To underscore the powerful effect of personal change, NWEI holds the following mission:

Inspiring people to take responsibility for Earth.

NWEI has spent the past 14 years motivating  individuals to:

• examine and transform personal values and habits,

• accept responsibility for the Earth, and

• act on that commitment.

A Process That Fosters Change

NWEI develops innovative programs in Portland, transports them to Northwest communities where they are offered through our chapters or local volunteer groups, and replicates them in other regions through autonomous groups.

Nationwide, our courses have been offered by local organizers in more than 900 communities in all 50 states. As of Summer of 2007, total enrollment in the discussion courses exceeds 80,000 known participants, with thousands others taking the course with recycled course books. These courses have been offered in hundreds of businesses and organizations. NWEI’s work has been featured in two PBS documentaries, Affluenza and Escape from Affluenza, as well as a National Public Radio series, Deep Ecology for the 21st Century.

Several years ago, employees at a Portland architectural firm took a number of NWEI courses during noontime meetings. Shortly thereafter, a grassroots sustainability committee formed among the employees. Later, sustainability became a part of the firm’s business plan, with a commitment to fund both education and research and development. One principal of the firm, who has also served as CFO for 16 years, says, "We are really moving ahead. I can’t say enough about the positive momentum created by NWEI’s discussion courses. They were a major catalyst for us.”

-Carsten Henningsen  Portfolio 21