Last year, we celebrated our first 25 years of pushing social and environmental change on campus and throughout the region. Stories were told of timber sales halted, recycling programs launched, regional food initiatives jump-started. We connected with our amazing alumni to hear their fond recollections of experiences gleaned from the EC and the inspired paths they have since led. The passing of our founder provided us the space to reconnect with our roots and to reflect on how best to apply those moving forward...
Which brings us to today! We here at the Environmental Center are excited to launch our next twenty-five years of fighting the good fight to advance sustainability and social justice in our region while cultivating the next generation of change makers. Over the years, our radical roots have shifted to embrace another tool for crafting social change: building our world as we wish to see it. Moving forward, expect to see holistic initiatives that combine many approaches. We will shift our collective paradigm by influencing policy and administration, fostering on-the-ground projects, advancing research and co-curricular learning, and exploring disruptive technologies. Expect to see our students graduating with the EC's signature 'fire in the heart' combined with purposefully curated 21st Century Skills and a robust understanding of social change theory and leadership frameworks.
As we turn the corner into our future as a lean, mean, fighting machine (okay, more like a committed, strategic, and ultimately positive change-making machine), we thought it appropriate to take on a new look. One that captures the EC's commitment to growing change, community, ourselves, while conveying a sense of efficacy and impact. I was also (politely) informed that our tag line should be a bit more abbreviated (haha). Vision set, we handed the project over to one of our amazing student staff - a true EC approach. Our amazingly talented Ms. Hayley Kirkman infused her creativity, passion and talent into the project at hand. We could not be happier with her work! Her graphics encapsulate all-that-is-the-EC in visual form, and our new tagline captures the spirit of our work in two beautifully brief phrases:
Change Yourself.
Change the Future.
Welcome to the next 25 years!
Rachel Landis, Environmental Center Coordinator
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Environmental Center Happenings
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The EC is Hiring!
Did you hear? Because we've been trying to let everyone know! Come be a part of our team - we've got something for everyone: work study positions, committed volunteer internships, specialized development roles. You'll get to be a part of all that amazing change-making that Rachel was talking about in the opening blurb.
Check out our
Employment webpage from more information and to see how you can make a difference in your community and the world!
Current Positions include: Student Staff, Assistant Campus Garden Manager, Aesthetic Activists (Staff Artists & Designers), Media & Communications Manager
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EC Gets Re-branded
Hayley Kirkman, our incredibly talented artist and graphic designer from the 2016-2017 schoolyear, spent her summer creating some absolutely amazing new logos and branding for our center. We are so excited with our new look, and hope you are too! Hayley is now out into the professional world, making it a more beautiful place. To check out Hayley's work, or to see how you can hire her to make something beautiful for you, visit
www.hayleykirkman.com.
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Learn How to Shape Your Government
Gain an understanding of laws that protect our environment and learn how to raise your voice to our legislators in order to change the world for the better! Class includes investigation into policy matters as well as a 2 day field trip to directly influence our government.
Sign up for the course: contact Professor Jim Grizzard directly at 970-403-2799 or 970-247-7182, email at
[email protected], or in person EBH room 156
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Putting a Price on Carbon Emissions
This though provoking panel discussion will explore the next steps toward carbon pricing. Hosted by the La Plata County League of Women Voters and featuring panelists Yoram Bauman and Patrick Cummins among others.
Mr. Bauman was one of the architects of the State of Washington's carbon tax ballot initiative last November - a first of its kind attempt. Mr. Cummins is an emissions trading expert with the Center for a New Energy Economy in Fort Collins, CO. He is leading the center's efforts by pushing for 11 western states to be in compliance with the Clean Power Plan, an emissions trading program.
When: Monday, September 25 from 7 - 8:45 p.m.
Where: Fort Lewis College Nobel Hall room 130
For more information: contact Steve Ruddell at 202-380-6417
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Grow Your Leadership and Involvement at FLC
New Fort Lewis College students are always encouraged to "get involved" or "follow your passion" or "find your flock", but how do you do that? How do you get started? All these options can be intimidating and overwhelming. The Leadership Center invites you to The Impact Experience - a one-day leadership conference for first-year students aimed to help them jump-start their collegiate involvement.
This FREE event will explore leadership through interactive activities while also allowing students to connect to each other, learn about organizations helping students become change agents to make the greatest impact in areas they are passionate about, and even participate in a service project on campus.
When: Saturday, September 9 from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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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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Green Drinks Aren't Just for St. Patrick's Day
One of the best environmental and sustainability networking opportunities in Durango!
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Local First Renewable Energy Petition
Join Local First and its partners in working with the City of Durango on setting renewable energy goals for our community. By signing this petition, you will be joining hundreds of community members and other business colleagues in shifting the economics of energy production to be locally sourced and renewable benefitting our community, economy and the planet.
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Help the City of Durango Know How We Go
Every other year the City of Durango performs bicycle and pedestrian counts as part of the
National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project. This year, volunteers will help gather data September 11 to 17. Sign up for a 2-hour shift at one of the 11 in-town locations below and receive an appreciation gift!
To sign-up and for more information: contact Jennifer Hill at 970-375-4955 or
[email protected].
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Opportunities
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Jobs, Scholarships, Internships, and more!
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Work Study Farm & Garden Positions Available at the Old Fort
In the fall, students join in the season of abundant harvest and clearing the fields for winter; in the spring, students help cultivate greens in the hoophouse and prepare the ground for planting.
Available up to 15 hours per week from August through November and from February through April. Work hours occur Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Students must have access to reliable transportation, be able to lift 40 pounds, and be willing to work in all kinds of weather.
It's a great job for folks who love to be outside and want to get exposure to the tasks and pace of sustainable farming. Plus, you often get to take home free vegetables!
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Intern with US Senator Michael Bennet's Office
Internships provide the opportunity to learn about the role of a Senatorial office while enabling those who participate to be of service to their community. Exemplary college students will be chosen to assist with a variety of duties including constituent services, community outreach, and special projects. A variety of administrative tasks are required such as greeting visitors, answering phones, and database management.
Internships are on a voluntary basis; no stipend is provided.
For more information: contact Stuart Jenkins, Constituent Advocate for Senator Michael Bennet, at 970-259-1710 or [email protected]
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National Young Farmers Coalition Internship
NYFC seeks a part-time Western Organizing Intern to perform critical grassroots outreach to young farmers and offer logistical support for Western campaigns and events. The intern will provide support for events including legislative roundtables, farm tours, NYFC chapter gatherings, land and water trainings, and more. The intern will support Western staff in organizing event details, drafting invites and social media posts, researching and compiling key media targets, tracking and keeping on deadline for event logistics, conducting outreach to farmers, and more.
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Further Resources and Opportunities
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Uplift Climate Justice Conference
Uplift is excited to announce the 2017 climate justice conference created for, and by, young people. This outdoor gathering brings together young adults from all over the Colorado Plateau to shape the dialogue of climate justice and conservation within our home landscape. We inspire the passion and community necessary and equip budding change-makers with the skills and vocabulary to build our regional movement for a
just and livable future.,
When: Friday
Where: Lone Mesa Campground - Moab, UT
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