Christopher Mitchell Named One of the Top Public Sector Innovators
Since 2002, Government Technology magazine has dedicated its March issue to highlight 25 people across the country who cut through the public sector’s infamous barriers to innovation – tight budgets, organizational inertia, politics as usual, etc. – to reshape government operations for the better. This year, they honored an eclectic group of individuals from government, academia and the private sector who share a willingness to challenge convention and find new answers to long-standing issues. One of those 2012 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers was our very own Chistopher Mitchell!… Read More
Scrap Gap
Washington City Paper, March 7, 2012 American University is trying hard to become the city’s least wasteful college. Two years ago, after eliminating trays in the cafeteria to cut down on overeating, AU started composting food scraps, collecting 500 tons annually. Then it added paper towels to the pile. Just recently, it hired a zero-waste coordinator … Read More
Walmart: No More Divide and Conquer
The Story of Stuff, February 29, 2012 Over the past several years, Walmart — the largest retailer in the United States by a factor of, well, a lot — has paraded out a series of sustainability initiatives, from energy efficient lighting in its stores to, more recently, a much-touted effort to bring fresh food to urban … Read More
When Trash Becomes a Resource
Forbes, February 29, 2012 Alameda County recently passed a mandatory recycling ordinance in a bid to divert 90 percent of its “readily recyclable and compostable materials” by 2020. Alameda County includes much of the east San Francisco Bay Area, including Oakland and Berkeley. The county is following in the footsteps of its ambitious neighbor across the … Read More
Homegrown Loans
Utne Reader, February 2012 Shop local, eat local, travel local. These precepts have enjoyed a grassroots renaissance over the past decade, leading in many cases to healthier food, sturdier products, and more affordable energy. They have also helped communities reduce their carbon footprint and support local businesses and small farmers. According to Stacy Mitchell, writing in … Read More
Bloomberg’s Susan Crawford Cites ILSR’s Municipal Broadband Work
In an Op-Ed for Bloomberg, Susan Crawford highlights the advantages of publicly owned broadband. She notes that ILSR is tracking advances as more communities decide to build their own networks to ensure they are not lost in the race for advancement… Read More
App Helps Small Fry Get Square
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 12, 2012 What a great idea. That’s what Indiana merchants are saying about Square Inc., which offers a service to bypass expensive credit card transaction fees by basically using an iPad, iPhone or Android device as a cash register. There are other firms like it, but San Francisco-based Square has been … Read More