Our 17th Annual Awards Event is Going Online to the World

Register Now for the 2020 Spirituality and Sustainability Leadership Awards Online Event

For the first time in this events 17 year history, it will be live, to the world, from the Fuller Dome.

For the first time in this events 17 year history, it will be live, to the world, from the Fuller Dome.

The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability is hosting its 17th annual Leadership Awards Dinner on Saturday, October 17th, at 7:00 p.m. LIVE online to the world from the Fuller Dome. Each year the Center bestows two awards, one for Spirituality Leadership and one for Leadership in Sustainability. These dual awards reflect the Center’s mission to “promote humanity’s sacred connection to the Earth and each other.” The 2020 Spirituality and Sustainability Award recipients are:

Spirituality Leadership Award: Sally Burgess – Sally Burgess, MBA, MS, is the founder and director of Studio Gaia, nurturing wellness practices for body-mind-spirit through yoga, meditation, and guidance for personal inner peace and spirituality. Studio Gaia also sponsors spiritual reading groups and an interfaith prayer circle, as well as raising funds for disaster relief, and offering free clothing for those in need. In addition to her efforts at Studio Gaia, Sally is also a Sierra Club organizer for the downstate region of Illinois. Through her many activities she encourages individuals to explore their unique gifts and talents within various nurturing environments.

Sustainability Leadership Award: William Odell – Bill Odell is a true leader in his field, having worked for 32 years as an architect with the HOK architecture firm. He designed a diverse range of award-winning sustainable projects around the world. Bill’s comprehensive knowledge of design science, provided progressive solutions to HOK’s industry-leading sustainable design initiatives. Bill is a frequent speaker on architecture, environmental issues and professional ethics. Bill helped to define green building standards by coauthoring "The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design," which quickly became a reference guide on sustainable, high-performance design across the field of architecture.

Tickets for this LIVE online awards ceremony are $10
For more information call Ben Lowder at (618) 650-3246 or email: fullerdome@hotmail.com

Learn About Solar Over Your Lunch Hour

The Solar Power

The SIUE Fuller Center for Spirituality & Sustainability is pleased to partner with Grow Solar Metro East this year. Join us on Tuesday, August 18th at Noon for an info-packed virtual Power Hour!

Join us on Tuesday, August 18th at Noon for an info-packed virtual Power Hour!

Join us on Tuesday, August 18th at Noon for an info-packed virtual Power Hour!

Why dedicate your lunch hour to this? Whether you're thinking of going solar this year or sometime in the future, we promise you will up your Solar IQ significantly! You'll learn what a group-buy program is and its benefits while getting a crash course in how solar works, site considerations, cost recovery incentives, financing options, and more. You'll also have the chance to ask live questions to solar experts in real time.

Why is the SIUE Fuller Center partnering on this program? Going solar not only lowers electric bills, but it also means cleaner air, water, and soil. This benefits all of us - humans, wildlife, and the healthy habitats upon which we all depend. In addition, our 2018 Sustainability Leadership award recipient, Sheila Voss, who also serves as a Grow Solar Ambassador, will be hosting the August 18th Power Hour, and would love to invite all those who share two of her passions - a clean energy future and healthy lands and waters for all. Join us! Sign up info below.

NEW DATE for our: 2020 Spirituality & Sustainability Awards Dinner

OUR DINNER HAS A NEW OCTOBER DATE

Sally Burgess & William Odell to be Honored at the 17th Annual Awards Dinner

The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability is hosting its 17th annual Leadership Awards Dinner on Saturday, October 17th, at 7:00 p.m. in the LeClaire Room on the N. O. Nelson Campus of Lewis and Clark Community College in Edwardsville. Each year the Center bestows two awards, one for Spirituality Leadership and one for Leadership in Sustainability. These dual awards reflect the Center’s mission to “promote humanity’s sacred connection to the Earth and each other.” The 2020 Spirituality and Sustainability Award recipients are:

 Spirituality Leadership Award: Sally Burgess – Sally Burgess, MBA, MS, is the founder and director of Studio Gaia, nurturing wellness practices for body-mind-spirit through yoga, meditation, and guidance for personal inner peace and spirituality.  Studio Gaia also sponsors spiritual reading groups and an interfaith prayer circle, as well as raising funds for disaster relief, and offering free clothing for those in need.  In addition to her efforts at Studio Gaia, Sally is also a Sierra Club organizer for the downstate region of Illinois.  Through her many activities she encourages individuals to explore their unique gifts and talents within various nurturing environments.

