The Challenge: Sustainable Communities

Some factors which work against families, neighborhoods and communities achieving a desired quality of life are"

Not understanding the importance of budgeting, of savings accounts and of assessing personal, family or community affordability when making decisions.
Consumerism with no priorities—not distinguishing between wants and needs.
Lack of understanding of proper nutrition, of the relationship of diet and exercise to health and wellness.
Little involvement of children and youth and spouses (women) in the decision-making process within a family and a community.
Little understanding of the role of conserving the earth’s resources—food, paper, electricity or gas, and the relationship of these items to the family and/or community budget.
Lack of participation in the local community and to who makes the decisions. Not using one’s voice to make decisions in the family, the school, the neighborhood, the town, the parish, the state, the nation–giving way to a state of hopelessness and powerlessness.
Little value for learning through reading and educational television and the Internet.
Limited access to computers; minimal computer literacy.
Little appreciation for community service, especially among children and youth.
Unilateral decision making by a parent, a husband, a wife–especially regarding family economics in the home, on the farm, on the boat, in business.
Little environmental literacy and agricultural literacy based on sustainability.