History of the Granite Earth Institute
Several years ago, like scattering seeds, Northwest Earth Institute discussion courses were started all over New England. Since the founding of the Northeast Earth Institute (NEI) by Paul Doolittle in 1997, new Earth Institutes have formed in Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts. The Maine Earth Institute, in particular, is an outgrowth of NEI that was fostered by a grant from the Josephine A. Lamprey Foundation through the Greater Piscataqua Community Foundation. This grant also supported a visit by internationally known activist Joanna Macy to Durham NH.
With the development of these Institutes in adjacent states the Northeast Earth Institute changed its name to Granite Earth Institute at the end of 2003. This name reflects our focus on New Hampshire (the Granite State) using a bioregional rather than a political name. The name also ties us closely to the earth that underlies our area.
The Granite Earth Institute will continue to
- Encourage and mentor discussion courses
- Sponsor mentor training for those who want to help others start discussion courses
- Occasionally publish a newsletter
- Gather for potlucks to exchange food and support our leadership in our social change efforts.
The dominant culture encourages us to play trivial pursuit with our lives, we invite you to join us in supporting one another in transforming ourselves and playing significant pursuit with our lives. May our children inherit a healthy planet.
