Community Events

‘Character is destiny.’

[New York Times, Sunday, November 8th, 2020]

Decency.

Dignity.

Democracy.

“Now that the campaign is over—what is the people’s will? What is our mandate? I believe it is this: Americans have called on us to marshal the forces of decency and the forces of fairness. To marshal the forces of science and the forces of hope in the great battles of our time.”

-President Elect Joe Biden

“America, I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country.

The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not.

I will keep the faith that you have placed in me.”

Madame Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris:

Congressman John Lewis, before his passing, wrote: Democracy is not a state. It is an act.’

“America’s democracy is not guaranteed.

It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it, to guard it and never take it for granted.

And protecting our democracy takes struggle.

It takes sacrifice. There is joy in it and there is progress.

Because ‘We The People’ have the power to build a better future.

And when our very democracy was on the ballot in this election, with the very soul of America at stake, and the world watching, you ushered in a new day for America.”

“Asian, White, Latina, and Native American women throughout our nation’s history who have paved the way for this moment tonight.

Women who fought and sacrificed so much for equality, liberty, and justice for all, including the Black women, who are too often overlooked, but so often prove that they are the backbone of our democracy.

All the women who worked to secure and protect the right to vote for over a century: 100 years ago with the 19th Amendment, 55 years ago with the Voting Rights Act, and now, in 2020, with a new generation of women in our country who cast their ballots and continued the fight for their fundamental right to vote and be heard.

Tonight, I reflect on their struggle, their determination and the strength of their vision — to see what can be unburdened by what has been — I stand on their shoulders.

[…]

But while I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last.

Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.

And to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message:Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourself in a way that others might not see you, simply because they’ve never seen it before.

And we will applaud you every step of the way.”

I feels so good to feel this good. -dayle

“The whole world is watching.”

Community Radio’s Town Square

September 27, 2019

“I knew I wanted to be in radio when I was 6 years old,” said Dayle Ohlau, now 59 and soon to take over as general manager of KDPI, the local nonprofit community radio station based in Ketchum.

Ohlau, who had previously earned a master’s degree in human behavior, decided to return to academia. She enrolled at the California Institute for Integral Studies in San Francisco to pursue a Ph.D. in the School of Transformative Studies.

Two and half years later, she has completed her coursework and is preparing an 80-page thesis proposal titled “Homo-Spiritus: Radical Compassion, a New Paradigm for Spirit-Based Journalism.”

“My work is theoretical rather than quantitative,” Ohlau said. “It traces our history from the end of World War I to today, and studies media biases that led us to where we are now, with a distrust of the media and a weakening of the Fourth Estate [journalism]. We have become so tribal. Due to our confirmation biases we only listen to or read what we already believe.”

A recent $11,000 donation from 100 Men Who Care, a local philanthropic group, drew Ohlau back to the nonprofit station that she had helped General Manager Mike Scullion get started in 2013. She will be able to draw a small salary putting together new ideas for the station.

“For me this will be a synergy between my studies and my radio career,” she said. ‘It’s an opportunity to generate compassionate and ethical communication in our community. I think of it as harkening back to the days of the town square.”

https://www.mtexpress.com/wood_river_journal/valley_people/valley-people/article_10631b36-e07e-11e9-ba8a-0bcdeb96644b.html

Megan Griswold: “The Book of Help: A Memoir in Remedies”

September 25, 2019

Community Library in Ketchum:

The Book of Help traces one woman’s life-long quest for love, connection and peace of mind. A heartbreakingly vulnerable and tragically funny memoir-in-remedies, Megan Griswold’s narrative spans four decades and six continents — from the glaciers of Patagonia and the psycho-tropics of Brazil, to academia, the Ivy league, & the study of Eastern medicine.

Join us for a reading and discussion around Megan’s story.

Books will be available for sale and signing, courtesy of Chapter One Bookstore.

Megan Griswold holds a Bachelor’s from Columbia University, a Masters in International Relations from Yale and a licentiate from the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture. She has worked as a mountain instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School, an NPR ‘All Things Considered’ commentator and a classical acupuncturist in private practice. She’s a trained doula, Zero Balancer, NIA instructor, NCCAOM acupuncturist, Wilderness First Responder, shiatsu practitioner, NASM personal trainer and has completed advanced yoga teacher trainings with Richard Freeman. She resides in a yurt in Wyoming.

Megan’s Yurt!

As a most personal and private ghostwriter, Megan helps others tackle life’s challenges through the written word. She helps you write the letter to break up with your boyfriend that final time or win him back forever.

She also assists individuals in navigating and selecting their own therapeutic and global adventures. She’s kissed a lot of therapeutic frogs (metaphorically only) so you don’t have to. Megan can help you edit your Choose Your Own Adventure in hopes you find the most efficient way to experience the world you want.

This Jackson, Wyoming, Yurt Brings a Dose of Whimsy to the Wilderness

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/jackson-wyoming-yurt-a-dose-of-whimsy-in-the-wilderness

Jackson Hole News & Guide

https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/valley/people/closeup/article_b747d246-7a0d-5320-a3c2-cdb14edd9d06.html

Interview with Dayle Ohlau as heard on KDPI 88.5 FM in Ketchum, Idaho

Blaine’s future.

November 27, 2018

Dear Community,

As the Sun Valley Institute moves into its fourth year, we’re reflecting on what we’ve accomplished and what we’ve learned, and are looking forward to what we can do better and take to greater scale. With the support of our community, we’ve made an impactful start and now are poised to expand and accelerate our contribution to resilient prosperity in the Blaine County region and beyond. We’d like to share with you a review of what we’ve done, some thoughts on where we’re headed, and, if this excites you, ask for yourcontinued support.

As you know, SVI was founded to advance economic, ecological and social resilience in Blaine County with models and programs that are scalable and replicable nationally. As we read reports of staggering wildfire impacts throughout the west, water shortages and food supply issues around the world, as well as increasing social division, we are reminded that the urgency of creating real, lasting community resilience has never been greater.

Our focus now is to sharpen our impact, turn risk into opportunity, and help Blaine County and the global community prepare for these changes in a way that provides lasting, stable prosperity for everyone, regardless of economic standing, nationality, age, and gender. This is at once a monumental challenge, an exciting possibility, and an urgent need – here, across our state, and far beyond.

SVI will respond by strengthening our support of our programs in four powerful areas:

Shift to resilient, cleaner, locally-generated and renewable energy supplies coupled with increased energy efficiency and storage technologies to provide greater security, cost-savings, job creation, and environmental benefits;
Shift to increased reliance on locally and regionally produced food, supporting our rural neighbors and economy, and decreasing dependence upon the unstable and ecologically damaging industrial food system;
Develop plans, policies and projects based on systems thinking and scenario planning; and
Convene those invested in building solutions to accelerate impact, such as through the Blaine County Resilience Workshops (first one on December 3rd) and our 5th annual global Sun Valley Forum, July 23-26, 2019, with top thinkers, doers and leaders.

2018 highlights and 2019 plans:

Energy: SVI partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy Idaho National Laboratory, local cities and the county to develop a digital blueprint of Blaine County’s electricity system, one of just three communities nationwide. We identified the power needs of our critical response infrastructure (fire, police, water, medical, communications, etc.), and potential projects to ensure ongoing operations during service interruptions. Next up for 2019, we intend to build plans and secure the capital (grant, government and private investment) to meet our critical loads and create local jobs for positive economic and environmental impact.

Food: Local food is a powerful lever to benefit health, economic prosperity and our environment. SVI’s food program, the Local Food Alliance (LFA), in partnership with University of Idaho and Blaine County Food Council, has engaged a nationally renowned food system analyst and economist, Ken Meter, to create a Community Food System Strategic Plan. Ken’s decades of experience will help us to prioritize food system infrastructure work and projects, such as food storage and distribution. This is a pivotal time: in 2019, we are excited to act on the recommendations.

Land Use: Blaine County has significant open space and land resources that can provide much-needed affordable food and housing and ample recreation and wild spaces. To help optimize our land use for immediate and long-term benefits, the Institute consults to landowners and developers to deploy innovative land-use strategies and new business models and to access capital and investment partners.

