Pictured Above: Three Norton Feminists, mother and daughters, on one of many 1950’s nature walks to learn to love and to cherish our Mother Earth.
Hand-in-hand with conservationist Bob, who had designed one of the first solar projects in Bird Springs, Arizona during the seventies, Bob and Jenny continue to lead our communities in caring for our Mother Earth, through education, management of natural resources, demographic advocacy, and caring for our neighborhoods as they build and renovate affordable L.E.E.D. certified homes, with affordable utilities.
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it ~ Psalm 24
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ASU Student Combats Global Vulnerabilities with Sustainable Technology
Source: Arizona State University News
Akane Ota was living in a village far from Dhaka, the country’s capital. Her assignment with Grameen Bank, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning microfinance organization, asked that she survey villagers to assess their living conditions, then create a business plan to improve them.
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ESTABLISHED in 2009 with a gift from Jenny Norton and Bob Ramsey, the Norton and Ramsey Sustainability Scholarship was the very first endowment for undergraduate students at:
Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability:
It is awarded each fall semester to a School of Sustainability undergraduate major (sophomore level or higher) who is interested in pursuing studies about how populations facing poverty and social justice issues may be more likely to benefit from sustainability practices.
ALSO, our Foundation serves Jenny’s alma mater at ASU’s School of Religious Studies with The Arava Institute, of the Ben Gurion University within the Negev of Israel for advancing awareness, research and knowledge of our cause: working with ASU’s Professor Joel Gereboff, ASU’s Hillel Director Emeritus Rabbi Barton Lee, and Arava Institute’s Director David Lehrer, Jenny and Bob scholarship Arizona State University students from our Religious Studies Department to send them to study at the premier environmental research facility of our planet, the Arava Institute of Ben Gurion University, located within the Negev of Israel.
AND THROUGH, ASU’s Institute for Humanities Research (where Jenny initiated a Women and Gender Studies Research Cluster ), Jenny and Bob are also funding educational work through the Institute for Humanities Research, building on their work being done at the Global Institute of Sustainability, (GIOS), to enable face-to-face dialogue among members of groups which include scientists, social scientists, and humanists.
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A reporter from The Arizona Republic, Steve Yozwiak, wrote, referring to Jenny’s purchase and use of an electric-powered car during the seventies and eighties, that “State Representative Jenny Norton has always been a little ahead of her time.”
The Phoenix Gazette reporter, Richard de Uriarte, agreed about her environmental activism, writing that “within weeks she has become chief advocate of clean-burning fuels and groundwater recharge.”
“Look away, you rollin’ river; Shenandoah, I will not deceive you”
Copyright © 1987 by Special Rider Music~Bob Dylan Hal Schrader/Traditional Reprinted with permission to JL Norton.
As co-prime sponsor of the 1989 Omnibus Clean Air Act, Jenny’s language regarding Arizona’s mandated use of ethanol passed, was signed into law, and, despite harsh lobbying against it by the oil industry, is stated verbatim on each retail gasoline pump today.
Jenny’s Arizona Revised Statute: Codified 1989
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The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
Jenny and Bob welcome you to walk alongside Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona, Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat para la Humanidad Guatemala, the City of Tempe, Arizona State University, New Course, and Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, (with supportive experts from the Clinton Global Initiative America) as together we help to build sustainable and affordable homes for the Least Among Us.
The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes leaders to turn ideas into action. CGI Commitments to Action represent bold new ways that CGI members address global challenges—implemented through new methods of partnership and designed to maximize impact. Commitments can be small or large, global or local. No matter the size or scope, commitments help CGI members translate practical goals into meaningful and measurable results.
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The Ramsey Foundation’s first keystone sustainable build of an affordable home with affordable utilities was in Glendale, Arizona. With 100 volunteers, we constructed the first LEED Platinum Certified Sustainable affordable home in the nation.
“An affordable mortgage,” offered Jenny Norton, “should be accompanied by an affordable utility bill, along with a heart to heal our Mother Earth.”
ASU School of Sustainability Energy Efficiency & Equity in Tempe
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“Let justice roll down like waters…” Amos 5
To learn more we welcome you to see Glendale’s Home Green Home, the video that also won the 2009 Rocky Mountain Emmy Award, and to read the following article: https://www.glendaleaz.com/greenhouse/ Since then, with Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona, we have built a NetZero home and one hundred other completely green homes that are affordable, including three in our home town, Tempe. 
Jenny and Bob also walk alongside Habitat for Humanity, International to provide clean water and shelter in our nations of need, particularly assist in alleviating poverty in rural areas of Haiti and Guatemala: We welcome you to look here: Haiti, and Building a Decent Place for Children, and to read more about our Neighborhoods mission, (Seeds of Hope), in beautiful Guatemala below. (Also, please see Bob raising another new wall in the photo to the right): A continuing recent project was in La Victoria, Tempe, our hometown, with our Wall-raising on January 5th, 2013 and the Dedication on June 1st, as we built the first LEED Platinum level sustainable and affordable home with affordable utilities in Tempe, partnering with 500 volunteers from the Tempe Community Action Agency.
Mayor Mark Mitchell and Vice Mayor Corey Woods were our guests of honor.
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Pictured above U.S. Green Building Council/Habitat for Humanity: In construction and and/or rehabilitation of 300 greenbuilt sustainable affordable homes with affordable utilities, within Tempe’s Victory Acres, with Ramsey Social Justice Foundation’s Bob Ramsey and Jenny Norton, guided by Habitat for Humanity Director of Environmental Construction Mr. Paul Murphy.
Overseeing our vision and action are the Ramsey Social Justice Foundation’s Social Justice Minister, Jenny, RSJF’s Outreach Director Bill Epps, RSJF’s Chief of Staff Gina Inorio, RSJF’s Neighborhoods Project Product Coordinator Jake Ireland, RSJF’s Media Specialist Denise Rentschler, Community Liaison Barb Harris, Website Artiste Robin Manelis; with overall coordination from our Tempe Neighborhoods Program Manager, Shauna Warner, New Course CEO Dr. Jamie Bechtel, Esq., Chief Program Officer Karl Morrison.
We are honored to include the partnerships with The Ramsey Social Justice Foundation Jason Barlow, CEO of Habitat Central Arizona, his Development Officers Roger Neuhaus and Liz Pabst-Wanless, Neighborhoods Experts Maribel Saucedo and Gabriel Jaramillo, Marketing Director Dusty Parsons; Habitat para la Humanidad of Guatemala’s Director Victor Velasquez and Development Director Steven J. Cook; with leadership by the City of Tempe’s Mayor Honorable Mark Mitchell, Council Member Honorable Lauren Kuby, retired Council Member Honorable Corey Woods and Council Member Honorable Kolby Granville, as well as City Staff members Public Information Officer Denise Rentschler, Tempe Neighborhoods Director Shauna Warner, Naomi Farrell and Larry Schmalz; with expertise from Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability Development Director Connie Eggert, Executive Director Patricia Reiter, Assistant Professor Scott Cloutier, Engagement Manager Mara DeFilippis, Sustainable Practices Director Mick Dalrymple, including guidance and volunteer participation partnership via former Executive Director Bill Epps with our Tempe Community Action Agency.
We partner together for our 2015 through 2019 vision to certify sustainable our Tempe neighborhoods, La Victoria and Escalante, as well as rural Guatemala neighborhoods Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Milpas Altas, and Santa Lucia.
As Tempe Community Action Agency Executive Director Deborah Arteaga has expressed, “in partnership with The Ramsey Social Justice Foundation and Habitat for Humanity, we can work together to transform the community while respecting its existing fabric!”
Our project, of scaling up our mission of building more than 100 sustainable affordable homes to building, globally, sustainable neighborhoods was officially launched in June 2016, and is termed “Sustainable Neighborhoods for WellBeing and Happiness,” with some more details following.
Seeds of Hope: A Partnership with Ramsey Social Justice Foundation, Arizona State University, New Course, and Habitat for Humanity Guatemala
From Director of International Resource Development, Guatemala, Steven J. Cook, regarding Seeds of Hope, “the needs of these communities are so great and diverse, and we here at Habitat Guatemala are encouraged to be working with partners such as yourselves to work with families in need and assist them in improving their living conditions.” 
From Roger Neuhaus, Chief Development Officer of Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona, regarding Seeds of Hope: “This relationship makes the world smaller.” 
