Santa Monica College will host four days of activities for its first Campus Sustainability Week to be held Oct. 24 to 27.
Activities will range from speakers to a film screening to a campus-wide potluck – all designed to raise awareness of environmental problems and solutions.
The week of events comes as SMC – a signatory of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment – is gaining momentum as a model in sustainability.
“Campus Sustainability Week is part of a national effort to mobilize educational institutions to raise awareness about environmental problems and solutions,” said SMC Director of Sustainability Genevieve Bertone.
“Educational institutions have a unique role in preparing tomorrow’s leaders to help address the worsening environmental crisis.
The students of SMC led the way by encouraging college President Dr. Chui L. Tsang to sign the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment in 2008.”
The events – all free and all on the SMC Main Campus, 1900 Pico Blvd. – are:
• Monday, Oct. 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.:
Campuswide Potluck in Celebration of National Food Day (www.foodday.org). Food Day is a national movement aimed at promoting healthy, sustainable affordable and just food systems in America. The Quad.
• Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.:
SMC Organic Learning Garden Grand Opening. Live music and speakers will mark the celebration of the opening of this new and beautifully designed center of growing and learning. SMC Organic Learning Garden, just east of the Art Complex.
• Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.:
“Urban Roots” (http://www.treemedia.com/treemedia.com/Urban_Roots.html) movie screening. “Urban Roots” is a remarkable documentary that tells the story of the spontaneous emergence of urban farming in the city of Detroit. Against all odds, in empty lots, in old factory yards, and in between sagging blocks of company housing, seeds of change are taking root. Humanities & Social Science Lecture Hall 165.
• Thursday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.:
Keynote Speaker Andy Revkin Presents: “9 Billion People + One Planet = ?.” Revkin, the New York Times prize-winning writer of the Dot Earth blog and senior fellow for environmental understanding at Pace University’s Academy for Applied Environmental Studies, will reveal paths toward progress in the face of deep complexity and uncertainty. Theatre Arts Main Stage.
• Thursday, Oct. 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.:
SMC Climate Action Plan Launch Roundtable (with Andrew Revkin). A presentation on what SMC is doing to reduce its carbon footprint and what it takes to be an engaged global citizen. Business Building Room 111.
Campus Sustainability Week is sponsored by the SMC Center for Environmental Studies, SMC Associated Students, SMC Global Citizenship Food Justice Project, and SMC Club Grow.
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