Community Planning: Since its inception, the Institute frequently has been approached to consult with local leaders on opportunities and risks. Leveraging SVI’s knowledge and experience, we have connected these leaders with best practices for policies, strategy, investment and technology resources and innovative business models. In 2018 and 2019, in partnership with Blaine County and other organizations, the Institute is leading our community in a formal process to identify and address Blaine County’s top threats and to transform risks into opportunities. We are interviewing dozens of community members and convening workshops to identify our current gaps, consider future trends, and prioritize specific projects (e.g., greenhouses, cold food storage, optic fiber for telecommunications) via the lens of climate change. The Institute will ensure each project has implementation plans to bring them to fruition.

Sun Valley Forum: In Summer 2019 we will host our 5th annual Sun Valley Forum where we catalyze connections, conversations and capital for a more secure, prosperous and healthy world. We gather leaders and innovators to share expertise, accelerate efforts and unearth opportunities for new collaborations and solutions. Speakers come from diverse perspectives and experience, from U.S. Senator Cory A. Booker to visionary Paul Hawken, from Paul Allen’s Vulcan Productions to adventurer-athlete-advocates including Arctic explorer and philanthropist Sir Robert Swan. We include companies like Hewlett Packard, Microsoft and Domo, and investors like BNP Paribas/Bank of the West, Generation Investment Management and Turner Impact Capital. We’ve watched the magic of the Forum lead to new partnerships and accelerated, scaled impact, and look forward to hosting our Forum 2019 at the new Ketchum Argyros Performing Arts Center, July 23-26, 2019.

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2018 Global Risk Report, three of the five top global risks in the next 10 years are environment-related: extreme weather events (#1), natural disasters (#2), and the failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation (#5). The most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that significant changes to the earth’s life support systems in the next decade, and recent California fires remind us how much we have at stake. The just-released U.S. Government National Assessment on Climate Change backs up SVI’s multi-pronged strategy, urging an integrated approach to assessing and addressing the impacts of climate change, for example how the changes to food supplies, water and electricity generation interact with each other. “It is not possible to fully understand the implications of climate change on the United States without considering the interactions among sectors and their consequences,” the report says.

The world demands our action. We have the opportunity – indeed the imperative – to lead. This requires us to be trailblazers: We innovate solutions that build our community’s economy, security and environment, while supporting others in need.

Our work is not possible without you.

We are deeply grateful for your previous support. It is clear you care about our community and want our work to thrive; we feel it every day. Please help us make 2019 our most impactful year yet and make a significant financial contribution, whatever that is for you. Your donation is an investment, with the return of a strong, localized economy, smart land use and protected natural resources. The Institute is shaping solutions now and for the future.

Please join us to think ahead, and act now.

With gratitude,

Aimée Christensen
Founder & Executive Director, Sun Valley Institute

http://www.sunvalleyinstitute.org

Hunger Coalition Thanksgiving Baskets

November 4, 2015

If you, your family,or someone in your community needs assistance this Thanksgiving holiday, please contact the Hunger Coalition, St. Luke’s Center for Community Health, or the Advocates.

For more information call 788-0121.

Thanksgiving Baskets will be shared at the Community Campus on Monday, Nov. 23, from 4-6 pm.

If you’d like to donate, visit the website at: https://connect.clickandpledge.com/Organization/thehungercoalition/campaign/holidaymeals

St. Luke’s Community Health Fair

St. Luke’s annual Health Fair, “Discover Health,” is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7th, from 10 to 2 at the Community Campus in Hailey. This event is free, family friendly, and open to the public.

hands-on exhibits
health screenings
education
games
activities,
local health and wellness resources
For more information call St. Luke’s at 208-727-8733.

City of Ketchum

October 19, 2015

Community Discussion Oct. 26 – Proposed Grocery Store

“What’s your opinion on a grocery store and small number of housing units in the light industrial area? This is the topic of a community discussion on Monday, Oct. 26, at the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. CenterCal Properties, LLC is considering this project on the former Stock Building Supply property at 1000 Warm Springs Rd. No applications have been filed. Discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall. Show up or send comments to participate@ketchumidaho.org.”

