A little less than a year ago, we signed a contract to deliver a book on worldchanging solutions to the planet's most pressing problems. On Thursday we held the book in our hands for the first time.

In a couple weeks, you'll be able to get your own copy. We hope you'll order a copy now (early orders will help encourage more stores to carry it), but, equally importantly, we hope you'll come join us in person as we launch a whirlwind 6-week North American tour!

We've mentioned the tour before, but as we approach launch, we're finally ready to share some of the dates and details. It's turning out to be a phenomenal series of event and we hope to see each of you the city nearest you. We'll be hitting New York, San Francisco, Toronto, L.A., Chicago, Vancouver, Portland, D.C., The Twin Cities, Austin and Denver (as well as holding an event here in Seattle).

In each place, we'll be giving talks and parties to celebrate not only the book, but also the local community of people and organizations who are engaged in worldchanging work. Each event will also feature brief introductory remarks from people we respect and admire. The point is to create an avenue for spotlighting and connecting worldchangers and worldchanging things...and most importantly, to meet one another and have a great time.

These events are going to be a blast. We hope you'll make them even better. You can help by spreading the word, telling friends and colleagues, and posting announcements on your websites and appropriate lists. Also, please help us identify groups in your area who are doing work worth supporting (we'll be posting specific questions for each city next week). Finally, help make the events themselves more compelling by showing up ready to meet your fellow readers and bringing something to the event that you can show or share about your own projects and pursuits. We can't wait to meet all of you face-to-face and hear how you're changing your world for the better. See our list of dates after the jump...

October 28th: SEATTLE - Town Hall presents an evening with Bruce Sterling and Alex Steffen
7:30, Launch Party to follow...
1119 Eighth Avenue (at Seneca Street)
Seattle
RSVP: WorldchangingSEA[at]gmail.com

October 29th: PORTLAND, OR - Reading/ Party at World Forestry Center
6:00-9:30
World Forestry Center
4033 SW Canyon Rd.
Portland, Oregon 97221
RSVP: WorldchangingPDX[at]gmail.com

November 2nd: NEW YORK - New York Launch Party at The Magician
5:30pm
118 Rivington St
rsvp: worldchangingny[at]gmail.com

Hosted by: Anna Lappé, Stefan Safmeister, Gita Drury

November 5th: VANCOUVER - Event at WorkSpace
6:00-8:30, party afterwards
400 – 21 Water St.
Vancouver BC, V6B 1A1

November 8th: MINNEAPOLIS - Event at Kingman Studios
Doors open at 7pm, program begins at 8pm
1901 Grand St. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418 USA
RSVP: WorldchangingMN[at]gmail.com

Hosted by: Leif Utne, Brant Kingman, Patricia & Craig Neal, Terry Gips, Bart Gottschalk, Michael Guest, Andi McDaniel, Eric & Nina Utne, Vonda Vaden, Stephanie Xenos, Eric Larson, Peter Wagenius, Paul Schmelzer

November 12th: CHICAGO - Event at the Shedd Aquarium
6:30-9:30
1200 South Lake Shore Drive
RSVP: WorldchangingCHI[at]gmail.com

November 14th: TORONTO - Event at The Berkeley
Ed Burtynsky, the noted photographer (and WC board member) and Ron Dembo (of Zerofootprint) will be joining Alex on stage to present an evening of Worldchanging ideas on November 14. A group of creative catalysts and engagement artists from the Arts Access Project at the Art Gallery of Ontario will be connecting Toronto Worldchangers and their Worldchanging ideas.

Hosted by: Ed Burtynsky, Anna Withrow, Dawn Danby, Britt Welter-Nolan and Hassan Masum

315 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON M5A 1S7
7:00pm
rsvp: worldchangingtoronto[at]gmail.com

November 17: WASHINGTON DC - Inside the Tank: Worldchanging and World Resources Institute, a leading environmental and sustainability think-tank, welcome invited guests to discuss the possibilities of a sustainable future
WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE
10 G Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
Time: 3:30-6:00
RSVP email worldchangingdc [at] gmail.com for details, or if you're a DC blogger who would like to attend

November 17th: WASHINGTON DC - Reading at Busboy's and Poets

6:30-8:30, Reception to follow at B&P
Busboys and Poets
2021 14th Street
NW DC 20009

November 18th: WASHINGTON DC - Bar Meet-up at Science Club
8:00pm
1136 19th St NW

November 21st: NEW YORK - Event with the Buckminster Fuller Institute
6:30-9:00 (presentations begin at 7:15)
15 Nassau St. corner of Pine St.
RSVP: WorldchangingBFI[at]gmail.com

November 29th: AUSTIN - Reading at Book People
7:00-11pm (Reception at the new REI to follow)
603 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78703

November 30th: LOS ANGELES - Event with Hollywood Hill

December 2nd: LOS ANGELES
Equator Books
1103 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
hosted by GOOD Magazine

December 5th: SAN FRANCISCO - Event at 111 Minna
doors open at 6pm
111 Minna Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
RSVP: WorldchangingSF[at]gmail.com

Hosted by: Brad DeGraf, Gil Friend, Patrick Reinsborough, Cameron Sinclair

December 7th: SAN FRANCISCO - Worldchanging Panel at the Commonwealth Club
5:30, reception to follow
595 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

December 12th: NEW YORK - Greendrinks / Worldchanging Holiday Party
M1-5 7-11pm
52 Walker Street

December 14th: DENVER - Reading at Tattered Cover, reception to follow:
6:00-9:00pm
Tattered Cover LODO
1628 16th Street
Denver, CO 80202

See you all on November 8. Let me know if you need any help, place to crash, a tour guide, etc.

-Joe

Posted by: Joseph Willemssen on October 8, 2006 6:07 PM

So when can you expect to post times for some of the later events (like the denver one?)

Posted by: Andrew on October 8, 2006 6:34 PM

Architecture for Humanity MN will definitely be promoting your event and members will be attending!

Posted by: maureen on October 9, 2006 9:51 AM

Greetings. Does your North American tour include any stops in Mexico? We would be happy to host a speaking appearance in Oaxaca.

Posted by: Ron Mader on October 9, 2006 5:34 PM

Two copies pre-ordered through Alonovo.com (use it instead of Amazon, people! Visit and see why!) and I will see you at the Commonwealth Club in S.F..

Congratulations, you guys, on getting the book off the ground! Very, very exciting stuff!

T

Posted by: Tod Brilliant on October 9, 2006 6:04 PM

Bring the tour to Philadelphia - we'll be glad to host

Posted by: Karen Katz on October 10, 2006 7:23 AM

Congratulations! (But how come Portland don' get no Bruce Sterling?!) =Eric

Posted by: Eric Bagai on October 11, 2006 8:37 AM

Looking forward to seeing you in NYC. Please let me know if you need any assistance. I'm also a member of the Bucky Fuller Institute. Cheers! -Vera

Posted by: Vera on October 13, 2006 2:25 PM

Will you be posting a time for your event in Toronto? I'll be spreading the word like wildfire - your blog and all its foci are amazingly inspirational!

Posted by: Quinn on October 14, 2006 12:30 AM

You need to bring the tour to the American South. i think it needs a lot of world changing done.

Posted by: Justin on October 19, 2006 4:21 PM

Please come to Los Angeles. I could help find a venue.

Posted by: Lara Morrison on October 24, 2006 2:41 PM

definitely a visit to the South- an opportunity to preach to the unconverted!!

Posted by: wendy on October 26, 2006 7:27 AM

Yes, bring the tour the American South -- very much needed!

Posted by: pisbo on October 26, 2006 2:29 PM

Oups! You forgot Montreal!

Posted by: s.lorrain on October 26, 2006 4:40 PM

and... Brussels-capital of europe !

Posted by: SvenAERTS on October 27, 2006 3:22 AM

recieved the book today. thanks - beautiful

will probably be reading it for hours yet (it is now 1:30 am)

come to northeastern ohio - cleveland area sometime.

I keep hearing how we are trying to become the silicon valley of alternative energy... could you imagine

=jk=

Posted by: john on October 27, 2006 10:37 PM

Hi, I´m from Brazil. Would like to know if you´re planning to celebrate the book also here in my country next year.

Posted by: Susi on October 29, 2006 12:54 PM

Please come to Detroit--we need you!

NEED.

Posted by: Hum on October 30, 2006 6:18 AM

Any plans for visiting Asheville, NC?

Posted by: Jim on October 30, 2006 6:42 AM

Too bad you aren't making stops connecting with university efforts like in Ithaca, NY [Cornell, Ithaca College, and the City of Ithaca are doing a lot of innovative work]; Burlington, VT [UVM]; or Boulder, CO.[U. of Colorado]. Perhaps you are connecting with academia at your existing events, but just aren't highlighting those connections. Seems like a lost opportunity for sharing with a very energized audience.

Posted by: Dean Koyanagi on October 31, 2006 8:22 AM

Please bring the tour to San Diego!

Posted by: Jennifer Jackman on October 31, 2006 6:51 PM

Come to London! I'll provide the venue.

Posted by: Yishay on November 1, 2006 7:04 AM

No plans to come to Miami or Fort Lauderdale?

Posted by: Frank Gallart on November 1, 2006 8:05 AM

Nothing in Boston? Would love to have y'all come...

Posted by: Colin Ashe on November 3, 2006 3:24 PM

HAVANA (AP) — Photographs of Fidel Castro standing and talking on the phone were published Sunday in Cuba's state-run media, a day after the ailing leader appeared in a video to dispel rumors he was on his deathbed.

The Communist Youth newspaper Juventud Rebelde dedicated its front page to the Cuban president, printing a blown-up picture of a pensive Castro with the title "Always fighting for something, and fighting with optimism!"

Posted by: bestec-burjuiam on November 3, 2006 10:02 PM

Come to Boston!

Posted by: Sam Aquillano on November 4, 2006 7:39 PM

The locations and details for tour dates listed above have just been added to upcoming.org. Search on worldchanging, or your local metro and add your name as "watching" or "attending".

Posted by: Kit Seeborg on November 6, 2006 2:35 PM

Pittsburgh would welcome hosting the tour. The city are region are reknown for innovation and reinventing itself. The process of sustainability is emerging as the frame for today's metro rennaissance.

Posted by: Court Gould, Sustainable Pittsburgh on November 24, 2006 2:51 AM

Yes, please come to Boaton! The Harvard Book Store would probably love to sponsor you, and there are many others. Would be happy to brainstorm ideas with someone.

Posted by: Vivienne Simon on November 26, 2006 8:39 PM

Are there any potential stops in the Maritimes here in Canada? I'm a member of the University of New Brunswick Environmental Society, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, and a volunteer with the New Brunswick Environmental Network. I would love for you to come by!

Posted by: Heather Elliott on November 27, 2006 4:38 PM