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Our Mission

To work toward sustainability in our homes and community through education, projects and thoughtful engagment with neighbors and civic leaders

Heart of the City is based in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. We are a group of citizens interested in maintaining the small-town character and quality of life found in our community.

Guiding Precepts

We believe each member of the community is a stakeholder in the decisions affecting the community. Successful communities have governments that encourage and facilitate citizen participation in issues of visioning and development. Citizens exercise their right to become informed and involved.

Successful communities develop policies and practices that ultimately:

  • Eliminate our community’s contribution to fossil fuel dependence and wasteful use of scarce metals and minerals.
  • Eliminate our community’s contribution to dependence upon persistent chemicals and wasteful use of synthetic substances.
  • Eliminate our community’s contribution to encroachment upon land, water, wildlife, forests, soils and ecosystems.
  • Meet human needs fairly and efficiently -- meeting basic needs for clean air, water, food and shelter before provision of luxuries.

HEART OF THE CITY – 2009 REVIEW

·     Heart of the City “Lou Ehinger Big Heart Award" to the Chris Spangler and the Daily Jefferson County Union: “With heartfelt thanks for a hard job well done, for helping build community with each edition of the paper that comes out, for editorials that extol the virtues of good citizenship and sustainable development, for graciousness to our organization, and for being part of a business that maintains a diverse and productive downtown.”   

·     Continue to be part of the Hearty Gardens community gardens in partnership with Jefferson County Parks Department – due to popularity it has been expanded within the city limits, this is being facilitated by the United Way with HOC member Jill Kessenich taking a lead role.

·     Member of the Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce

·     Kitty Welch served on Glacial Heritage Area advisory committee

·     Program Committee continues partnership with art teachers and students to turn collected former garbage cans into recycling containers for city/county parks, businesses, city streets or schools.

·     Hosted Alternative Transportation Fair at Polk warehouse near Jones Dairy Farm on March 21 from 10 am -1 pm

·     Hosted three potlucks January 12, April 13 and June 8. Jan. 12 invited Friends of Rose Lake, Friends of Allen Creek and Garden Club, April 13 invited City heads of departments, Chamber of Commerce dept heads and Industrial Development corp. members; May 11 is the Annual meeting and potluck.

·     Finished paperwork and submitted 501c3 documentation to the state.

·     Collaborated with Chamber of Commerce, Fort Farmers Market and Fort Arts Council to host Rock The Earth Celebration at VyMaC building May 1.

·      Helped to coordinated the giving away of 100 pine trees for the 1st 100 entrants and also gave away 100 compact fluorescent bulbs for 100 entrants at the Rock the Earth Celebration.

·     Fort Atkinson City Engineer Jeff Woods gave presentation on Storm Water Management and Heart of the City sent a letter of endorsement for a grant to aid in creating catchment basins.

·     Heart of the City donated $500 to the Fort Atkinson Food Pantry.

·     Heart of the City donated $200 to the Clean Sweep program.

·     Heart of the City maintains a presence each week at the Fort Farmers Market selling Family Farm Defenders goods.

·     Panel from Fort School District reported on efforts toward more sustainable and energy efficient methods employed. (Solar panels to heat swimming pools in High School Middle School, Geo thermal heating at Barrie, Purdy, Rockwell and Middle School, CFL bulbs used in schools, etc.)

·     Helped to gather signatures for candidates running for City Council.

·     Participated and partnered with Fort Farmers Market, Chamber of Commerce and Fort Arts Council to hold a Winter Farmers Market and Art Fair at VyMaC building in December continuing the shop locally theme from previous years.

·     President Leslie LaMuro wrote a letter in support of maintaining funding for UW-Extension personnel whose jobs were in jeopardy due to budget cuts.

 

HEART OF THE CITY – 2007 REVIEW

  • Heart of the City "Big Heart Award" to the Fort Atkinson School district for their leadership in using geothermal heating and cooling in two Fort Atkinson Schools
  • Launch of the Low-Carbon Atkinson Diet
  • Table at the Dwight Foster Public Library's Earth Day Celebration
  • Voter Registration for High School Seniors – Partnered with Fort High School’s government classes to host a table distributing voter registration Applications and information.
  • Creation of the Hearty Gardens community gardens in partnership with Jefferson County Parks Department
  • Participation in the April national Step It Up day rally to ask Congress for action on global warming
  • Table at the Mush-ko-se-day Park Odyssey of Nature Celebration serving edible wild food
  • Joined the Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce
  • Served on Glacial Heritage Area advisory committee
  • Creation of Big Thinks planning group
  • Harvest Dinner at the Hearty Gardens
  • Obsolete trash can and recycling bin collection for re-use as recycling bins throughout the city
  • Participation in second National Step It Up Rally, November 3rd
  • Partnership with Verlo/VyMac to donate total of $1,200 for green LED traffic lights for corner of North Main & North 3rd Streets
  • Margaret Martin asked to participate in statewide hospital meetings about greening hospitals
  • L.E.D. Holiday lights encouraged to buy at ACE
  • Gave over 40 compact fluorescent bulbs and holiday lights given to Fort Atkinson Food Pantry
  • Beth Gehred & Steve Tesmer and Amy Lutzke serving on city committee to educated citizens and businesses on how to reduce their negative environmental impact 
  • Kitty Welch, Heart President, met/spoke/partnered with numerous business/organizations to encourage sign up for the Atkinson diet, learn about their current green efforts, and encourage future partnerships. They include: Fort Health Care, Highsmith, VyMac, Rick Brietzke (Purdy Elementary Principal), Jeff Zaspel ( High School Principal)
  • Program Committee coordinating partnership with art teachers and students to turn collected former garbage cans into recycling containers for city/county parks, businesses, city streets or schools
  • Partnered with Katy O’Brien and Fort Health Care to prepare February 2008 full day training for Fort Health Care management team.
  • Jill Kessenich served on committee to develop Fort Atkinson’s new comprehensive plan
  • Many members participated in all 3 public meetings to develop a new comprehensive plan for Fort Atkinson
  • Cynthia Holt served as Heart of the City representative for the Chamber of Commerce Project Lead group- her idea of building a green bathroom along the bike path chosen by group

