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Take Homes from San Antonio - "Tell me your climate story and I'll tell you mine"
This past week, I traveled
to San Antonio with five Environmental Center students to attend the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education's annual conference. The experience was powerful and instructive in so many ways. I was proud to watch our Environmental Center Students present
their
efforts advancing the Real Food Challenge and receive thunderous applause from staff of Friends of the Earth, Farm Forward, Williams, Harvard, etc. It was also inspiring to learn about the State of the Field and efforts to advance sustainability across the curriculum, connect campuses and communities, tie sustainability and social justice together, and strategic meet target neutrality goals.
The moment that really 'turned the lights on' for me, however, came when watching Keynote Speaker,
Dr. Katharine Hayhoe - a scientist named one of Time's Top 100 Most Influential People - address a crowd of sustainability wonks with this big take away:
To address climate change, we actually need to TALK about it, in person and in the media. As documented by the
Yale Program of Climate Communications' 2016 Climate Opinion Study, while the majority of American believe that climate change is real and that it will have harmful impacts on people in least developed nations, we do not believe that climate change will impact them personally. Hayhoe drew a pointed correlation with one of the study's other findings -
We never talk about it. The average US home talks about climate change "a couple of times a year" and the media was cited as rarely discussing the issue. This proved a sobering thought as we sit in the middle of hurricane-ravaged Texas among peers having traveled from wildfire devoured California.
While it is critical that we get this issue front and center in our consciousness in order to mobilize political and social action, Dr. Hayhoe was quick to follow that
HOW we go about discussing climate change is where are efforts will sink or swim. A scientist, Hayhoe strongly advises we steer clear of preaching science or honing in on values. Instead, she left us with this parting shot: "
imparting urgency and concern is just a matter of showing people how to connect the dots among the issues they already care about, and how those issues are affected by - and in many cases are threatened by - a changing climate"
So, go forth, you amazing folk you, and speak the word of climate change. Not its impacts on weather patterns and species redistribution, but on that erratic, late summer freeze that took out our wild fruit blossoms which is really a bummer because we now have that bear who is digging around in our neighborhood trashcans and wouldn't we love to lessen that pesky trash problem by having a bear population that had a reliable food source and......
Rachel Landis
Environmental Center Coordinator
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Environmental Center Happenings
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"Talk-back" with State Representative, Barbara McLachlan, LPEA Director, Guinn Unger, and our elected officials
Join the Environmental Center and Fort Lewis College Theatre Department for this unique opportunity to engage with your publically elected officials following the Nov. 5th matinee of award-winning, Urinetown, the Musical!
While the musical itself is fun and witty, the musical's themes of democracy, regulation, and resource use are so very real. Join us for this intimate conversation where our elected officials discuss how they see these issues playing out in our community, and where future opportunities and challenges lie.
When: Sunday, Nov. 5, 4:15 p.m.
Location: FLC Mainstage Theatre
Cost: The Talk Back is FREE. Purchase tickets to the musical at durangoconcerts.com or 970-247-7657. $18 adults, $10 Seniors/FLC Staff & Faculty/Non-FLC Students and available at Fort Lewis College students reserve (1) FREE tickets at
www.fortlewis.edu/theatre
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Durango Green Drinks on Thursday, Oct. 26 - the EC is Presenting!
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Extra Help Needed in the Campus Food Forest
Winter is coming and that means our trees need some love. For those who are interested, we will be caging trees to prepare for winter time protection. No prior experience needed, just a willingness to work and a love for trees!
When: Every Monday 8:30 a.m. -12 noon, Tuesday 8:30 - 10 a.m., Wednesday 9:30 - 11 a.m.
If available to help on other days, contact Grace Ann (contact info at the bottom) to work out a time!
Where: Meet at the Campus "Food For Thought" Orchard just north of Pine Hall
Cost: Free
For More information, contact Grace Ann Robinson at [email protected] or 501-519-3795
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Campus Garden Workdays
Join our EC Local Food Fellow, Paula Pletnikoff every Thursday afternoon for a quick break from the rapid-fire world to harvest organic fruits & veggies, digging in the dirt, pruning in our orchard and planting up our new campus food forest.
In addition to helping to maintain our campus growing spaces, Paula is excited to share tips and tricks for how you can grow your own food. Oh, and did we mention you get to eat raspberries off the vine?
When: Thursdays from 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Where: Meet at the EC Campus Garden - in the rear corner of the Center of Southwest Studies parking lot.
Cost: Free!
For More Information: Contact Paula Pletnikoff at [email protected]
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More EC and FLC Happenings
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| Photo by Jerry McBride, Durango Herald |
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Environmental Center and community partners received $356,000 USDA grant to launch the Durango Food Recovery Hub
The Environmental Center at Fort Lewis College, along with community partners' Bear Smart Durango, Local First, CSU Extension, Cooking Matters, the Garden Project of SW Colorado, and Healthy Community Food Systems are excited to launch a Durango Regional Food Recovery Hub. The Hub will address food insecurity, create secondary markets for our farmers, stimulate new regional economic enterprise, mitigate bear-human conflicts, and provide exceptional FLC student learning opportunities.
