We will start a grass roots Transition Initiative in Salt Lake City, Utah to create a resilient, self-sufficient community able to thrive during the onset of peak oil and climate change. We will use the Transition Town model that has been implemented in England and some U.S. communities. Salt Lake will demonstrate how a small city can drastically reduce energy use and become nearly independent in food production, transportation, and economy.

We have formed a steering committee to develop a timeline and plan actions appropriate to Salt Lake. Educational outreach will consist of showing films (“The End of Suburbia”, “The Power of Community”) followed by community dialogue. We will present workshops to train citizens in basic skills that foster independent living. Reskilling topics will include building methods, gardening practices, and food preparation/storage. We will invite groups already building local independence (Wasatch Community Gardens, Bicycle Collective, Community Supported Agriculture) to join us and create other groups to fill unmet needs. As the groups organize, the steering committee will be replaced by a council that will make policy and coordinate efforts. Transition Salt Lake will hold regular, general meetings and host special events to continue expanding Salt Lake City’s efforts to transition from oil dependency to local resilience and severely reduce our carbon footprint.

Funds will be used to send steering committee members to a two-day Training for Transition course and to permaculture workshops, rent space for meetings, print educational/promotional materials and buy supplies for skill-building workshops.