About the Foundation for Global Sustainability

Our mission is to preserve and protect the natural environment for the benefit of the general public, to inform and educate the public about actions and practices which lead to the long-term health and well-being of the environment, to inform and educate the public about actions which adversely affect the Earth's environment and lead to unsafe situations for future generations, and to facilitate research in and perpetuate global understanding of and aid in the formation of a society which assures a vital, healthy environment for present and future generations.

The East Tennessee and Southern Appalachian region is blessed with a tremendous diversity of natural resources making it one of the most important ecosystems in the world. Unfortunately, the mountains and rivers, flora and fauna continue to be negatively impacted by generations of human abuses to the land, water, and air. Slowly, we have come to learn that we must improve the way we live, work and play without jeopardizing the welfare of this environment. Over the course of more than a decade, FGS has evolved into a multi-disciplinary advocacy organization with several projects addressing these important issues.

Educating, organizing and supporting citizens and groups have been priorities throughout our history. FGS assumes a proactive mission of research, activism, advocacy, and public education. We have grown from a small group to a regional non-profit organization with offices in Knoxville, Oak Ridge, and Asheville. Through our projects, we seek to develop an understanding of how social and environmental issues facing our region are connected to one another and to larger global issues. Thus, our motto is "Global Vision / Local Action."

FGS recognizes that diversity creates strength and we encourage the participation and cooperation of people from all economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. We approach all of our issues by promoting and modeling an ethic of sustainability that will ultimately be measured by the quality of the natural environment and the presence of biodiversity in future generations.

Click here for a more detailed glimpse of our past.

Historically, the East Tennessee and Southern Appalachian region has been blessed with tremendously diverse and plentiful natural resources, making it one of the most important ecosystems of the world. Today, however, the mountains and rivers, flora and fauna are beginning to show signs of intolerance to generations of human abuses of the land, water, and air. Slowly we have come to learn that to survive as a human society, we need to change and improve the way we live, work and play without jeopardizing the welfare of other creatures who, in our midst, do the same. Through its various projects and programs, FGS seeks to develop an understanding of the ways in which the social and environmental issues facing our region are connected to one another and to larger issues which are evident at a global level. Thus, our motto is "Global Vision / Local Action."

FGS recognizes that diversity creates strength and encourages the participation and cooperation of people from all economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds in the work of preserving our natural heritage and our life support systems. With this in mind, FGS works closely with academic institutions, business and civic groups, professional organizations, and the media. Through these associations, FGS assumes a proactive mission of research, activism, advocacy, and public education.

FGS is a full member of Community Shares, a regional fund raising agency for social change groups that is dedicated to addressing the root causes of problems including hunger, homelessness, health care, domestic violence, education, and environmental degradation.

Many human and non-human needs depend upon the effectiveness of organizations such as ours. Essentially, our ability to effectively challenge social and environmental issues, protect the integrity of our regional ecology, and promote and model an ethic of sustainability should and will ultimately be measured by evidence of the quality of the air, land and water, and the presence of biodiversity--evidence which hopefully will mark our organizational success long after we individuals are gone.

We address the range of environmental problems facing us through six project areas. Our projects function autonomously and work cooperatively with each other, and with others in the region who share similar concerns. Although focused on regional issues, the projects often work with local, national and international networks to achieve goals. The projects report to Global Sustainability's Board of Directors, which is comprised of one representative from each project's decision-making body as well as elected at-large members.

Our organization is unique in that its projects reflect a joint emphasis on advocacy and activism. In the face of serious environmental threats, our approach of advocating for effective public policy and actively demanding change through protest and opposition allows us to provide and fulfill a public service "niche" when political and economic forces threaten the welfare of our social and natural environments.

Each project is committed to using "every tool in the toolbox" to effect change. Through slide presentations, public forums, public hearings, and direct citizen action, including non-violent civil disobedience as a last resort, we work to raise awareness about social and environmental issues facing the region. Our successful track record demonstrates a decade-long commitment to accuracy and credibility in our public education work.

In addition to the critical role that volunteers play in the success of FGS's projects and programs, interns also offer vital, day-to-day support. Their help is rewarded by valuable career and educational experience, academic credit, and/or a small stipend. One of the strengths of the Foundation is its disciplinary diversity and associated depth of experience. With training and experience in the social and natural sciences and the humanities, the Board of Directors and FGS staff offer great mentoring potential to interns of all ages and disciplines.

Each intern participates in the development of his or her personal work plan, which generally follows a model developed and successfully used by FGS for student academic internships. Interns participate in community outreach and education, project and program development, public and media relations, research, and fundraising.

The Foundation has hosted interns from outside the region and from other countries, ranging from Arizona to the Republic of Slovenia to Macedonia.

In addition to the work of its projects and programs, the Foundation has established the Center for Global Sustainability in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Center is the main office for Global Sustainability and is also a cooperative which provides a meeting space and resource support for progressive organizations in the Knoxville area who are working to effect social change.

Located atop a ridge overlooking the Smokies, the Center offers a unique balance between rural and urban settings which illustrates the range of opportunities they present.

The Foundation for Global Sustainability is a non-profit, tax exempt public foundation. Projects are funded by direct grassroots support and public charity grants. FGS is a certified 501(c)(3) public charity. We encourage you to support the Foundation's work by becoming: