Mississippi 2020 Network, Inc.

The Mississippi 2020 Network was founded in 1985 by Bob Kochtitzky as a 501-c-3 non-profit organization to raise the quality of life in Mississippi. Three (3) Quality of Life conferences were sponsored in the late 1980’s to locate potential supporters. These conferences were the first steps of many to build an action coalition of Earth-friendly citizens. In 1992, our goal was modified to “introducing the urgent need to establish sustainability in the state of Mississippi: one household, one school, one community, and one business at a time."

Initially, we concentrated on helping adults become earth literate using discussion courses and video programs. We also organized several workshops featuring experts in the field of ecology and earth sustainability, such as: Thomas Berry, Sr. Miriam Therese MacGillis, O.P.; Dr. Elizabeth Dodson Gray; Gene Marshall; George McRobie; Robert Theobald; Arun Gandhi; Dr. Joan Dye Gussow; and Amory Lovins. Alongside these events, we have created model projects that have enhanced civic engagement and supported the earth-centered world view. Some past projects include:

• Women’s Political Network
• ECO-MS telephone tree for good legislation
• Healthy Earth Exhibit shown at the 1990 United Methodist Women’s quadrennial assembly in Kansas City
• Alice in Blunderland musical on nuclear waste
• Peace Child: Soviet-US youth musical, very first community effort in Mississippi to bring peace and understanding between the United States and the Soviet Union

We created the Our World Discovery program (now called Growing Good Citizens)  for elementary schools. The 142 page teacher manual with 14 lesson plans ($25 plus shipping) is used to transform a school campus into a life laboratory where students turn their campus into a model of environmental stewardship, community service, and human relations. After working with several different schools to develop the best means of implementing the program, the program was established at Orange Grove Elementary School in Gulfport, Mississippi utilizing a full time coordinator for its management. The program returned fantastic results with respect to improvements in student behavior, parent involvement and academic interest. In 1998, the Our World Discovery Program was named the best Environmental Education Program in the country by the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation. If the same positive results can be firmly tied to the program following our three year pilot at John Hopkins Elementary, we sill seek to spread it over the state.  Two hundred thirty-five 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be involved in hands-on real world experiences including litter-free campus, organic vegetable gardens, recycling, and composting of cafeteria waste..  The goal is  helping students to select life paths that will avoid obesity, teen pregnancy, dropping out of school, violence, guns and dope, smoking and alcohol.  Each day the students will wear a button announcing: I AM JACKSON'S FUTURE.

Mississippi 2020 Network is fueled by strong volunteerism among its members. Projects evolve as membership grows. With that in mind, below is a list of our most current seed projects:

• Clean, Green, Healthy Schools Project - A 165 page Teacher Manual provides hands-on lesson plans for auditing the campus nutritional and physical activity programs, campus safety, and identification of health threats (i.e. indoor air and water quality, and the presence of lead, pesticides, etc.($20 plus shipping));
• The Jamie F. Boyll Talking Tree Park - This is a park designed to promote environmental education using hidden speakers in trees which play recordings that reveal the gifts of the natural world. This park is dedicated to Jamie F. Boyll, one of the chief promoters of the Mississippi 2020 Network, who worked effortlessly to introduce environmentally healthy ideas to communities across Mississippi during her lifetime.
• Positive Future Teams (within colleges)
• Workshops: Simpler lifestyles; ending war as a means of settling differences; Democracy, the Earth, and You; and Reconnecting with Nature.
• GAP's Livable Neighborhoods Project - Currently seeking support from the City of Jackson on this project.
• The Earth-Friendly Habitat for Humanity House (completed April 2003)
• The Vision 2020 Mississippi Future Fair and Film Festival - A three day event, in March 2003, to introduce the changes/challenges sustainability requires, with an exploration of "how to get there".
• Consulting services for duplicating our projects, introducing our school and community programs, and conducting workshops on sustainability.
• An active and current video and book sales/rental resource center with over 225 titles.

Mississippi 2020 Network, Inc.
A non-profit/tax-exempt Mississippi corporation founded in 1985
350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave.
Suite 3140, Jackson MS 39213
Phone: 601-981-9992, Fax 601-981-9993
Email: info@mississippi2020.org

About Us: Our History, Our Mission, Board of Directors
Education: Our World Discovery Program, Clean Green Healthy Schools, Earth Sustainability Awards, Earth Literacy, 2003 Future Fair, Adult Ecoscore, Ecoscore for Children
Community: Sustainable Communities Network, Green Habitat Home, Talking Tree Park
Resources: Books and Videos, Web Links Consulting Services Events Calendar
Guestbook: View Guestbook,
Contact Mississippi 2020