I looked up the definition for the gang and was sad to see what it said. Every definition seems to deal with crime. Wikipedia, while being a bit more positive, still had a negative criminal aspect that I don’t agree with. I want a gang to be positive… To be noble… To be ethical… To work with and for the community. I want this because I believe in the gang. I believe in it because the gang IS community. The gang is trust. The gang is belief in and reliance on your neighbor. Whether we be walkers, runners, cyclist, bikers, any community effort, or a local business, the gang that I speak of should be working toward a common positive goal… a healthy, sustainable community of neighbors.
When that happens, the gang is truly Grounded.

It is with that seed that I plant the official and, hopefully, the only position solicitation for a new national social and environmental non-profit project in support of community sustainability and local health. We are in an exciting time of great global unity that gives us amazing tools for personal communication and instant knowledge but does little for, if not inversely affect, our local community. I believe, as many do, that by:

• striving for local health through food and economic sustainability
• having community belief in one’s neighbor and their craft
• giving the great gift of time and helping your neighbor
• turning our attention and labor to the Ground beneath us

we can realize heath and happiness where it matters the most… at home. There are many local sustainability projects in many of the larger cities across the country, but there seems to be little presence and understanding of the importance of it elsewhere. I, therefore, propose a nationwide “gang of good” that joins and walks (or rides) toward local health, both physical and economic, by collectively aligning what we all naturally do, with what needs to be done for our common goal of community sustainability. Whether we: organize weekly rides to the farmers market or local Sustainably Grounded businesses, urge our friends and family to support the local cobbler, request that our local cafe to try use locally grown protein and produce by educating them on the local health benefits, or help to educate the community on healthy ways to eat, we can utilize the resources of this group to both support and share that positive momentum. The specifics of the project’s mission and plan of action reach beyond the scope of this announcement. It is simply my hope to organize the core group of co-owners to collectively design and establish, within the organization, a self sustaining global community that will in turn support any Grounded community effort (big or small) across the county. This group will need to be comprised of like minded and Sustainably Grounded dreamers, workers, riders, owners, believers, visionaries, foodies, craft masters, and travelers to come together and create:

GroundFoundation.org

If you see yourself as Sustainably Grounded, are interested in being involved with this project; this unmapped jungle, and can see a place in this project for your natural abilities, then I will be happy to welcome you. Please see me with any questions.

Positions currently under review:

The hare – speed, agility, and numbers
The dolphin – wit, charisma, intelligence, and the ability to dive deep into the unknown
The finch – the songbird who sings our song and is welcomed by all
The cheetah – speed, power, yet maintains control while always keeping a watchful eye
The deer – gentle, quick, and friend to all
The horse – a friend of the wind and all things natural
The big bear – wise, with an unyielding but gentle paw
The coyote – knowledge of the majority of things that exist in the light and the dark
The collie – active, aware, prepared, and instinctively a self guided herder
The butterfly – travels easily with colorful flight after the hard road of metamorphosis
The giant tiger shrimp (GTS)… Its colorful shell attracts public attention with ease
The moose – massive presence and strength with no unprovoked inclination to wield it
The brain – strategy, logic, and great capacity for integration and adaptation
…and perhaps,
The fox – strategy and resourcefulness needed to leap the bar… whereabouts unknown

I am the turtle – slow and sure

I will not expect any direct financial contributions from co-owners and I hope for no membership dues, ever… time and passion for the project should be enough to transform this idea into reality.

I strive to be Grounded. Do you?

Ground
“Where It All Starts“