 Sustainability Leadership Award: William Odell – Bill Odell is a true leader in his field, having worked for 32 years as an architect with the HOK architecture firm. He designed a diverse range of award-winning sustainable projects around the world. Bill’s comprehensive knowledge of design science, provided progressive solutions to HOK’s industry-leading sustainable design initiatives. Bill is a frequent speaker on architecture, environmental issues and professional ethics. Bill helped to define green building standards by coauthoring "The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design," which quickly became a reference guide on sustainable, high-performance design across the field of architecture.

 The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability is a nonprofit multifaith home for spirituality and sustainability efforts housed in the Buckminster Fuller designed, miniature earth, dome on the SIUE campus.

Shoji Sadao, a Humble Genius

We are deeply sadden to learn of the passing of architect Shoji Sadao. In 1964 Sadao co-founded the architectural firm Fuller & Sadao Inc. with his mentor and teacher Buckminster Fuller. Sadao is the architect of record on many of Bucky’s most significant projects including the Fuller Dome here on the SIUE campus. Shoji was a brilliant architect and designer in his own right who gave much of himself in the celebration and promotion of his mentors Isamu Noguchi and Buckminster Fuller. Shoji was a compassionate and supportive soul who put his energy towards the fulfillment of transformative ideas, rather than personal aggrandizement. His humility and vision is an inspiration to us all and he is sorrowfully missed.

Shoji Sadao (L) and Buckminster Fuller (R) at the Inaugural Event for our Center in 1972

Shoji Sadao (L) and Buckminster Fuller (R) at the Inaugural Event for our Center in 1972

Read more on the legacy of Shoji Sadao here at the Buckminster Fuller Institute, in the article they published upon his passing: https://mailchi.mp/bfi.org/on-tuesday-its-time-for-revolution-593327?e=02a09f00c9

Worship for a Wounded Planet

2019 Celebration of World Faiths

The 2019 Celebration of World Faiths theme was, Worship for a Wounded Planet and it was communicated through a collection of multi-faith readings from the Assisi Declarations. The Assisi Declarations are a collection of individual calls from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Islamic leaders concerning their spiritual relationship with nature and sacred duty to care for it. The program featured Native American songs from the Red Cedar Circle. A Hindu Declaration read by Yolanda Scholler, Jewish declaration read by Sarah Sherer-Kohlburn, Christian declaration read by Maggie Deckard, Islam declaration read by Aun Jafri, Buddhist declaration read by Daisy Yen and a Baha’i declaration read by Chris Gourdine. Plus a musical performance from the Lovejoy United Presbyterian Church.

2019 UN Climate Action Summit

Proposing a Goal of Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050

UN Climate Action Summit 2019 (Shared here from the UN Website)

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Global emissions are reaching record levels and show no sign of peaking. The last four years were the four hottest on record, and winter temperatures in the Arctic have risen by 3°C since 1990. Sea levels are rising, coral reefs are dying, and we are starting to see the life-threatening impact of climate change on health, through air pollution, heatwaves and risks to food security. 

The impacts of climate change are being felt everywhere and are having very real consequences on people’s lives. Climate change is disrupting national economies, costing us dearly today and even more tomorrow. But there is a growing recognition that affordable, scalable solutions are available now that will enable us all to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient economies.

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2019 UN Climate Action Reports

Click here to read the full reports from the UN

The latest analysis shows that if we act now, we can reduce carbon emissions within 12 years and hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C and even, as asked by the latest science, to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. 

Thankfully, we have the Paris Agreement – a visionary, viable, forward-looking policy framework that sets out exactly what needs to be done to stop climate disruption and reverse its impact. But the agreement itself is meaningless without ambitious action.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is calling on all leaders to come to New York on 23 September with concrete, realistic plans to enhance their nationally determined contributions by 2020, in line with reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent over the next decade, and to net zero emissions by 2050.

