Earth Institute Courses

Through the Cincinnati Earth Institute program, Imago provides a series of discussion courses developed by the Northwest Earth Institute. These engaging courses facilitate examining personal values and habits, engaging in stimulating conversation, creating meaningful community, and considering ways to take action towards creating a more sustainable future.

Discussion courses consist of an average of 8 to 12 people who meet weekly or bi-weekly for 60-90 minutes to discuss readings from the course book in a home, at a workplace, a center of faith or, any place where people naturally gather. The study guide contain a diverse collection of short essays, articles, and book excerpts organized around weekly themes to create lively discussion. Discussion questions and a suggested meeting format are included in each study guide. There is no outside presenter or teacher of these discussion courses. Rather, anyone can organize a group in their community with the role of facilitator rotating with each meeting.

The discussion course format encourages:

Trust, respect, and a sense of community among group members.
Participants to seek personal clarity without group consensus.
The creation of a supportive environment for personal change.
Evaluation of personal lifestyle choices and subsequent effects on the natural world.

These programs emphasize individual responsibility, the importance of a supportive community, and the dual need to walk lightly on and to take action on behalf of the Earth.

If you are interested in arranging a course or ordering discussion guide, please call Imago at (513) 921-5124 or email

Listed below are the Discussion Courses available:

Choices for Sustainable Living

Choices for Sustainable Living is a seven-session course for the workplace, faith center, or home exploring the meaning of sustainable living and the ties between lifestyle choices and their impact on the earth.

To explore the meaning of sustainability.
To consider the ties between lifestyle choices and their impact on the earth.
To learn about steps that can be taken to move toward ecologically sustainable organizations, lifestyles, and communities.

Discovering a Sense of Place

Discovering a Sense of Place is a seven-session course for the workplace, faith center, or home focusing on knowing and protecting our place.

To understand the meaning of a bioregional perspective, and what it would mean to develop one.
To consider the benefits of consciously developing an intimate relationship with your place.
To explore what it might mean to protect the place where you live.

Exploring Deep Ecology

Exploring Deep Ecology is an eight-session course for the workplace, faith center, or home addressing core values and how they affect the way we view and treat the Earth.

To clarify earth-related values through discussions about Exploring Deep Ecology.
To discover how personal values affect the way we view and treat the earth.
To understand what it means to take personal responsibility for the earth.

Global Warming

Global Warming - Changing CO₂urse is four-session course exploring the history and science of global warming, personal values and habits as they relate to climate change, and personal actions to curb the effects of global warming.

To explore personal values and habits as they relate to climate change.
To understand the history and science of global warming.
To empower individuals to take action to curb global warming.

Healthy Children - Healthy Planet

Healthy Children - Healthy Planet is a seven-session course for the workplace, faith center, or home addressing how the pervasive effects of advertising, media, and our consumer culture can influence a child's view of the world.

To understand how the pervasive effects of advertising, media, and our consumer culture can influence a child's view of the world.
To discover ways to create meaningful family times and healthful environments for children.
To explore ways to develop a child's connection to nature, and to foster creativity.

Menu for the Future

Menu for the Future is a six-session course exploring the connection between food and sustainability.

To explore food systems and their impacts on culture, society and ecological systems.
To gain insight into agricultural and individual practices that promote personal and ecological well-being.
To consider your role in creating or supporting sustainable food systems.

Sustainable Systems at Work

Sustainable Systems at Work is a five-session course for the workplace, designed to further organizational sustainability initiatives.

To evaluate the current economic model and consider the case for change.
To examine the concept of sustainability from an organizational perspective.
To evaluate principles and frameworks for guiding a vision.
To identify tools and strategies for implementing a framework.To develop an action plan to advance organizational change.

Voluntary Simplicity

Voluntary Simplicity is a five-session course for the workplace, community or faith center, or home. This course addresses the distractions of modern society that keep us from caring for ourselves, our relationships, and our environment.

To understand the meaning of voluntary simplicity.
To explore the material and psychological distractions that prevent us from caring for the earth.
To acknowledge the connection between our lifestyle choices and the condition of the earth.