21 Jan 2009

Transition takes off in the US

It is great to hear from the Transition Network News that Transition has been welcomed with open arms in the United States (what is Transition Towns? See here). It really is taking off around the world - going viral as they say...

People in all areas of the US are now presenting Transition talks to their local groups with their own local flavors. Several groups have re-aligned themselves with the Transition model without yet seeking official Transition Initiative status. The Transition US Initiating Group (TUSIG) has now been formed, headed by Pamela Gray (Transition Network trustee) and Jennifer Gray, who established Transition Penwith in Cornwall, the second Transition Initiative - and is now living in the US. They have already had training sessions - in San Francisco there were more than 100 people on the waiting list–and that was after we had expanded the training size to include 45 participants rather than the usual 22! Similar large trainings were held in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Portland, Oregon; and Los Angeles.

These trainings galvanized community organizers and we now see many more Transition Initiatives springing up. Currently there are eight official Transition Initiatives in the US, three awaiting official approval, and several more lining up behind them.

Carolyne Stayton writes re the US: "There is a tremendous enthusiasm for Transition in this country. With the shift in the Presidency, anything seems possible. We are off to a good start that feels a lot like a “new beginning.” With luck, commitment and the sheer enjoyment of reigniting community, we anticipate success in this great, unfolding adventure of Transition."

See more:
http://www.transitionus.org/
Transition US Networking Site
http://transitionus.ning.com/
Transition Stroud:
http://www.transitionstroud.org/

No comments: