Our big merger: In July 2007, EcoCity Cleveland announced that it was merging with The Cleveland Museum of Natural History to create a new Center for Regional Sustainability. This is a fantastic opportunity to align the resources of two strong and respected organizations and accelerate the transformation of Northeast Ohio toward greater sustainability.

Organizationally, the merger makes perfect sense. EcoCity Cleveland's work will gain a more secure organizational home with the prestige and administrative support of a world-class institution. The Museum will gain expertise about the design of ecological cities that will help it engage the public about how human beings can live sustainably on Earth in the 21st century. And Northeast Ohio will gain a prominent center of sustainability thought and practice that will help make the region more competitive.

For more on the merger:

• David Beach's letter to EcoCity members
• Natural History Museum director Bruce Latimer's statement
• Museum press release on the merger
• Plain Dealer story

We encourage all EcoCity Cleveland friends to continue supporting our work for ecological cities by supporting our new Center for Regional Sustainability at the Natural History Museum. Donations to the Museum can be earmarked for the center.

Thanks!