Soon after, a steering committee was formed, residents were encouraged to lend their voices and the original group
of strategists had grown to include leaders from other key segments of our community. Together, they developed
Riverside's roadmap to the future, calling it Seizing Our Destiny (SOD).

Consisting of Strategic Routes, SOD helps local leaders take Riverside down the right path and gives us all a
glimpse at what's to come.

Being a Green Machine

To help community and SOD committee members meet the goals established for each strategic route, a collection of initiatives have been created. Strategic Route 5, called Being a Green Machine, endeavors to establish "Riverside as the international magnet and model for sustainable business, environmental innovation and green living with a synergistic partnership of industry, city leadership and residents."

Riverside Public Utilities has become known across the globe for its commitment to, and implementation of green initiatives that reduce our city's impact on the environment; this is why we've been called on to aid community and SOD committee members in accomplishing each Route 5 initiative.

 
Learn more about Seizing Our Destiny.

 

Green Leadership Summit



The City of Riverside aims to involve the community in all aspects of its sustainability efforts, including its work with Seizing Our Destiny’s Route 5. To this end, the recent Green Leadership Summit was organized to initiate discussion between local community groups and the City to determine the best options for furthering Riverside’s sustainability and environmental stewardship goals.

Community groups, residents and City officials converged on California Baptist University on February 1st, 2012 to take part in Riverside’s first ever Green Leadership Summit, a collection of over 100 community members, local businesses, nonprofit and governmental organizations, city council members, neighborhood groups, universities, and others.

The idea for the Green Leadership Summit emerged from talks among community groups who expressed interest in supporting the work of the Green Action Plan. After a great deal of discussion, the groups formed sustainability-centered relationships and began planning the event.

The Summit provided participants the opportunity to express their organizational needs and make recommendations about how they might work with others to meet their respective sustainability goals. The Summit produced key ideas involving community outreach activities, volunteer deployment, marketing of green events, educational workshops, and skill development that supports new green jobs.

Moving ahead, Summit participants have begun sharing resources - including time and expertise - and are working together to make Riverside a more sustainable city. This is exactly what developing sustainable communities is all about.

Review Summit table discussion notes and participant feedback.