Iris. In Ketchum.

October 10, 2015

Ketchum, ID — October 8, 2015 — The Sun Valley Center for the Arts will offer a special screening of the film Iris on Thursday, October 22, 7pm, at the Magic Lantern Cinemas in Ketchum. Iris pairs legendary 87-year-old filmmaker Albert Maysles with Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven.

Iris Apfel has had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. But Iris is more than a fashion film—the documentary is a story about creativity and how, even in Apfel’s dotage, her soaring free spirit continues to inspire. Documentarian Maysles portrays a singular woman, whose enthusiasm for fashion, art and people are life’s sustenance. Apfel reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment.

Kristine Bretall, Director of Performing Arts explains, “In creating a documentary about style maven Iris Apfel, the legendary filmmaker Albert Maysles, combines his unique style with that of Apfel herself. Both are creatives that broke rules, conventions and expectations—and as the subject of the film, Apfel gives us inspiration for coloring well outside the lines.”

Despite the abundance of glamour in Apfel’s current life, she continues to embrace the values and work ethic established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great Depression. “I feel lucky to be working. If you’re lucky enough to do something you love, everything else follows,” she says in the film.

Tickets for Iris are $10 for Center members and $12 for nonmembers. To reserve your seats, visit sunvalleycenter.org or call 208.726.9491.

Climate Change Talk in Sun Valley

September 30, 2015

“Climate Change Dynamics” by Russ Brown
Thurs., Oct. 8, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
—
*ERC
*Aimee Christensen/ Sun Valley Inst. for Resilience
*Community Library
—
‘Join us for a special presentation on “Climate Change Dynamics” in partnership with the Environmental Resource Center (ERC). This program, led by Russ Brown, will begin with an introduction to the history of our planet’s climate cycles. The presentation will then move into an in-depth exploration of the Earth’s three most recent major climate changes, their effects on Earth’s life, and what this ultimately means for the future of our world. After this engaging 45-minute presentation, Aimee Christensen, Executive Director for the Sun Valley Institute for Resilience, will moderate a Q&A.

Brown has a B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology and has previously worked for several corporate and national laboratory research organizations such as the Allied Chemical Corporation, Idaho National Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory. He has also served as the President of the Idaho Alpine Club, Idaho Environmental Council and Greater Sawtooth Preservation Council.’

Position available at Hailey Public Library

September 21, 2015

http://haileypubliclibrary.org

Now Hiring ~ Adult Outreach Coordinator

Duties include planning, presenting, and executing programs for adults
Advanced proficiency in computer technology and office equipment is required
Job description available on website
Please submit an application, resume, and cover letter to the Library Director, LeeAnn Gelskey

John Dunne Lecture/Flourish Foundation

September 15, 2015

Wood River Valley Harvestfest

Faith.

July 23, 2015

‘There’s more faith in doubt than all the creeds combined.’

-Tennyson

This fall.

https://amp.twimg.com/v/bc078f62-56f0-4493-9dc1-a22f3787db68

Yoga…for Free

July 17, 2015

SATURDAY
8:45-9:45am Soul Salutations
FREE outside at Sun Valley
July 18 at Base of River Run
July 25 at Base of River Run
August 1 at Base of River Run
August 8 at Sun Valley Village Lawn
August 15 at Sun Valley Village Lawn
August 22 at Sun Valley Village Lawn
August 29 at Base of River Run

http://www.cathiecaccia.com

Iconoclast Books

July 14, 2015

“Join us between 4 & 7 pm this Friday, July 17th, to sample Chef Brent W Rasmussen‘s amazing fare of long time Valley favorites (Peter’s Chinese Chicken Salad!) and those created just for Iconoclast Books & Cafe. We are so fortunate to have Brent as a part of the Iconoclast Team ~ Come celebrate!”