The Hub expands on an existing EC-supported fruit gleaning program.and has numerous benefits. It will provide opportunities for applied research at FLC, create paid positions for students, mitigate food insecurity, and act as a model program for other communities across the nation.
The Hub Steering Committee is currently accepting applications for a full-time Hub Coordinator. Full job description and application materials found at
www.fortlewis.edu/environmentalcenter
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Get some Cream Bean Berry limited edition Local Apple Pie Ice Cream (from locally picked apples) and support the Environmental Center
The Environmental Center and Cream Bean Berry have been hard at work to bring you this year's local apple pie ice cream. It's environmentally friendly, bear-smart, and delicious!
This fall, two apple-laden trees on campus were tempting some of Durango's hungry bears. To save the bears, our Glean & Clean crew harvested the apples and worked with ice cream queen, Katie Burford, at Cream Bean Berry to turn them into a tasty, one-time-only masterpiece ...whose proceeds will benefit the EC!
When: Buy ice cream before any showing of Urinetown, the musical. Available Nov. 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 at 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 5 at 1 - 2 p.m.
Where: Available at the Fort Lewis College production of "Urinetown" showings at the Campus Theater.
Cost: Scoops will be $3 with all proceeds benefiting the Environmental Center's efforts to support regional food security.
Tickets to the musical may be purchased at
durangoconcerts.com or 970-247-7657
You can pre-order pints or get more information by contacting Zach Bauer, Glean & Clean Coordinator, at [email protected]
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Mark Your Calendar for Dec. 5th for the 16th Annual REEL Film Experience featuring Chasing Coral
Once again, REEL promises an evening of incredible cinematography, powerful conversation, and inspired action. This year our event features the award-winning documentary, Chasing Coral. Watch crews
set out on an ocean adventure to discover why the reefs are disappearing and reveal this underwater mystery to the world. The beauty of the underwater world is not to be missed on the big screen!
All proceeds from the screening benefit the Environmental Center's work: cultivating tomorrow's environmental leaders through advancing campus and regional sustainability today.
When:
December 5 and 7. Doors open at 6 p.m. and screening begins at 7
p.m.
Where:
Vallecito Room, Fort Lewis College Student Union
Cost:
$12 advance suggested donation and $15 at the door. Tickets include an amazing, ethical dinner and a movie! Tickets can be purchased at
www.fortlewis.edu/environmentalcenter
or Maria's Bookshop beginning Nov. 1.
For More Information: Visit the Environmental Center at Fort Lewis College on Facebook or email Rachel at [email protected]
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Fort Lewis College Climate Symposium
Join the Lifelong Learning Program for an afternoon of lectures on the science, impacts, value systems, and solutions associated with climate change. The symposium features Nobel Laureate and NCAR Distinguished Senior Scientist, Dr. Kevin Trenbreth, along with EPA Southwest Climate Hub Director, Dr. Emile Elisa, and FLC Faculty members, Dr. Gary Gianinny, Dr. Heidi Steltzer, and Dr. Ryan Haaland.
When:
Thursday Nov.
9, from
1 - 5 p.m. with a meet and greet to follow
Where: Student Union Ballroom at Fort Lewis College
Cost:
Free and open to all!
RSVP:
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Real Food Challenge Team "Crushes It" in AASHE Presentation Last Week
The EC's Real Food Challenge team returned with impassioned minds and tired eyes last week after successfully presenting at the Association of the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, or AASHE, in San Antonio, TX.
In addition, stay tuned on our
Facebook page for a video highlighting the team members' personal experiences during this inspiring conference, interview style!
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Thank you Botanical Concepts!
A huge thank you to Jeanie and the team at Botanical Concepts for their generous donation of trees, perennials, herbs, and seeds that we will put to good use in the Environmental Center Campus Garden, Food Forest, and Orchard! We can't wait to invite them over to join us for a harvest dinner next Fall!
If you have any tools, equipment, expertise, trees, you name it, that you would like to donate to support the Environmental Center, we'd love to hear from you! Please contact Rachel at [email protected] or (970) 247-7091. Thank you!
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Community Events & Opportunities
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Local
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Events and Happenings in our Local Community
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Feed Pigs Not Bears: Free Public Pumpkin Drop-off
The City of Durango Sustainability Division is partnering with Bear Smart Durango, the CSU Extension Office, and local farmers and ranchers to offer free pumpkin drop-off on the Friday and Saturday after Halloween.
