Toward Tomorrow

Toward Tomorrow

Thoughtful Solutions for Future Generations

The purpose of Toward Tomorrow is to stimulate discussion and action towards a future in which human activity enhances the health and well-being of people and ecosystems. It is based on the belief that scientists, government officials, and workplace, community, health, environment, and business leaders can recognize each other as allies in finding thoughtful solutions to common problems.

A Common Agenda for Health & Environment

GOALS FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS AND STEPS TO GET THERE 

In 2007, nearly 100 leaders of healthcare, community development, environmental, labor and agriculture organizations began a conversation about the world we want to leave our children, and what it will take to get there within a generation. Our starting point was an understanding of the connections between the health of the environment and the health of human beings, and a conviction that by working together, people can realize their capacity for living sustainably and in harmony. Over the course of a year, we developed a vision of the future one generation from now, set Generational Goals to be accomplished by then, and chose priority actions to lead us there.

Oral Histories

The Lowell Center for Sustainable Production launched the Toward Tomorrow initiative in 2005 with a series of in-depth conversations with environmental and health leaders.  Over the course of a year, Joel Tickner and Polly Hoppin conducted oral histories with people who have made great contributions to communities, organizations and movements seeking health and well-being for humans and the natural world.  Altogether, 18 Toward Tomorrow Visionaries shared insights from their youth, lessons learned from a lifetime of research, organizing and practice, and their guidance to a new generation of leaders. 

Listen to an audio collage of excerpts from interviews!

Toward Tomorrow Visionaries:

Excerpts:

  • Theo Colborn, The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX)

  • Ken Geiser, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, UMass Lowell

  • Lois Gibbs, Center for Health, Environment, and Justice

  • Richard Jackson, University of California School of Public Health

  • Damu Smith, Environmental Justice and Peace Activist