To be effective and credible, these plans cannot address mitigation alone: they must show the way toward a full transformation of economies in line with sustainable development goals. They should not create winners and losers or add to economic inequality; they must be fair and create new opportunities and protections for those negatively impacted, in the context of a just transition. And they should also include women as key decision-makers: only gender-diverse decision-making has the capacity to tackle the different needs that will emerge in this coming period of critical transformation.

The Summit will bring together governments, the private sector, civil society, local authorities and other international organizations to develop ambitious solutions in six areas: a global transition to renewable energy; sustainable and resilient infrastructures and cities; sustainable agriculture and management of forests and oceans; resilience and adaptation to climate impacts; and alignment of public and private finance with a net zero economy.

Business is on our side. Accelerated climate solutions can strengthen our economies and create jobs, while bringing cleaner air, preserving natural habitats and biodiversity, and protecting our environment. 

New technologies and engineering solutions are already delivering energy at a lower cost than the fossil-fuel driven economy. Solar and onshore wind are now the cheapest sources of new bulk power in virtually all major economies. But we must set radical change in motion. 

This means ending subsidies for fossil fuels and high-emitting agriculture and shifting towards renewable energy, electric vehicles and climate-smart practices. It means carbon pricing that reflects the true cost of emissions, from climate risk to the health hazards of air pollution. And it means accelerating the closure of coal plants and halting the construction of new ones and replacing jobs with healthier alternatives so that the transformation is just, inclusive and profitable.

Celebration of World Faiths is on 10/14/19

Please join us for our annual Celebration of World Faiths in the miniature earth, Fuller Dome at SIUE, hosted by the Center for Spirituality and Sustainability. This years theme is: “Worship for a Wounded Planet” and it will feature a multi-faith service dedicating prayer to the planet. We will be finding unity and common cause across faith traditions in honoring the creator by protecting creation.

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Equinox Ceremony in the Dome

Sound & Symmetry ~ Fall Equinox Ceremony

An Equinox Ceremony in the Buckminster Fuller Dome at SIUE with Benjamin Lowder, Pati Pellerito & Stephanie Kusmer.

An Equinox Ceremony in the Buckminster Fuller Dome at SIUE with Benjamin Lowder, Pati Pellerito & Stephanie Kusmer.

On Saturday, September 21, 2019 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, join Benjamin Lowder, Pati Pellerito and Stephanie Kusmer for Sound & Symmetry ~ Fall Equinox Ceremony at the SIUE Fuller Dome.

Benjamin will lead a guided Equinox Sacred Ceremony, invoking the polarities brought on by the Equinox; assisting us as we tune into our center of equilibrium, connecting with other's and the crystalline symmetry and geometry of the Fuller Dome.

You will be supported by harmonic vibrations of gongs, singing bowls and sacred drum rhythms presented by Pati and Stephanie. Together, we will raise and amplify our intentions as we gather in community on this seasonal celebration.
Doors Open at 6:30, we’ll start ceremony at 7pm. Once ceremony starts doors will be locked.

To pay with credit card pre-register at Eventbrit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sound-symmetry-fall-equinox-ceremony-tickets-70531063309?fbclid=IwAR0dvaGoMx9EuB9SWiEAlNINT982qbHsvYC-ocG9UCNTjkP8Rpd4PiNIFHo $30 in advance, $35 cash at door. No cards will be taken at the door. We are limiting the tickets to 40, so sign up early to save your spot.

Bring blanket or mat for comfort. No children under 12 and no refunds unless event is cancelled.

Earth Day in the Fuller Dome

Earth Day 2019

For Earth Day 2019 we created a two fold celebration of the planet. The first half of our celebration occurred at noon on Earth Day and featured a “Blessing For Our Planet” by Rev. Annie Clark, our 2014 Spirituality Award Winner. Those in attendance joined hands in a circle beneath the dome and offered a blessing that included the request to:

“Let us each care for this gift entrusted to us. Let us individually and collectively open ourselves to be worthy of this stewardship, as we joyfully shower unconditional love, compassion and care for our planet, which so wonderfully provides for us.” - Rev. Annie Clark

Earth Day 2019 “Blessing For Our Planet” photo by Howard Ash, Southern Illinois University Marketing and Communications

Earth Day 2019 “Blessing For Our Planet” photo by Howard Ash, Southern Illinois University Marketing and Communications

The second half of our Earth Day celebration consisted of a round-table style discussion lead by a distinguished panel of professionals working in the fields of sustainable design. The discussion utilized Buckminster Fuller’s legacy as a catalyst for entering into an analysis of contemporary sustainable design practices lead by the considerable shared experience of our panelists:

John C. Guenther, FAIA,
LEED AP
John C. Guenther Architect

Daniel F. Hellmuth, AIA
LEEDTM Accredited Professional Principal
hellmuth + bicknese architects

William Odell, FAIA,
LEED® AP
HOK Architects

Angela A. Moore, LEED AP O+M,
TRUE Advisor Facilities and Sustainability Coordinator
Missouri Historical Society

Earth Day 2019 in the Fuller Dome

A Perfect Way to Honor Earth Day

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On Monday, April 22nd, The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability is hosting a pair of special events in the Fuller Dome on the Southern Illinois University Campus, Edwardsville, to observe Earth Day 2019. This two-fold celebration of the planet is intended to address both the spiritual and material aspects of how we can be good stewards of this planet. The Fuller Dome is a translucent, miniature-earth, geodesic dome built by the architectural firm of Fuller and Sadao, Inc. on the campus of SIUE in 1971. Designer Buckminster Fuller and Architect Shoji Sadao sited the center’s dome to straddle the Earth’s 90th Meridian which serendipitously allowed them to reference their earlier work on a more accurate world map that Fuller called the Dymaxion Map. This map also used the 90th meridian as its central reference point, and the resulting structure allows occupants to get a profound sense of their place in the world and the worlds place in the Universe.

The first event is a “Prayer for the Planet” happening in the Fuller Dome at noon on Earth Day. The “Prayer for the Planet” is a nondenominational expression of love and gratitude directed toward the earth. The Fuller Dome’s translucent, miniature-earth, dome provides the perfect place to direct our thanks to our planet that we all too often take for granted. Attendees will be invited to join hands beneath the dome and the Center’s 2014 Spirituality Award winner, Rev. Annie P. Clark of Inner Splendor will share a devotional she wrote titled “A Blessing for Our Planet.”  

The second portion of the Fuller Dome Earth Day Celebration begins at 7:00 pm on the evening of 4/22 in the newly inaugurated Fuller Dome Gallery. The Gallery is currently exhibiting a collection of art prints created by Buckminster Fuller of his most transformative inventions. This collection of photographs and renderings of Fuller’s sustainably driven inventions are being offered as inspiration to professionals working in the fields of architecture, design and engineering. Fuller called for a "design science revolution" to “make the world work, for 100% of humanity, in the shortest possible time, through spontaneous cooperation, without ecological offense or the disadvantage of anyone.” Attendees will join in an informal round table discussion lead by professionals working in fields of design science to discuss how our built environment can be in better balance with our natural environment. The discussion will draw on the inspiration presented by Fuller's legacy and offer it as a challenge to create a more sustainable society by taking an examined look at where we have been, where we are are now and where we need to go as a species.

The Earth Day 2019 events in the Fuller Dome are free and open to all who wish to attend. For more information email fullerdome@hotmail.com or visit www.fullerdome.org

Scenes From the 2019 Spirituality and Sustainability Awards

Thank You to our sponsors and attendees who made the 2019 Spirituality and Sustainability Awards Dinner possible. This years award winners provided a fantastic evening of inspiration.

2019 Spirituality Leadership Award:Rev. Steve Jackson– Reverend Steve Jackson is the Pastor of Mt. Joy Missionary Baptist Church, the oldest Black Baptist Church in Edwardsville, Illinois.  Mt. Joy has been richly blessed to have had Rev. Steve Jackson as its Pastor for over 40 years.

2019 Sustainability Leadership Award:Goshen Market– For over twenty years the Land of Goshen Community Market in Edwardsville, IL. Has provided local produce, crafts, and music to downtown Edwardsville. The Market has proven to be an integral part of the community using its resources to provide greater access to healthy food, encourage the growth of local agriculture and to educate the community on sustainable farming practices.

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Equinox Balance

Spring Equinox Event Under the Dome, 3/20/19

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The day of the Spring Equinox marks a seasonal transition point when the amount of daylight is equal to the amount of darkness. This represents a powerful opportunity to discover balance inside of ourselves and the world around us. The Equinox is a time for us to come into alignment within ourselves and consider the larger planetary motions that are also coming into balance on the day of the Equinox.

Dianna Lucas presents “Equinox Balance” in the Fuller Dome 3/20/19 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Dianna Lucas presents “Equinox Balance” in the Fuller Dome 3/20/19 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM

We are hosting a special “Equinox Balance” program in the Fuller Dome being lead by Dianna Lucas. Dianna is a student and teacher of meditation and movement techniques with more than 35 years of experience. For “Equinox Balance” Dianna will be combining yoga and guided meditation with sound under the Fuller Dome to promote physical and spiritual alignment. The program will run from 6:30 to 8:30 with an optional potluck to follow. Guests may bring a dish to share if they would like to stay after the program for a community potluck and conversation. $40 registration for the “Equinox Balance” program Includes Sacred Cacao by Dianna and the community potluck. Register here on Dianna’s “Sacred Wisdom” website, space is limited. We look forward to seeing you on the equinox in the Center’s miniature earth dome, designed by Buckminster Fuller for the SIUE campus in Edwardsville, IL.

  • yoga with Dianna

  • guided meditation

  • sound healing

  • sacred Cacao

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"Our InVisible World" Book Signing in the Fuller Dome

New Book Reflects on the Transformative Powers Inside of Us

Cover Art and title of Rev. Annie Clark and Bill Anderson’s new book

Cover Art and title of Rev. Annie Clark and Bill Anderson’s new book

We invite you to join us at the CSS on January 26th from 10:00 am to noon for a book signing by Rev. Annie Clark and Bill Anderson, authors of Our Invisible World. Rev. Annie has graced the CSS Annual Celebration of World Faiths by serving in a variety of roles such as panelist, moderator and prayer leader. She received our annual Spirituality Leadership Award in 2014. We are grateful for her generosity of spirit!

Rev Annie Clark receiving the 2014 Spirituality Leadership Award from the CSS.

Rev Annie Clark receiving the 2014 Spirituality Leadership Award from the CSS.

In this lovely book, Rev. Annie and Mr. Anderson examine the powers of love and good that reside in each of us by reflecting on various scripture passages. The reflections are both inspiring and practical, deep and relatable, rendering this book a good bedside or coffee table companion for starting the day. The authors examine the unseen forces within each of us – feelings, emotions, beliefs and fears – that influence the visible world around us, ‘moment by moment.’ While starting from scripture passages, the reflections offer food for thought for people of any faith tradition to guide their daily lives.

 Rev. Annie, an ordained minister, is a graduate of Holmes Institute, formerly Ernest Holmes College, School of Ministry in St. Louis. Her current ministry is Inner Splendor. Through metaphysical Bible studies, spiritual retreats and workshops Inner Splendor serves people of all faiths who seek to examine and uncover their personal beliefs and understanding of life issues. A member of the Metro-East Interfaith Partnership, she is a frequent guest speaker at area churches and civic events. She is a board member of the Eagle’s Nest of St Clair County, serving homeless veterans.

 Mr. Bill Anderson has used his background in engineering, accounting and information services to pursue a successful career managing large software development projects for Fortune 100 companies. Early in his life he was driven to learn more than what church or school could teach about spiritual truth and embarked on a path of self-discovery. He shares the knowledge he’s gained through this pursuit to encourage people to utilize their own power within to be their source of happiness, love and connection to all living things.

Rev. Annie and Mr. Anderson will be signing their book in the Fuller Gallery at the Dome on SIUE’s campus from 10 a.m.  to noon on Saturday, January 26, 2019. Hope to see you there