CHEARS, the CHeseapeake Education, Arts and Research Society, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the health of all who share the Chesapeake watershed environment. We are a tribe of friends and volunteers, natural and social scientists, artists, educators, and families who are learning together and empowering others in ecology, stewardship, and artistic expression for the Cheseapeake Bay Watershed and its major drainage basins -- the East-Shore-MD, East-Shore-VA, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock, Susquehanna, West-Shore-MD, and York basins. We take inspiration from all cultures that recognize the inter-connectedness of all organisms and places within the web of life. We have a special focus on the cross-species, cross-place, and cross-time linkages. We explore linkages between our homes in urban, suburban and rural areas in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Equally important to us are the temporal linkages, as we look to connect our past heritage and our future visions for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and our relationship to the past, current and future worldwide Earth community. [Learn more about our Projects, our People, and how to Join.]

Protectors of Greenbelt's Green Belt June 15, 2008 — Photo of The Committee to Save the Green Belt being saluted for their 18 year forest saving efforts at the Green Man Festival in Greenbelt, Md - May 10, 2008. From left to right , Bill Rich, designer of t-shirts and "Keep it Wooded" bumper stickers; Yonnie Siegal, secretary and treasurer; Ruth Kastner, co-founder; Rodney Roberts, past President of CSGB and current mayor pro-tem of Greenbelt City Council - our "insider" whose 16 years on council was key in securing the future of the forest; and Paul Downs, co-founder and President of CSGB for the past 12 years. More on this Image Image of the Week Archives

#10 in Real and Meal Film Series – Visions of Utopia
June 7, 2008 — The film, Visions of Utopia will be shown at the New Deal Café on Monday, June 16, beginning at 7:00 pm, and followed by a discussion led by Gabriel Cahalan, former resident of Earthaven, one of the communities highlighted in the film. This event is sponsored by The Reel and Meal at the New Deal, which is a monthly film series that explores vital environmental and social issues and is sponsored by a consortium of Greenbelt organizations interested in preserving our environment. There is no charge for admission. Beginning at 6:30 pm an optional vegan buffet meal will be offered by Chef Karim for $12.00.

Visions of Utopia is an inspiring and provocative film that introduces seven diverse communities, and provides a fascinating history of shared living spanning 2500 years. This film is a great way to experience a sampling of community life "up close." See and hear community members tell their stories in their own words. Reel and Meal at the New Deal© is produced by a consortium of Greenbelt organizations interested in preserving our environment.
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#9 in Real and Meal Film Series – This Black Soil
May 11, 2008 — The film, This Black Soil will be shown at the New Deal Café on Monday, May 19, beginning at 7:00 pm. It is sponsored by The Reel and Meal at the New Deal, which is a monthly film series that explores vital environmental and social issues and is sponsored by a consortium of Greenbelt organizations interested in preserving our environment. There is no charge for admission. Beginning at 6:30 pm an optional vegan buffet meal will be offered by Chef Karim for $12.00.

This Black Soil is an inspiring and provocative film that chronicles the successful struggle of Bayview, Virginia, a small rural African-American community, to pursue a new vision of prosperity. Catalyzed by the defeat of a state plan to build a maximum-security prison in their backyard, the powerful women leaders and residents proceeded to build a new community from the ground up. Under the leadership of visionary women, this new rural village challenges all conventional ideas of community development and includes not only improved and affordable housing, but a sustainable economic base to earn a living wage.

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