There are just 10 spots left to participate in the city-sponsored Discussion Courses through the Northwest Earth Institute. If you are interested, please take the survey below by midnight on Sunday, after which it will be closed. The City of Tacoma is sponsoring up to 45 participants in Discussion Courses through the Northwest Earth Institute<http://www.nwei.org/discussion-courses-2/>. NWEI Discussion Courses give people a framework to talk about their relationship with the planet and to share in discovering new ways to live, work, create and consume. Courses range from 4-8 sessions, and cost from $15-$25. The City will subsidize up to $15 of the cost for the first 45 people who would like to participate. Groups are usually composed of 8-10 people. Potential discussion courses include: * Menu for the Future - Examine the many cultural, social, and ecological implications of food consumption. Discuss the importance of our eating habits. Discover food choices that are good for you and the health of our environment. * Hungry for Change - Learn how food choices have an impact on a range of issues-from ecosystem health to farm worker treatment to our global economy. Explore your role as a consumer and a creator. Discover how to help create a healthy food environment. * Voluntary Simplicity - Examine the distractions that get in the way of caring for the planet. Explore how consumer culture impacts you and your relationships, as well as the environment. Discover ways to slow down and live simply. * Choices for Sustainable Living - Explore sustainability more deeply and learn what it means from individual, societal and global perspectives. Discover new ways of living and together, make change more possible and powerful. * Reconnecting with Earth - Explore how both personal values and cultural beliefs affect the way we view and treat the Earth. Discuss the delicate ecosystems that are critical to sustaining our lives. Discover a deeper respect for the planet and a renewed commitment to act. * Sustainable Systems at Work - Explore the role of sustainability in the workplace and learn more about the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit. Create actionable plans for advancing your organization's goals while fostering a culture of sustainability at work. If you are interested in participating, please use the survey below to let us know what course(s) you are interested in, and what times and places work best for you. Once we have up to 45 responses, we will choose which courses will be subsidized. We will help set up an initial meeting for several discussion groups in late April, after which group members can plan for the best meeting times and locations for the group of 8-10 people. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/nwei2 Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. Thank you, Jana Fischback Intern, Office of Environmental Policy & Sustainability City of Tacoma