In its quest for a new and collaborative way of tackling Sonoma Valley’s biggest problems, Sustainable Sonoma is continuing its listening tour of interest groups throughout the Valley, with the next listening session scheduled for the evening of June 1 at the Sonoma Community Center.

This meeting is geared towards the southern Sonoma Valley – Carneros, City of Sonoma, Temelec, Vineburg, Schellville, etc. – but all Valley residents are invited to attend. Childcare and translation services will be provided.

The purpose of the listening sessions is to gather community input about the future of our Valley. Already, organizers have heard from the Springs community, Sonoma Valley High School teens, the Affordable Housing Group, the Tourism Improvement District and the Visitors Bureau. More listening sessions are planned through June.

Listening sessions ask people to respond to eight questions. Here are a few of them:

There has been much discussion since the fires about housing, especially affordable housing, in the Sonoma Valley. What do you believe is most important for our community when it comes to housing availability and affordability?

Tourism, grapes, and wine are major engines for our local economy. What would a healthy, diversified, and resilient economy look like in Sonoma Valley?

Think about the different types of diversity in our community – immigration status, income, race, education, sexual orientation. What’s most important to you about creating a community that offers fair opportunities for all to succeed?

What problems in our community most concern you?

By exploring big picture goals and issues with the public, and helping to coordinate organizations and groups already working on specific issues, Sustainable Sonoma aims to uncover “highest common denominator” goals shared throughout the community – issues all interest groups agree need to be addressed, such as the affordability and availability of housing. The leaders of more than 30 organizations and groups representing a broad spectrum of interests – economic, environmental and social justice – are already engaged in this process.

Spearheaded by Sonoma Ecology Center, Sustainable Sonoma is an example of SEC’s history of bringing people together to solve problems and build a more resilient community. Its purpose is to be a platform and forum for diverse interest groups across business, government and the nonprofit sector to work together on making positive change. For more information, visit www.sustainablesonoma.net or contact kim@sustainablesonoma.net. For a video on Sustainable Sonoma produced by KRCB, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKEgT6OPqnc.

What: Sustainable Sonoma listening session
When: Friday, June 1, 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma, Room 110