Advance Praise
When I first visited Milwaukees Urban Ecology Center, I climbed the tower steps with Ken Leinbach and looked out over a great urban park one that, just a few years before, had been virtually deserted by children and families. The Center brought them back, and the park and the surrounding neighborhoods began to heal. As the years went on, Leinbach and his band of visionaries arrived at a formula that can and should be replicated throughout the United States and beyond. Urban Ecology is a transformative book, an essential tool in the new nature movement.
Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, The Nature Principle, and Vitamin N
As one who has dedicated my life to protecting the Chimpanzee, I know from experience that it is only by instilling respect and love for nature in the next generation that we have any chance to preserve thriving ecosystems that support life on this planet. It is why places like the Urban Ecology Center are so critical for conservation education. As more and more children are growing up in cities, teaching land stewardship and nature conservation to children and their families is critical. I am excited by this book as it puts forth a practical blue print for how to do this well. The book shares the story of a model that has been perfected in three unique urban neighborhoods in Milwaukee, is being modeled in other cities in the United States, and is beginning to spread to cities across the globe.
Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE
Founder - the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace
The changing demographics and urbanization of America make Urban Ecology and Environmental Education essential. This book is a must-have tool for those passionate souls out there working with the youth of today who will become our future conservationists.
Dudley Edmondson, author of Black and Brown Faces in Americas Wild Places
The growing chasm between kids and nature is one of the most pressing issues of our time, threatening both children and the places they live. To date, I have yet to hear of a single proposed solution with the potential to truly bridge this chasm that is, to quickly and dramatically scale efforts to deeply connect children, especially those from underserved communities with the natural world. Until now, that is! In this timely and engaging book, Ken Leinbach shares the remarkable story of the Urban Ecology Center, a brilliant idea he helped bring to life. Please read his manifested solution. Ive seen it in action firsthand. It is truly amazing. Think about how you might be able to implement something similar in your community. If the Urban Ecology idea catches on and spreads widely, within a single generation the world will be a far better place not only for kids, but for all of us and for the natural communities we inhabit.
Scott D. Sampson, PhD, President and CEO of Science World British Columbia, host of PBS Kids Dinosaur Train, and author of How to Raise a Wild Child
Urban Ecology , written by Ken Leinbach, offers a path towards developing an understanding of the value of natural lands to our urban citizenry. As one who oversaw the management and protection of U.S. public land under President Obamas administration, this message is both timely and of critical importance. If we lose the ecological services that the forests and grasslands provide to us, everyone loses. As Ken argues with both research and eloquence, if our youth -- and especially our ever-growing urban population of young people lose their connection to the land, the future of public land is in jeopardy.
Ken Salazar, United States Secretary of Interior 2009 - 2013
Im pleased to see the success of one of our treasured community assets in print. Urban Ecology documents an incredible story of neighbors coming together to make a difference in the lives of Milwaukees kids. The Urban Ecology Center has inspired countless Milwaukee children to explore the outdoors and gain an appreciation for nature. This is a story of education, of celebrating urban environments, and of positively influencing the lives of young people.
Tom Barrett, Milwaukee Mayor
One reason I love the Urban Ecology Center is that every time I go there I see children of color laughing and playing outside. The Urban Ecology Center has created a space where everyone can enjoy the beauty of the world around us, especially in the city. They have redefined the norm. The book Urban Ecology captures both the spirit of the place and the practical ways in which it works. Ken Leinbachs insightful storytelling will inspire all who choose to open the cover and read.
Deanna Singh, President of the Dohmen Company Foundation and author of I Am a Boy of Color.
Ken Leinbach has tirelessly worked toward crafting a playbook for our precious future, and Urban Ecology captures this work. I have enjoyed witnessing our community benefit from the realities of this forward-thinking strategy, and tip my hat to future successes.
Craig Counsell, Manager, Milwaukee Brewers
URBAN ECOLOGY
URBAN ECOLOGY
A Natural Way to Transform Kids, Parks, Cities, and the World
2018 Ken Leinbach
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in New York, New York, by Morgan James Publishing in partnership with Difference Press. Morgan James is a trademark of Morgan James, LLC. www.MorganJamesPublishing.com
The Morgan James Speakers Group can bring authors to your live event. For more information or to book an event visit The Morgan James Speakers Group at www.TheMorganJamesSpeakersGroup.com.
ISBN 9781683506515 - paperback
ISBN 9781683506522 - eBook
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017910104
Cover Design by: Doreen Hann
Interior Design by: Paul Curtis
Author photo courtesy of Eddee Daniel
Elise and Joes wedding courtesy of Carla Dal Santo
Beaver photo courtesy of Bruce Halmo
Washington Park infographic courtesy of the City of Milwaukee Incident-Based System data, via COMPASS web portal; analysis by Big Lake Data: maps courtesy of OpenStreetMaps and Scament Design, prepared for the Urban Ecology Center.
Urban Ecology Center bus photo courtesy of Belair Cantina, Inc.
All other photos and graphics courtesy of the Urban Ecology Center, Inc., including: Kites in Lakeshore State Park photo by Maddie Bird, Menomonee Valley Passage photo by Anna Aragon, Observations on a blanket and two children in the river photos by John Suhar, Ice Skating on Washington Park Lagoon by Tory Bahe, Glenna at Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center and maple sugaring photos by Jeff McAvoy, Walk with Mayor Tom Barrett photo by Adam Carr
In an effort to support local communities, raise awareness and funds, Morgan James Publishing donates a percentage of all book sales for the life of each book to Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg.
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