Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative

The Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (GLSI) is a Michigan-based project that utilizes network principles in an attempt to stimulate environmental governance. The project attempts to garnish a collaborative effort between a multitude of actors, concentrating specifically on those that deal with educational initiatives and local environmental organizations (About).

GLSI utilizes “. . .grants and technical assistance. . .” as a medium to collaborate with “. . . students, teachers and community organizations” (About). One of the initiatives main tenet revolves around the belief that citizens are genuinely concerned with the well-being of the Great Lakes, however, they often lack the knowledge and means to enact meaningful change. Educational initiatives, as suggested by the GLSI, are tailored in a manner that works in conjunction with community organizations (Our Accomplishments).

Some of these organizations include the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, which specializes in educating middle and high school students about the relationship between humans and ecosystems (“LinkClick” #1), as well as West Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, which specializes in hands-on student workshops for fish habitats and storm water runoff (“LinkClick” #2).

GLSI does not focus on environmental objectives that necessarily deal with concrete, tangible or otherwise “measurable” results (i.e. trash collection, river clean up), unless of course, that initiative has an explicit educational and/or curriculum element. It serves as a catalyst for community appreciation via educating the public, mainly K-12 students, about major issues within the Great Lakes. The only “measurable” elements within the organization dealt with the number of students touched by their outreach effort, results of GLSI-funded university studies, as well as numerical information regarding grants (Overview).

GLSI receives funding primarily through their collaboration with the Great Lakes Stewardship Trust (GLST) and the Wege foundation (About). The GLSI, in return, then rewards associated organizations by according grants and technical assistance (About). However, it is unclear what eligibility criteria is used to determine how associated organizations receive funding, as no explicit information was provided within their website. This may imply flexibility, rather than rigidity, within the scope of initiatives they advance.
GLSI exemplifies network-based modes of governance, as the organization and it’s associated groups, are privately run and outside the realm of hierarchical and traditional governmental constructs. The only relationship GLSI has with governmental entities is confined to the role of donations to public schools for the purpose of environmental education.

The initiative has no evident market-based incentives or initiatives. Rather, it appears that the goal of the organization is strictly for the purpose of community outreach and educational action, rather than production/operation efficiency, favorable public image, and/or profiteering. The only incentive GLSI provides deals with grants to nonprofits and public schools, which again, it appears unclear as to how and why certain entities are deemed worthy of receiving grants. While the organization may exhibit a hierarchical characteristic (in the form of funding), it in no way has the rigid parameters that are evident within governmental regulation, as a list of the initiatives funded are rather broad, imply flexibility, and cover a multitude of disciplines and objectives (Our Grants).

These efforts are fundamental, as it provides crucial knowledge to younger generations regarding water quality, the role of watersheds, the fundamental importance of the Great Lakes and other water resources, as well as recreational significance (Our Grants). As state funding for public education continues to not only stagnate (MichiganRadio), but can only be used within the parameters outlined by the state, GLSI has proven to be invaluable. One might argue that GLSI functions to combat the shortcomings associated with state government, which of course, has become increasingly hostile to the public realm.

Sources:

http://www.glstewardship.org/OurAccomplishments/CommunityProjects.aspx

http://www.glstewardship.org/About.aspx

http://www.glstewardship.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-uhMmKbc6Is%3d&tabid=73

http://www.glstewardship.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=KC_dFHkybEc%3d&tabid=73

http://www.glstewardship.org/OurGrants/FundedGrants.aspx

http://michiganradio.org/post/has-public-education-funding-gone-or-down-under-gov-snyders-watch#stream/0

http://www.glstewardship.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=9lSM7T2EpgA%3d&tabid=63

Images:

http://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/114274093.jpg