About The Center for Urban Transformation
The
Center for Urban Transformation was formulated with the understanding that it would design and implement activities rooted in principles and philosophical positions shared by the founding members, such as sustainable urban community and economic development. Thus the CUT is informed in its program and policy considerations by the principles of environmental justice and human rights, ecological (green) design and architecture, sustainable agriculture (rural and urban), and clean production, as well as the precautionary principle, fair trade practices and policies, and the highest standards of occupational health and safety. Another critical influence upon the CUT is the spirit of cooperatives, and the creation of cooperative models will be applied to CUT business operations when feasible. The Center for Urban Transformation centers its programs spiritually and philosophically in principles of socially-engaged Buddhism and traditional African spiritual concepts emphasizing humanity, caring, sharing, and living in harmony.
The Center for Urban Transformation (CUT) was founded and incorporated in 1999 as a nonprofit corporation in Illinois. The CUT was at its inception and in ts first phase a think tank and discussion group made up of its Board of Directors. After 6 years of these activities the CUT is decidedly embarking upon Phase Two: the task of applying its research and discussions into becoming a “do” tank.
The CUT’s Phase Two activities began with applying for and receiving the organization’s 501
c-3 tax exempt status and the decision to pursue funding for our proposed activities. Other aspects of organizational development activities are the creation of a fund raising/development strategy, board development (particularly the creation of a dynamic and active advisory board), and strategic planning.
The Center for Urban Transformation is embarking upon a path suited to the knowledge
and expertise of its core staff members, the board of directors and various colleagues,
both nationally and internationally. We are strongly committed to taking current models
and evolving best practices of ecologically sustainable development. This commitment
will be realized through a process of active networking with an array of public and private
sector institutions; a program of education, outreach, and community organizing; and
a solid program development process for an assortment of community and economic development initiatives, including incubator opportunities for residents of our target
and host communities.
While thinking and research are still critical to our work, they will now inform the creation
of an organization that is dynamic and nimble, able to respond quickly to new information
and innovation, allowing the Center for Urban Transformation to make appropriate
programmatic decisions and changes.
