to put together projects that promote resident-identified wants and needs. They excel at synchronizing the efforts of distinct and sometimes competing entities to work towards a common goal.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
April 24, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
The Center for Resilient Cities implements an outstanding model for sustainable economic development and community revitalization to meet the needs of local communities in Wisconsin. The impact of their catalytic efforts in Milwaukee and Madison has been outstanding and the innovative Madison Research Center will serve as a model platform for cutting edge education, sustainable practice and scalable project assessment that will help diverse communities transform themselves for years to come. The Center is on the cusp of some of our most pressing issues and poised for expanded impact in the years to come. Outstanding!
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
1 person found this review helpful
April 20, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
The Center for Resilient Cities is currently constructing the Resilience Research Center. This has been one of the most exciting projects I have had the privilege to be involved with. In regard to stormwater runoff, the Center for Resilient Cities has set the bar extremely high. This project has been designed to detain and infiltrate 100% of the storm water runoff volume generated on the 3.9 AC site and a 2.0 AC offsite area draining to the site. This level of treatment far exceeds regulatory requirements and is the most ambitious stormwater goal I have ever seen for a redevelopment project of this size. This goal was accomplished through the use of green roofs, bio-retention basins, porous pavement, infiltration basins and a 60,000 gallon underground storage tank system for irrigation. Harvesting rain water for irrigation will help to reduce demand on the City's water and storm sewer systems and will help to replenish the City's aquifer. The Center for Resilient Cities commitment to sustainability is impressive!
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A lot
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
April 5, 2012
2 people found this review helpful
The Center for Resilient Cities is constructing The Resilience Research Center in Madison Wisconsin. This project has focus's on urban agriculture, neighborhood revitalization and education. The site of the project is an urban island where no grocery stores are present and all the children are bussed to school many miles away due to no elementary school in this area. This project will provide a charter school on a 4 acre parcel that is completely vegetaded with edible plants, trees and shrubs. Fruit and nut trees, vegetable gardens and berry plants will abound and will be irrigated using captured rainwater. The fruits and vegetables will be harvested, cleaned and cooked in the commercial kitchen in the school. Beside the building housing a charter school there will also be space for offices for Growing Power, an international urban agriculture non profit headquartered in Milwaukee Wisconsin and lead by Will Allen - one of Time Magazines top 100 people in the world for 2011. Also, a neighborhood center will be located in the building along with offices for Center for Resilient Cities. This building will be a LEED Platinum building. Energy consumption will be less than half of what a conventional building of this size uses. All rainwater will be captured from the entire site and utilized for irrigation. Aquaponics will be done in greenhouses and possibly hoop houses. PV solar energy is utilized. Waterless urinals are used. Tinted glazing is used to minimize solar gain which minimizes air conditioning load. This project is a phenomenal green project that deserves accolades from around the world.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Madison Wisconsin where I live. The Center for Resilient Cities has collaborated with local government and leaders and generated enthusiasm and movement on several projects.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
make it more visible. It stays under the radar too much.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A lot
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
What is unique about this organization?
It is lead by people who truly believe in the vision of a better world through urban agriculture, neighborhood revitalization and community involvement in underserved areas.
April 4, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
Seeks to fundementaly change man's interaction with the urban environment and place it on a sustainable footing, while improving the lot of traditionaly underserved neighborhoods and populations.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
April 4, 2012
2 people found this review helpful
Center for Resilient Cities is building the most energy efficient building in the world. The building will have a geothermal water cooled variable refrigerant flow system with heat recovery. They also have community gardens, and will be growing perch and tilapia in their outdoor greenhouses. This building will serve as a great example and a beacon of hope in the distressed community it serves. It will also have a unique middle school that allows the students a real hands on approach to learning. This is an exciting project.
More feedback...
How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
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