Course Reflections

Before V515, my experience with sustainability at Kelley was twofold: an excellent class on Environmental Sustainability & Business Strategy taught by Jeff McMullen, and a one-day session on the marketing benefits of sustainability. While McMullen's was a very useful class focused on exploring both sides of the sustainability debate from the eyes of a corporate manager, the marketing class was gimmicky and showed how for most businesspeople 'sustainability' is little more than a buzzword to be tacked on to a marketing campaign. Through the course of my studies in Supply Chain, I started to realize the incredible potentials out there for large industrial corporations to streamline their efforts, foster more efficient operations, and save some money in the process.

I took V515 this semester because I wanted to learn about the basic concepts of sustainability from the  point of view of government and 3rd party actors. Immediately I noticed a difference in the way this was approached compared to Kelley. The Roseland book contained lots of great ideas for sustainable communities, but there was very little discussion of the actual costs of these great initiatives. Over and over, the same cities were highlighted (Portland, Toronto...) and I could only think to myself- sure, you can do this in a place where there is pre-packaged political will for it. But most real-world sustainability managers have to build an economic case for their initiatives, be it in the policy or the business world, and I wish this class had pursued that line of thinking a bit more (perhaps this is something covered in other SPEA courses).

It was the sessions focused on Indiana that were most interesting to me, because it is a place where sustainability is not yet taken for granted. Discussing the challenges and compromises with the Energy Master Plan, seeing Bill's library in rural Indiana, and working on the walkability project for the city were great ways to see about sustainability in action in our own backyard. And it isn't easy! Frankly, there are only so many government grants out there, and I feel very strongly about needing to better be able to translate the language of sustainability into something that is of clear value to all, no matter their philosophical or political leanings.

All in all, it was a great class, and after a year at Kelley it really helped to reinvigorate me as to the possibilities out there. My next step is most likely working for a large industrial firm in supply chain, and I am optimistic about bringing a passion for sustainability to that role in some way. Perhaps more importantly, I want to incorporate many of the class learnings into my own life, and I now feel more confident to be able to make the changes I need to be a role model and more involved in my community.

Thank you!

Errol Packard

Final Project Thoughts- Personal and Community Food Sustainability

At the beginning of the semester, I set out to learn more about the role of local food sustainability through the study of food distribution networks and supply chains. This led me to the IU Campus Garden, where I spent a few hours on most Tuesdays working and harvesting vegetables for the campus dorm cafeterias (and also for my own personal consumption). I had conversations with several players in the local food community, and learned about the difficulties  in getting a distribution center off the ground. I regret that I did not have more time to research this more closely, as I do think there are great opportunities for a city like Bloomington for such an initiative. In the future I would like to visit functioning local food distribution centers, and definitely plan to do this when I make the move to a larger city after graduation.

For me, even more important than learning about the organizational side of food sustainability was learning about the personal impact of working in a garden on a regular basis. Other than helping my Mom out with her tomatoes and cucumbers as a child, until this year I had basically zero experience with gardening. Working at the community garden this semester taught me about the discipline needed for basic tasks such as watering, trimming, weeding on a regular basis. But it also gave me an appreciation for truly fresh food, such as salads with spinach and arugula, sauteed chard, or the fried green tomatoes that often graced my plate.

The project led me to believe that if our food system is going to change, major organizational changes to the distribution network are of course necessary. But before that, it is crucial to give people the opportunity to experience gardening in their own lives, whether at home or in a community or school garden. This is not only a great source of food, but it is a great educational experience that gives awareness of how important (and delicious) local food is. I am not totally sold on the important of certified organic or other labels, but I do believe local food is important to both the social and economic sustainability of communities.

Thanks to my experience in the project, I  now will work to keep gardening in my own life, as well as working to make it a part of whatever community I end up in. This class has been a wonderful way to see how all the dots connect on the journey towards sustainable communities, and I am forever indebted.

Sincerely,

Errol Packard