129: Concrete Couch & Concrete Coyote – Art and Sustainability

129: Concrete Couch & Concrete Coyote – Art and Sustainability

Author: Dave Gardner November 4, 2024 Duration: 55:19

Learn how local arts nonprofit Concrete Couch has turned a concrete dump into a community asset – a park and learning center. Caitlin Hannigan and Jorge Estevez also share how Concrete Couch has contributed to increasing interest and engagement in the arts and sustainability in Colorado Springs. Concrete Couch is a nonprofit that works with kids and community groups to create public art, build community, and create environments and experiences that humanize our world.

Speakers:

Caitlin Hannigan is the Education Director at Concrete Couch. She was raised in Colorado Springs and worked as a teacher in China before working at Concrete Couch. Over the last 4-years she has worked with Concrete Couch to help make Concrete Coyote into a 7-acre community park and helped design and develop educational programming for community members. 

Dr. Jorge Estevez is an instructor with Concrete Couch. He has a doctorate in physics. He is passionate about trees, biking and the Colorado Springs community. With his work at Concrete Couch, he has helped plant over 50 native trees and plants and build over 2 miles of hiking and biking trails. 

This episode was recorded at the Sustainability in Progress  (SIP) virtual event on October 16, 2024. Sustainability in Progress  is a monthly program of the Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future. Join us (free), normally the third Wednesday of every month. The next event is:

 November 13, 2024 John Olson of Urban Landscapes LLC Register here to receive Zoom link

LINKS:

Presenters' Slides

Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future

Concrete Couch

Thanks to these Peak Environment sponsors:

Pikes Peak Permaculture Visit https://pikespeakpermaculture.org for opportunities to learn more about sustainable organic living through permaculture – workshops, classes, field trips, and networking.

Old Town Bike Shop - your local bike shop since 1976 https://www.oldtownbikeshop.com/

The mission of Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future is to promote regional sustainability and advance the Pikes Peak region's sustainability plan (PPR2030) through regional collaboration and outreach. Connect with us at https://peakallianceco.org/.  

The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region.

Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future https://peakallianceco.org/

Pikes Peak Permaculture https://www.pikespeakpermaculture.org/

GrowthBusters https://www.growthbusters.org

Keep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode:

 


Hosted by Dave Gardner, Peak Environment digs into the real-world choices and conversations shaping life in the Pikes Peak Region. This isn't a distant global overview, but a local look at how environmental care weaves into the fabric of our community, from the trails we hike to the policies our leaders debate. Each episode explores the intersection of our society and our surroundings, considering how sustainable practices impact both our physical health and our cultural values. You'll hear from neighbors, advocates, and experts discussing practical steps for stewardship, the nuances of building a resilient local economy, and the ongoing work toward balanced public policy. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded dialogue that connects personal fitness and well-being directly to the health of the place we call home. Find this podcast for a deeper understanding of what it means to live well, right here.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Peak Environment
Podcast Episodes
131: Art, Hope, and 2025 – an Update from 350 Colorado [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:33
Chelsea and Melissa at 350 Colorado discuss hope and art, in addition to specifics on exciting events in CO Springs coming up in 2025. This episode is a must listen! Also discussed: COP29 Climate Lobby Day – Friday, Marc…
130: Shifting the Status Quo of Development [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:14
There is a divide among sustainability advocates concerning urban development. At a glance, it may seem that halting all development would be beneficial. However, John Olson urges us to look beyond the surface and consid…
127: Permablitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:12
What is a permablitz? Ally Richardson invites fellow permaculturists Alexandra Malecki and Beth Carbone to discuss this engaging social permaculture event. We couldn’t contain our giggles! Together, we share our experien…
126: Life Happens. Be Ready [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:14
Learn about the GRIT Program that offers training in a brief conversational intervention used to support effective coping for those in your natural social network. In these trying times, we could all benefit from free tr…
125: A Fossil Free Future - Meet 350 Colorado [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:56
Learn how 350 Colorado can help you become a climate activist, or have more fun and be more effective if you’re already an activist. Chelsea Alexander and Melissa Burrell share what 350 Colorado is and does, and then dri…
124: Circular Economy Assistance for Colorado Businesses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:22
Colorado’s Circular Economy Development Center facilitates connections in Colorado to create circular economy solutions using materials that Coloradans recycle. Archibald, Southern Front Range Satellite Office Coordinato…
123: Deep Nature Connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:03
Learn about deep nature connection, nature deficit disorder, great programming in the area, and ways we all can engage to feel a belonging amongst the other species that live in the lovely Southern Colorado region. Co-ho…
122: Plants – Those That Take Care of Us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:41
Join host Ally Richardson as she ventures to the opposite slope of Pikes Peak to converse with master herbalist Mari Marques. Explore how plants nurture us, followed by a tour of her stunning and bountiful gardens. Disco…