Bringing creative industries into the spotlight

In Colorado, the arts are no joke. The state ranks fifth in the nation for concentration of artists, and arts industries comprise the fifth largest cluster of the Colorado economy. Creativity is more than a perk of proper civilization – it’s a source of income for millions of architects, writers, designers, performers and more.

But culture doesn’t just bring in jobs, it also brings in audiences. Colorado attracts “cultural tourists,” who stay 50% longer and spend 36% more than other travelers. And that money compounds: every $1 in cultural spending in metro Denver creates $1.32 for other businesses, producing $392 million in “new money” (revenue from outside the region) every year.

So it’s no surprise that state officials recently created Colorado Creative Industries (a merger of the Office of Film, Television and Media, the Colorado Council on the Arts, and the Art in Public Places program), a bold move that positions Colorado to take advantage of their creative potential.

Here in Fort Collins, Beet Street has taken up the task of attracting artists to the area. Maintaining proper venues and a reliable funding strategy for artists are just a few of the issues they are tackling with input from creatives in the area. Beet Street is also amping up the volume on public, accessible art with programs like Streetmosphere, which features local artists of all types on street-corners downtown on summer weekends.

Here at One Tribe Creative, we’re proud to support creative expression in all its forms. We know, first hand, that creativity enriches a community at every level.

For more information on the economic benefits of the arts, visit www.coloarts.state.co.us.
For more information on Beet Street, visit beetstreet.org.

Be Local: Spread the dough

Communities everywhere are strengthening their Local Living Economies, and they are starting to “think local” as a way to sustain the foundation of local businesses.

In Fort Collins, where One Tribe calls home, Be Local Northern Colorado is supporting local farms, garnering deep discounts at local businesses, and challenging the community to invest in homegrown resources. Their 20/20 Challenge asks people to pledge $20 of their weekly budget to be spent in local businesses. So far, 634 pledgers have spent $253,600. This money, as it circulates, is effectively a 1 million dollar investment in the community.

How, you ask? The proof is in the numbers: money spent with local independent businesses circulates 2-4 times in the local economy, even by conservative analysis. When we keep money in the neighborhood and produce goods close to home, it creates local jobs, reduces transportation costs, and keeps businesses accountable to stakeholders and the environment.

Find the Local Living Economy organization near you at livingeconomies.org.
See how Be Local Northern Colorado is generating community action at belocalnc.org.

One Tribe Creative has proudly worked with and supported Be Local Northern Colorado over the years.

Growing Spaces: Where Life Thrives

It’s no secret. As a nation, we are becoming increasingly dependent on processed foods, disconnecting ourselves from true food sources and nature, and paying the consequences with rising obesity rates and poor health.

The shift away from the family farm toward the modern grocery store doesn’t mean you have to trade fresh produce for fruits and vegetables grown with pesticides. Growing Spaces can help you grow natural food in an efficient and affordable way with Growing Dome™ Greenhouses.

Growing Domes use renewable energy, water and earth to create warm, lush environments that allows fresh vegetables, flowers, fruits, and herbs to be grown year round.

Yet, Growing Domes are not just for personal use to grow plants. They can also enclose meditation centers, massage and physical therapy studios, or serve as a community greenhouse. Schools use them to educate children on the living earth, organic growing, and science.

Find out how to get your Growing Dome at www.growingspaces.com

Peace and Hope Begin with Educating One Child at a Time

Founder of the Central Asia Institute, Greg Mortenson, had an inspirational encounter in the mountainous regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan after a failed attempt of summiting K2 that lead to his mission of providing education for the communities there. Mortenson created a network of local community members that are involved in the progression of the educational projects in these regions, and in doing so established a sustainable program that now has 130 schools and provides education to over 51,000 students.

OneTribe.com has added Central Asia Institute to the humanitarian network of non-profits and designed inspirational cotton T-shirts that will provide the funds needed to educate a young student for one year when purchased. The men and women’s line of organic apparel focuses on the mantra of the Central Asia Institute, “Peace and Hope Begin with Educating One Child at a Time.”

