“Citizens for a Sustainable Future (CSF) is the catalyst for humanity evolving, transitioning into the 21st century.” –Marcus A. Grignon, Director
Once merely an idea floating inside Marcus’s head, Citizens for a Sustainable Future has now become a reality. CSF is an official, non-profit organization registered by the State of Wisconsin. Now let’s back up a bit: where did the idea of starting a non-profit organization start? Why does humanity need CSF and who will benefit?
In the fall of 2007, Marcus Grignon became educated in sustainable development and became angered by what he perceives as an apathetic society. The harnessing of this anger gave birth to CSF. With the help and support of his mentors, “The Vicious V” and “The Junkyard Dog”, Marcus began formulating plans for a non-profit organization and drafting the Articles of Incorporation required by the State of Wisconsin. He recruited the help of his family and closest friends in managing the organization. With the help of Marcus’s closest friend, Onaem, the Code of Ethics were drafted in one day at a local coffee shop. And on May 28, 2008, Citizens for a Sustainable Future became officially a non-stock corporation under the Wisconsin State Statutes, but it did not end there.
Taking a summer off from college, the serious work of building a foundation for the organization unfolded. Holding Board meetings, organizing paperwork, attending conferences, name-dropping for CSF, and trading in a car for an electric bike to get around Wisconsin became the primary tasks. From there, Marcus began reshaping his own life into a sustainable lifestyle for future generations to live by. Riding around Wisconsin on the electric bike, Marcus ran into many people who were all about sustainability, but were in need of someone who could advocate for the big push toward a sustainable future. Feeling the need to take on this daunting challenge, Marcus just knew that opportunities would present themselves.
In the fall of 2008, Marcus was given the opportunity to travel to Chicago, Illinois to speak on behalf of CSF at an Allstate Insurance Company gathering, and on December 8, 2008, Marcus attended the Northeast Wisconsin, “NEW North” Summit, in Appleton, Wisconsin where he had the opportunity to present the new sustainability initiative for the NEW North with his friend and ally, Paul Linzmeyer, to a crowd of over 800 people, including Wisconsin’s Governor Jim Doyle. One significant day, the opportunity to go to school in Washington, D.C. and complete an internship flashed before Marcus’s eyes. The George Washington University Semester in Washington program focused on educating young minds in campaign management and lobbying. Goals for completing this program include being able to go back to Wisconsin knowing what it takes to win elections, form coalitions, influence public opinion, and facilitating the passing of legislation that furthers the needs of a sustainable society. These are the crucial skills and actions that CSF needs to fulfill its mission to transform the current society to a 21st Century Coalition of Worldly Citizens concerned with the health of our Mother Earth in its entirety. Marcus has recently completed this internship as well as interning at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network in Washington, D.C., learning what is needed to succeed in the dream of creating a Pan-Indian sustainability movement that will create economic development for Indian Country, revitalize culture and language, and bring nutrition back to the public school system.
Citizen’s for a Sustainable Future is now poised at the beginning stages of facilitating significant change, instituting a platform for future generations to live by.