Pictured above: Led by Señora Pinillos, wife of Mayor of Santa Lucia, in Community Meeting, following opening prayers by Señora de Los Oraciones, with Two Sustainable Neighborhoods Team Representatives from Arizona State University, New Course, Habitat Guatemala, Ramsey Social Justice Foundation; followed by listening within Milpas Altas’ Community Meeting, by Steven J. Cook, Director International Development, Habitat Guatemala, Bob Ramsey, Founder, Two Sustainable Neighborhoods (CEO, Ramsey Social Justice Foundation), Dr. Jamie Bechtel, Project Manager, Two Sustainable Neighborhoods, (CEO New Course), Jenny Norton, Social Justice Minister.
UPDATE: July 2016 Progress Report from Santo Domingo, Xenacoj:
As members of the Clinton Foundation, Jenny and Bob partner with Habitat for Humanity, International, for a CGI Commitment to Action to continue to rebuild Haiti, following our Foundation’s ongoing service to our Haitian neighbors since the devastating earthquake (Please see website page Habitat for Humanity, OBE Graham Nash, and Haiti.
May God bless Graham Nash for his service to our Haitian neighbors.
Under the wonderful guidance of Habitat for Humanity’s Maribel Saucedo and Gabriel Jaramillo, during January 2016, Habitat Staff with Assistant Professor Cloutier’s ASU Classmembers canvassed our Victory Acres neighborhood with 153 successful outreaches.
“This Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action project contributes to an ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable and happy future for residents of both Tempe, Arizona, and Guatemala,” said Dr. Scott Cloutier, of The Ramsey Social Justice Foundation and Arizona State University, ” To be able to use an essential and elemental sustainability indicator such as happiness to develop vibrant communities that scale across continents demonstrates our Commitment to be a local and global resource.”
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Pictured below: during our second orientation in April, led magnificently by Habitat’s Maribel Saucedo, with excellent input from Habitat’s Gabriel Jaramillo, Liz Pabst-Wanless, Roger Neuhaus, and Dusty Parsons, receiving training were City of Tempe Neighborhoods Director Shauna Warner, City of Tempe’s Public Information Office Denise Rentschler, Ramsey Foundation’s Neighborhoods Product Coordinator Jake Ireland, and Ramsey Foundation’s Bill Epps (not shown) and Jenny. (Photography, courtesy of Dusty Parsons, Habitat for Humanity).
CGI AMERICA 2016, ATLANTA, SUSTAINABLE CITIES WORKING SESSION, (LED BY ROSE WINER), DURING ANNOUNCEMENT BY GRACIOUS FACILITATOR STEPHANIE:
Ramsey Social Justice Foundation’s Gina Inorio with Jenny detailing SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR WELLBEING AND HAPPINESS Commitment to Action.
Gina and Jenny continued the dialogue as their CGI America colleagues develop ideas into action for Sustainable Cities, within the Working Sessions. 
President Ruth Ann Norton, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, receiving their Commitment to Action from Atlanta’s Mayor, Honorable Kasim Reed:
A most magnificent moment in all history, President Carter and President Clinton in conversation at CGI America, Atlanta:
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May we share the photography of the CGI America 2016 Conference, during which time that the Ramsey Social Justice Foundation’s “Sustainable Neighborhoods for Wellbeing and Happiness” Commitment to Action was announced. Clinton Global Initiative Photos
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THE CGI COMMITMENT TO ACTION “SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR WELLBEING AND HAPPINESS” LAUNCHED IN JUNE IN VICTORY ACRES, TEMPE, ARIZONA AND IN GUATEMALA: 
We are honored to be serving alongside three generations of families:
Please See More Photos of the Most Wondrous Families and Volunteers on Mother Earth:
First Working Day in Victory Acres
FOR LA VICTORIA ON JUNE 23rd, 2016, VICE MAYOR COREY WOODS PRESENTED TO OUR HARDWORKING TEAM (ASU, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, RAMSEY SOCIAL JUSTICE FOUNDATION), OUR CITY’S KINDEST PROCLAMATION:
(While addressing housing issues in Tempe, Honorable Vice Mayor Woods has most kindly added (it) “could not have succeeded without the Bob Ramseys and Jenny Nortons of the world.”)