The women’s graphic is an open text book with its pages slowly turning into leaves that blossom into beautiful Jasmine flowers, the national Pakistani flower.

The men’s design symbolizes war changing to peace through the power of education by depicting a missile turning into a pencil.

For more information about the One Tribe exclusive shirts that provide funds directly to help people around the world, please visit: Onetribe.com.

One Tribe Creative Is Honored With Silver Level Award by ClimateWise

One Tribe Creative received the Silver level award at the annual EnvirOvation ceremony hosted by the City of Fort Collins' ClimateWise program. ClimateWise is a city-run program that aids local businesses with reducing grenhouse gas emissions and saving money in the process. The EnvirOvation ceremony is a celebration of local businesses that are committed to environmental and economic sustainability. One Tribe Creative joined at the Silver level 2009 with plans to progress to the Gold level in 2010, and Platinum in 2011.

In 2009 One Tribe Creative reduced 12.5 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by initiating a lighting retrofit program, co-mingled recycling, and an alternative transportation program.

By retrofitting the lighting at One Tribe Creative's headquarters, the Armory Building in Old Town Fort Collins, we reduced our electrical consumption by 14,208 kWh and saved $718.60 of crude oil in 2009.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility is 11,040 kWh; One Tribe Creative saved 3,168 kWh more than the average U.S. household uses in a year.

With our lighting retrofit program, the carbon dioxide reduced is equivalent to 408 mature trees absorbing the carbon emissions.

In 2009, One Tribe Creative had a diversion rate of 47%, which means that waste materials have been diverted from traditional disposal such as land filling or incineration. Our goal is to increase One Tribe's diversion rate to 50% by 2011.

With our co-mingled recycling program, the carbon dioxide reduced is equivalent to 32 mature trees absorbing the carbon emissions.

One Tribe workers took alternative transportation to work by biking, walking, or taking the bus a total of 448 miles in 2009 that reduced 698 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is equal to 13 trees being planted to absorb carbon.

One Tribe Creative: Sustainability is not just for Earth Day. Earth Day is Every Day.

National Parks: Grand Adventure in Your Own Backyard

Imagine if you had a spectacular vacation destination virtually outside your back door. Well, you do. Before you book an overseas airline ticket for this year’s vacation, look into your U.S National Parks.

Celebrate local heritage and experience colorful history while you explore the breathtaking gorges of the Grand Canyon, the stirring battlefields of Gettysburg, the ancient ruins at Mesa Verde, the remarkable giants of the Redwood forests, and other wonders that are preserved in nearly 400 U.S. National Parks.

For over 90 years, National Park Service has protected endangered animals, preserved archaeological sites, and restored historical landmarks for the enjoyment of the American people. Why not take advantage of the history and nature the National Park Service has preserved just for you?

Find a National Park near you at NPS.gov

One Tribe Creative is proud to profile socially and environmentally responsible organizations.

To learn more about what we do, please visit us at OneTribeCreative.com.
You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Volunteer Vacations: Restore Your Soul and Your World

Whether you dream of forging rugged mountain trails or building sea turtle nurseries in a warm tropical setting, you can make your next trip more fulfilling by going on a volunteer vacation.

Interact with a new culture while you help preserve it. Global Aware develops short-term volunteer programs to promote cultural awareness and sustainability in 15 different countries. The diverse programs offered include teaching English to children in Thailand, cleaning rivers in Jamaica, and building homes in Romania. Find out more at GlobeAware.org

Make a difference with critical environmental issues – biodiversity, coral reef health, indigenous cultures, sustainability, habitat loss, and climate change – when you participate in an Earthwatch program. Earthwatch actively works with people worldwide to maintain environmental sustainability through research, education programs, and conservation projects. Visit Earthwatch.org to learn more.

Protect and enjoy nature when you take a backpacking trip with the American Hiking Society. Volunteering with the Hiking Society offers infinite opportunities for people to appreciate the wilderness, renew themselves, and establish a lifetime of fitness, while preserving trails for future generations. Learn more at AmericanHiking.org

One Tribe Creative is proud to profile socially and environmentally responsible organizations.

To learn more about what we do, please visit us at OneTribeCreative.com.
You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.