Donating pumpkins as animal feed is a more sustainable option than leaving them on your porch or tossing them in the trash. Rotting pumpkins act as a bear attractant. Pumpkins that are not intercepted by bears typically end up in landfill where they break down slowly, releasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Drop off your jack-o-lantern or other festive squash at one of the convenient locations below:
When: Friday Oct. 3rd, 12:00 - 6 p.m. and Sat. Oct. 4th, 9:00 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Where:
- La Plata County Fairgrounds,
2500 Main Ave., Durango
- City of Durango Three Springs Police Substation, 545 Wilson Gulch Drive, Durango
Cost: Free and open to the public!
Please ensure pumpkins are free of candles, wax, paint and bleach prior to drop-off.
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Sharing Stories Across the Watershed: Diné Perspectives
Three Diné speakers will share their perspectives about the importance of the Animas-San Juan river system to Navajo health, farming, and cultural practices.
Dr. Karletta Chief (Univ of AZ) will speak about the collaborative research partnership to monitor the San Juan River. Duane "Chili" Yazzie (President, Shiprock Chapter) will describe the importance of subsistence farming to Diné communities. Janene Yazzie (Tó Bei Nihi Dziil organizer) will discuss efforts to organize tribal youth and community members around issues of water sovereignty.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 7, 5:30 - 8 p.m., Soup and Appetizers provided at 5:30
Where: Animas Valley Grange, 7271 CR 203
Cost: Free and open to everyone interested in our Animas River communities.
Sponsored by:
San Juan Citizens Alliance, Mountain Studies Institute, Animas Watershed Partnership, Tó Bei Nihi Dziil, FLC Sociology, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, and the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice.
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Participate in Your Democracy
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Public Comment Periods Open for Important Issues!
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You Can Still Contribute Your FLC Voice to Durango Transit Service Reduction!
Due to budgetary constraints, which include a decrease in funding from state transit grants, Durango Transit will not be able to operate at current service levels in 2018. In order to be fiscally sustainable, service cuts are necessary.
In light of upcoming cuts, it's imperative that we provide feedback on which transit routes and services are the most important to our community.
Attend the Meeting:
Transit Service Reduction Open House
When: Wed. Nov. 1, 2017, 5-7 p.m.
Where: Transit Center Lobby, 250 W 8th St., Durango
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Rio Grande National Forest Hosts Four Forest Plan Public Meetings
T
he public has until December 29 to review and comment on the proposed forest plan.
The forest plan guides all management decisions and activities on the Rio Grande National Forest.
Representatives from the Forest will present an overview of the draft forest plan and environmental impact statement, and answer questions from the audience. Meeting participants will have an opportunity to review maps and have further discussions with Forest Service employees following the presentation.
Take Action Here: Attend a meeting for public comment!
- Wednesday, Nov. 1 - Creede Community Center, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 2 - Rio Grande County Annex, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 8 - Guadelupe Parish Hall in Conejos, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 9 - Saguache Community Building, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
For more information visit the Rio Grande National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande
or contact Erin Minks, Forest Planner, at 719-852-6215
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City of Durango Housing Program Community Forum
The City of Durango Community Development department invites you to a Community Housing forum focused on collecting community input and discussing the direction of the housing program.
When: Monday, Oct. 30, 5 - 6:30 p.m. short presentation with discussion to follow
Where: Durango Recreation Center, 2700 Main Avenue
Cost: Free!
The forum will focus on the following issues:
- What Community Development can do to affect housing, including policies, regulations and fees
- Other possible City actions such as a permanent housing trust fund, land banking
- Implementation of the housing program
- Housing experiences of Durango residents
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Opportunities
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Jobs, Scholarships, Internships, and more!
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Missed Workshop Wednesday: Federal Jobs last week? Try this online information session instead!
Did you miss last week's workshop on Federal Jobs? Do you need help with the application process? Don't worry, there's another opportunity available via the Internet tomorrow! Don't miss it!
Here is a great opportunity to join via teleconference call or on video with Regional Specialist, Amber Kamps, to ask questions regarding upcoming jobs, hiring events, and more.
No registration is needed.
When: Thursday Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Online or by phone
Meeting ID: 121 682 372
Cost: Free!
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College to Congress Internship - All Costs Covered
Have you thought about interning in Washington, D.C. for a member of Congress? An internship on the Hill can give you lifelong skills and connections for your political career.
Start yours today by applying through College to Congress. They help place you in an office and give you all the funding you need to live in Washington.
When: Deadline is Nov. 3. Apply today, link below!
Where: Intern in Washington D.C.
Cost: All participation costs covered, see application for more details.
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Market Manager Position Available
The Durango Farmers Market is hiring for their Market Manager position.
The Market Manager is responsible for providing the day-to-day operations of the Durango Farmers Market (DFM) and is one of only two paid positions at the DFM.
If interested, go to
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Further Resources and Opportunities
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No regional events came our way this time around, but if you have anything you wish to let us know about, please email
[email protected] and we can include it in future Digests!
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| Have Something You'd Like to Contribute to Future Digests? |
If so, please fill out our Online Form to submit content to us. We'll look it over and promote it in upcoming Digests. We look forward to collaborating with you!
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