Tempe’s final LEED Platinum Certified Habitat Homes to be dedicated this Saturday (read more)
During Earth Day Month, 2017, in collaboration with the City of Tempe, Arizona State University, Habitat for Humanity, The Ramsey Social Justice Foundation, and the residents of Victory Acres, 42 carbon offsetting trees were planted by volunteers from each of the above listed, in our Sustainable Neighborhoods beautiful Esquer Park:
“Our commitment isn’t just about creating two sustainable neighborhoods,” explained Jenny, of the Ramsey Social Justice Foundation. “We want to establish a scalable project that can serve as a model for realizing many more affordable, sustainable, and healthy neighborhoods for our marginalized neighbors, while working to preserve our Mother Earth.”
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The City of Tempe’s Vice Mayors, Honorable Robin Arredondo-Savage and Honorable Lauren Kuby, were early and continuing supporters of Sustainability in our Neighborhoods, partnering with the Ramsey Social Justice Foundation and Arizona State University in Victory Acres:
“The City of Tempe is excited to participate in the initiative that will help transform Victory Acres into a more sustainable community,” Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell said regarding the City of Tempe’s Sustainable Neighborhoods partnership with The Ramsey Social Justice Foundation and Arizona State University. From the very start of our mutual mission to provide affordable housing with affordable utility costs, Honorable Mayor Mark Mitchell has continued to represent our Foundation with his kind guidance and meaningful dedication speeches.
PRESENTING OUR 2018 REPORT:
Sustainable Neighborhoods CGI Commitment to Action Report
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AS A CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE AMERICA COMMITMENT TO ACTION, and in partnership with New Course, with the City of Tempe, with the country of Guatemala, with Habitat for Humanity, and with Arizona State University, the Ramsey Social Justice Foundation is scaling up our mission of building more than fifty sustainable affordable homes to building two sustainable and happy neighborhoods. We welcome you to read more:
The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes leaders to turn ideas into action. CGI Commitments to Action represent bold new ways that CGI members address global challenges—implemented through new methods of partnership and designed to maximize impact. Commitments can be small or large, global or local. No matter the size or scope, commitments help CGI members translate practical goals into meaningful and measurable results.
SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR WELLBEING AND HAPPINESS
Read more ...
A very successful Sustainable Neighborhoods for Well-Being and Happiness January 2016 Launch with Habitat for Humanity, ASU, and The Ramsey Foundation. Gabriel Jaramillo, Maribel Saucedo and Jason Barlow of Habitat for Humanity; Jenny Norton and Scott Cloutier of The Ramsey Social Justice Foundation and Arizona State University; Lisa Weide, Liz Pabst-Wanless and Roger Neuhaus of Habitat for Humanity. During Earth Day Month, 2017, in collaboration with the City of Tempe, Arizona State University, Habitat for Humanity, The Ramsey Social Justice Foundation, and the residents of Victory Acres, 42 carbon offsetting trees were planted by volunteers from each of the above listed, in our Sustainable Neighborhoods beautiful Esquer Park: “Your personal history is one that few of us will ever equal, and I respect your sense of what is worthwhile to pursue.” ~ Professor of Practice, School for the Future of Innovation in Society Energy and Society Leader, ASU LightWorks, Arizona State University The City of Tempe’s Vice Mayors, Honorable Robin Arredondo-Savage and Honorable Lauren Kuby, were early and continuing supporters of Sustainability in our Neighborhoods, partnering with the Ramsey Social Justice Foundation and Arizona State University in Victory Acres: “The City of Tempe is excited to participate in the initiative that will help transform Victory Acres into a more sustainable community,” Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell said regarding Tempe’s Sustainable Neighborhoods partnership with The Ramsey Social Justice Foundation and Arizona State University: Sustainable Neighborhoods CGI Commitment to Action Report ——————— And yet, there is still so much work to do, to save our beloved Mother Earth: “I’m a-goin’ back out ‘fore the rain starts a-fallin’ It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall, – Bob Dylan, Copyright © 1963 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1991 by Special Rider Music. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Reprinted by permission to J. Norton.. (insert pending Mayan Families link and Guatemala Landfill picture here) ~ Bob Dylan, Copyright © 1970 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1991 by Special Rider Music. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Reprinted by permission to J. Norton. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Although the term “achievement award” is headlined here, may we please inform you that the film below is a lesson, a brief lecture from 2015 on how we can take actions to heal our devastated Mother Earth.
Tempe’s final LEED Platinum Certified Habitat Homes to be dedicated this Saturday (read more)
I’ll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their water”
