Sustainability Activist
Melanie Logue DeBo Stauffer
Melanie DeBo Stauffer has been a “Grass Roots” political and environmental “Change Agent” for some 40 years with a focus on economy, environment, community social well being and the arts. She describes herself as a rugged individualist who is committed to rigorous dialogue and relentless optimism.
DeBo started her activism early at the side of her mother who was active in Red Cross activities in Ventura County, California and her fathers involvement in local politics through the Elks Club in Oxnard California. Both her parents were involved with the local Catholic church and civic functions in the rural town of Camarillo California. DeBo's agricultural background comes from her maternal grandfather John Baptiste DeBo who ranched the Pleasant Valley in Ventura County California for some 40 years. The Overlook Gardens, a project of WRI, is dedicated in part to her grandfather.
Other influences over the years of import were:
· Camarillo High school debate teacher Mr. Houston who set the stage for her passion for rigorous dialogue of legitimate argument.
· Fritz Pearls pioneer in the work of GESTALT therapy DeBo having attended some of his last session at the Esalen Institute in Big Sir California 1968 http://psy1.clarion.edu/jms/Perls.html
· The legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt, as Debo worked in San Francisco to manifest the ERA for Women in the 80's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_Rights_Amendment
· Tim and Danielle Heath Spiritual Council, Beyond Intuition, Santa Fe New Mexico '86
· John Kimmy / Emigdio Byon , Telavalya Institute, Native Seed Conservancy, Santa Fe New Mexico '86
· Anthony Robbins DeBo having attended his Neuro Linguistics Conference Hawaii 92 http://www.tonyrobbins.com/Home/Home.aspx
· Wayne Jones, Turtle Island Institue Van Couver Canada http://www.tii-clics.org/
· Governor Jerry Brown "Brown for President '92 " (photo http://jerrybrown.org/
· Architect William McDonough The New Industrial Revolution 2000 photo http://www.mcdonough.com/
· Architect Vern Swabac Sustainability Elder Arizona (Photo.. http://www.swabackpartners.com/resumes/Vern%20Web%20Resume%20011906.pdf )
· Ron Hubert Hoz Ho International mentor http://home.nau.edu/envsci/rhubert.asp
The Windy River Institute, founded by Melanie DeBo Stauffer is the private philanthropic research vehicle and her personal Sustainability advocacy platform.
Melanie DeBo Stauffer
Her WRI has acted as the unofficial “Green” chamber of commerce for Mohave County since 1998 marketing the Tri- State area to the local resident population , the regional , national and international Sustainability Community lobbying for support to individuals and businesses helping them find and manifest the collateral opportunities in the emerging areas of Sustainability and the new Green Economy. Promoting county wide and city specific top use of new smart growth concepts as well as new technologies strategies to build out and identify economic development opportunities as put forth by the state of Arizona “Development and Investment Prospectus": Battelle Study and "Sustainability: Issue of Our Age" the Morrison Institute of Public Policy at ASU and Tri-University Colaboration 2004.
DeBo is described by colleagues:
Ron Hubert of Hoz Ho International:
I describe Melanie as a Maven, as described in the book Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell as follows:
- Comes from a Yiddish word meaning “one who accumulates knowledge”
- What sets a maven apart is not how much they know but how they pass it along.
- They have the knowledge and social skills to start a word-of-mouth epidemic.
- They are more socially motivated
Anthony Floyd, Program Director Scottsdale Green Building Program
Lorna McLeod, Director New Earth Foundation
Jim Wiegel, Insitute of Cultural Affairs:
"A visionary, passionate and down to earth woman, Melanie continues to believe in and work towards the day when the area around Laughlin and Bullhead City will be a living illustration of the promise of a green economy."
Dr. Charles Burke defined DeBo’s work for the past 12 years in a recommendation for a LIFE TIME ACHIEVMENT AWARD.
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