Barista Annie Glenn Ashfield

Sun Valley Institute for Resilience

July 2, 2015

Inaugural Forum

Sun Valley Forum on Resilience

July 12-13, 2015

Senator Cory A. Booker will open the Forum with a keynote address at 9 a.m.

http://www.sunvalleyinstitute.org/events/

Where? The Walnut Avenue Mall, Sun Valley Road, Ketchum, Idaho
When? July 12, 2015 9am to 5pm including lunch and a cocktail reception
July 13, 2015 Private session on Impact Investing for Resilience and Partner Organizations meeting
(please email info@sunvalleyinstitute.org if interested in either, thank you)

A renowned public speaker, Senator Booker will share his insights on resilience from his experience as U.S. Senator and as Mayor of Newark, NJ, including rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy and catalyzing an economic resurgence in Newark. Senator Booker has spent 16 years in public office focused on addressing the vital needs of his constituents and the country by putting partisanship aside to get things done. Senator Booker attended Yale Law School and Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, played football as a tight end for Stanford University and has over 1.5 million Twitter followers. After earning his law degree, Cory moved to Newark, where he served on the Newark City Council and lived for eight years in Brick Towers, a low-income housing complex. He now owns a home and lives in Newark’s Central Ward community.

Leaders in the Wood River Valley of Idaho founded the Sun Valley Institute for Resilience in the Spring of 2015 to ensure the prosperity of this special place for future generations of residents and visitors alike, and to serve as a resource for communities everywhere. Increasing the availability of locally produced energy and food, incenting sustainable water use, and investing in critical infrastructure, such as for communications and health care, will strengthen the resilience of our valley’s economy and quality of life. The first annual Sun Valley Forum brings together global and local resilience leaders to inspire, inform and take action. Hear about innovative public-private partnerships, business models and investment opportunities.

Confirmed speakers include Nancy Kete of the Rockefeller Foundation, Raul Pomares of Sonen Capital, Marco Krapels of SolarCity, Brooks Preston of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Brent Stacey of the Idaho National Laboratory, Gary Dirks of the Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University, Jennifer Leonard of The CAPROCK Group, Jeff Goodell of Rolling Stone Magazine and Michael Shuman, author of Local Dollars, Local Sense. You may learn more and register to join us at http://www.sunvalleyinstitute.org. Please note it is first-come, first-served, so arrive early!

Around the world, resilience is rightly receiving increased attention from individuals, businesses, cities, and nations. The very aspects that make the Sun Valley area so special—its relative isolation, its high-desert climate and its major economic driver being recreation and tourism–also leave the region vulnerable from an economic, energy and environmental standpoint. In partnership with leading foundations, academic institutions, corporations and nonprofits, the Institute brings together local and global resources and expertise to strengthen the area’s ability to bounce back from harm to the local economy, whether from wildfires, poor snowfall or global economic conditions, and to serve as a global resource to increase resilience far beyond.

From the Native Americans, miners and ranchers of Sun Valley’s early days to the Union Pacific engineers who built the world’s first chairlift to those who challenge themselves in its mountains and rivers today, Sun Valley is about history and tradition, grit and perseverance, well-being and enjoyment. The risks, assets and values of Sun Valley make it the perfect home for an institute dedicated to resilience.

NEPAL EARTHQUAKE FUNDRAISER IN SUN VALLEY

June 11, 2015

From the SEVA Foundation:

“We saw the destruction firsthand but also the resilience and commitment of our staff and partners as they worked to aid the victims of the earthquake”

HELPING NEPAL

May 29, 2015

The Power of the Heart

May 19, 2015

THURSDAY, MAY 21ST, 7PM ~ SUN VALLEY OPERA HOUSE

—

From the director of ‘THE SECRET’, comes this unparalleled and life-changing film about the astonishing power and intelligence of your heart. Featuring some of the most inspiring and influential icons of our age including Mark Nepo, Paulo Coelho, Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra, Isabel Allende, and Eckhart Tolle.
Film tickets available for $10 at the door.
https://www.sunvalleywellness.org/the-power-of-the-heart-f…/

Idaho Gives!

May 7, 2015

Dayle's Community Café

Community Events

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