What Does PAN Do? 4C’s!
PAN exists to grow and strengthen the network and support the effectiveness of all the local permaculture nodes (individuals, organizations, businesses, farms, etc.) across our region. We are focused on the 4C’s of Connectivity, Communications, Convening and Capacity-Building toward that purpose.
CONNECTIVITY – Who else is doing permaculture in your area? How do you find them? What learning resources and peer-to-peer connections are available? PAN will continue to grow connectivity tools to help you find what you need, connect to resources and people, and ultimately accelerate your ability to move along your permaculture path, whatever it may be. Connectivity might be online, at one of our regional gatherings and convergences or by connecting you directly to the resource or professional you need. Connectivity also means cross-pollinating with other affinity networks and movements! More of that on the docket soon!
COMMUNICATIONS – PAN’s website now features a directory of regional courses (more than 20 this year!) and a directory of demonstration sites and job/intern opportunities coming soon. We will be stepping up our social media presence, blog posts and newsletters in order to keep you posted on cutting-edge permaculture work in our region and around the globe.
CONVENING – Summer Convergences return in 2017 (perhaps in a more festival-style format!). This fall we are convening a professional development retreat for permaculture teachers. In February we gather with other local organizers and activists to share ideas and updates about the year ahead. We are available to spread the word on sub-regional gatherings and local convergences as well. One of the most powerful assets to our regional network is that we are operating at a scale that allows us to connect face-to-face for true connectivity and relationship-building.
CAPACITY-BUILDING – Fiscal sponsorship is one of the ways PAN can help your local project build capacity. Are you looking for grant money or tax deductible donations to fund your activities? As members of the Permaculture Association of the Northeast, you can use our nonprofit status to acquire those funds for your project. For more details on fiscal sponsorship click here: http://northeastpermaculture.org/fiscal-sponsorship/ And we hope that through connectivity, communications and convenings…we also achieve a level of capacity-building and skill-sharing that is just hard to get otherwise.