About the Apeiron Institute

The Apeiron Institute is a recognized leader in the field of sustainability education and advocacy in Rhode Island. A locally focused nonprofit with offices in Providence and an ecological housing model, the Center for Sustainable Living, in Coventry, Apeiron’s mission is to provide education, advocacy, and research opportunities to help Rhode Islanders create more sustainable lifestyles, communities, and institutional practices.

Apeiron’s work is grounded in a vision of a world where humanity respects its intimate connection with the earth and lives in a manner that fosters educated, prosperous, physically and spiritually healthy communities while creating and sustaining clean air and water, fertile soil, abundant wildlife, and beautiful places.

Focusing primarily on educating Rhode Islanders toward developing greater awareness of sustainability issues and integrating sustainable practices into business, civic, and personal life, Apeiron’s current work includes:

• Integrating sustainable practices into all areas of K-12 Education through the Sustainable Schools Network and environmental education programming
• Facilitating sustainable business practices through the work of the Sustainable Business Group
• Providing Green Job Training and education programs to area workers
• Educating the public through a wide variety of programs at the institute’s Center for Sustainable Living
• Partnering with higher education institutions to develop opportunities for research and education in the field of sustainability
• Planning and hosting the annual Rhode Island Sustainable Living Festival, a day of educational workshops, exhibitions, children’s activities, and musical performances

VISION, MISSION, GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Mission

To transform Rhode Island into a sustainable state where the needs of the present are met without compromising the needs of future generations. By promoting sustainable living practices we act as a catalyst to creating healthy communities. We lead by example and serve as an information portal that educates, connects and inspires individuals, families, schools, businesses, communities, governments and other institutions to live more sustainably.

Vision

A world where humanity recognizes and respects its intimate connections with the earth’s systems and its multiple forms of life including:

• A better world that offers clean air and water, fertile soil, abundant wildlands and wildlife, and beautiful places.
• Sufficient resources to keep us healthy without sacrificing the earth.
• Healthy economically vibrant communities that celebrate inspiring education, meaningful work, and artistic and spiritual expression.

Guiding Principles

• Sustainability should be an integral part of all decisions that our society makes.
• An awareness of interconnectedness of all life, combined with a long term global perspective, is essential for ensuring a sustainable future.
• Sustainable communities should support economic, environmental, physical and spiritual well-being.
• Our organization must model sustainability in all its activities through efforts such as conservation, recycling, and use of environmentally sound technologies.
• A critical component of strong communities is healthy interpersonal relationships based on mutual respect, fairness, accountability, and honest and productive communication.
• Each of us has an important and meaningful role to play. Our true strength lies in our collective power to create a sustainable world that offers opportunity and hope for all.