1. Sustainable Racine: 1996 - 2006 It was announced on December 12 that having accomplished many of its goals to enhance the community, Sustainable Racine will be closing its office, ten years after its founding. Its work will continue, through a variety of community agencies. The Journal Times presents a visual overview of some of the agency’s many accomplishments.

2. Joe Harris, from the AFL-CIO labor council, writes an answer to a question during a roundtable discussion at the Sustainable Community Forum July 29, 1996, at Case High School. / Jim Slosiarek

3. Sam Johnson signs in as a participant at a Sustainable Racine Community Forum at the Bray Center, 924 Center Street, Saturday, January 31, 1998. / Liana J. Cooper

4. Sustainable Racine members Q. A. Shakoor, center in dark glasses, and Ron Thomas, right, visit an urban garden in Chicago in August, 1997. / Joe Scolaro

5. Elena Bartzen, left, Kana Wilson, Doug Thalacker, Thomas White, and Shannah Gumm hold a meeting of the board for the Racine Youth Earth Corp, organized by Sustainable Racine, January 11, 1999. Thalacker is an advisor and Gumm is assistant community outreach coordinator. / Liana J. Cooper

6. Deputies Matt Prochaska, left, and Bob Christman of the Racine County Sheriff's Department drag a shopping cart which was found along the Root River in Island Park, October 23, 1999. The two were part of a group with the sheriff's department dive team that went into the river looking for trash as part of Make a Difference Day. Make a Difference Day was an important annual event for Sustainable Racine. / Liana J. Cooper

7. Jewel Felder-James, left, and Bonnie Prochaska, from Sustainable Racine, tour a Sav-A-Lot grocery in Milwaukee January 25, 2001. Sav-A-Lot has since opened a store on State Street. / Geoff Krieger

8. Racine Mayor James Smith, right, with Caledonia Town Chairman Susan Greenfield, center, and Mt. Pleasant Town Chairman Joesph Clementi, left, after signing the sewer service and revenue sharing agreement, April 25, 2002 at the Racine Wastewater Treatment Plant. Sustainable Racine was involved in the effort to reach the historic agreement. / Ron Kuenstler

9. Brian Anderson, the Community Development manager for SC Johnson, right, listens, as Bjorn Stigson, president of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development makes a point during his trolley tour of Racine, June 25, 2002. / Gregory Shaver

10. Dan Navarro, 16, reads a script while rehearsing for the All-American City competition, May 29, 2003 in the Horlick High School theater. Members of the community and Sustainable Racine successfully made their presentation to judges in Washington D.C. / Ron Kuenstler

11. About 300 people gathered at Starbuck Middle School on January 28, 2005, when Sustainable Racine hosted a Community Visioning Forum / Mark Hertzberg

13. Many people at the forum identified expansion of Metra commuter rail as a priority for Racine.

14. Large planters were placed in the Uptown business district in June, 2005. Sustainable Racine was involved in proposals to spur development in Uptown. / Mark Hertzberg

15. Swimmers watch a jet ski and sailboats pass by along North Beach in Racine, July 30, 2005. North Beach is the only Wisconsin beach to have received “Blue Wave” beach designation honor. Last year the National Resources Defense Council recognized Racine with its “Beach Buddy” award for the same efforts. / Jim Bovin

16. Jeff Kimberlain, left, and Richard Loughan install a bicycle rack at the overlook on the southeast side of the Main Street Bridge, May 17, 2006, as the city parks department begins the installation of 100 racks donated to the city by Sustainable Racine. / Mark Hertzberg

17. The Rhythm Dogs inaugurate the fourth Music at the Monument summer concert series, June 2, 2006. Sustainable Racine was involved in Downtown efforts, including the renovation of Monument Square, and achieving a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape. / Mark Hertzberg

18. Twenty one Adirondack chairs were purchased for the Downtown Racine Corporation on behalf of the city, with the Sustainable Neighborhood Partnership of Sustainable Racine to be placed on Monument Square. They were filled during the Music at the Monument concert July 21, 2006. / Mark Hertzberg

19. Sustainable Racine: 1996 - 2006 Photos © The Journal Times