MEDIA COVERAGE:

  • Janesville Gazette: Cover 2 page article on Atkinson Diet featuring Beth Gehred, Kitty Welch and Cynthia Holt
  • City Manager John Wilmet on WISC TV news about Fort Atkinson passing Climate Change resolution
  • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Paul Bouboutsis and Rebecca Kellum (Heart members)  featured for their efforts to make home more energy-efficient – July 2007
  • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cover 2 page spread. Atkinson Diet featured in their global warming series highlighting regional efforts. Cover photo of Atkinson Dieter /Fort resident Shandra Miller and son shopping. September 2007
  • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – All Green issue featuring Kitty Welch as Carbon Crusader December 2007
  • Madison Wisconsin State Journal – Cover 2 page article on Atkinson Diet November 2007
  • Wisconsin Trails – Kitty featured as individual who makes difference on Heart and Atkinson Diet – January February 2008 issue on newsstands December 2007
  • Wisconsin Public Radio   frequent call-ins from members on shows dealing with sustainability 
  • Interviews on local radio station WFAW with Michael Clish
  • Jefferson County Union: All of 2007- over 10 letters to editor, 1 editorial, weekly or bi-monthly articles highlighting Heart of the City/Hearty Gardens/ Atkinson Diet/Neighbor Nation efforts/trash can collection efforts including multiple full page photo spreads covering such events as spring & fall Step It Up Rallies, Vymac/Heart of the City LED traffic light donation and Recycling Container Effort.

      Speakers and Presentations:

  • Spencer Black, Wisconsin 77th Assembly District Representative (Northwest Madison): sustainability-increasing efforts
  • Bill Bradley and Dave Kroodsma from Ride for Climate
  • Raj Shukla: Municipal Responses to Global Warming
  • John Wilmet, Fort Atkinson City Manager
  • Suzanne Wade, Rock River Coalition and UWEX Rock River Basin Educator
  • Screening programs in the PBS series "Design e2" about sustainability practices nationwide
  • Beth Gehred and Kitty Welch presented to Fort Atkinson AUWW- October 2007
  • Cynthia Holt and Kitty Welch presented to Fort Atkinson Rotary- November 2007
  • Cynthia Holt and Kitty Welch presented to Fort Atkinson Kiwanis- November 2007

HEART OF THE CITY – 2006 REVIEW

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world,
indeed it's the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead

  • Heart Of The City "Big Heart Award" to Rudy Bushcott and Scott Lastusky for their work on the Glacial River Bike Trail.
  • Park Celebration Day - June 3 Hosted a day of activities at Bark River Park including an early morning birding trip with Dick Wanie, environmental walk and talk with Steve Solheim, park history presentation with Al Haukom, Mark Kerschensteiner and Mark Dachnahl, children's program, lunch, canoe trip and foot-stompin' music.
  • Launched/Coordinated Sustainability Study Circles in Fort Atkinson and UW-Whitewater based on the book “The Natural Step” by Torbjorn Lahti and Sarah James.
  • Earth Day Glacial River Bike Trail Clean Up
  • Heart of The City Sustainability Super Store – Second year hosting a table at Farmer's Market selling sustainable and environmentally friendly items.
  • Mayors' Climate Protection Resolution presented to City Council resulting in the formation of an ad hoc governmental committee to study greenhouse gas reduction efforts in the city.
  • Resolution supporting Geothermal Referendum - passed Spring 2006 election
  • Resolution supporting Mason Homestead Preservation
  • 37th District State Assembly Candidate's Forum - Hosted a forum moderated by Anders Yocom -Wisconsin Public Radio. It aired on several local cable access channels.
  • Walk to School Day – Partnered with Fort High School’s Science and Environmental Club to raise awareness about carbon emissions from cars and global warming.
  • Voter Registration for High School Seniors – Partnered with Fort High School’s government classes to host a table distributing Voter Registration Applications and information.
  • Created Heart Of The City Speakers Bureau – Speakers available to raise awareness about city planning, sustainability, civic participation and community solutions.
  • Generated newspaper column "On the Heart Beat"
  • Established marketing plan and materials including improving our Web site.
  • Established monthly e-newsletter "Heart Info Bits" which provides information about current activities and resources.
  • Provided scholarships to local community members to develop leadership skills and sustainable advocacy knowledge base.

Speakers & Presentations:

  • Bruce Haukom - Jefferson County Zoning Department
  • Rollie Cooper and Tony Pavlick - Citizens For Global Solutions
  • Julie Short - Hwy 12 By-pass
  • John Molinaro - Jefferson County Board Supervisor
  • Martine Koeppel - Jefferson County Land Trust Network
  • Joe Nehmer - Jefferson County Parks Department
  • Dr. Peter Jacobs - Tools For Farm Land and Open Space Preservation
  • Jill Kessenich - Architecture Institute Association "Designing and Building Livable Communities"
  • Screened PBS television program “Design E2” Innovative leaders and technologies driving sustainable practices worldwide.
  • Connie Barbian – Inn Development and Management LLC

Heart of the City  •  PO Box 399  •  Fort Atkinson WI 53538