The annual campus Earth Summit is a space for students to unite in their passions for environmental sustainability and justice. This year’s event, the twelfth so far, will be held this Friday from 11 a.m.– 5 p.m. at the College Nine/Ten Multipurpose Room.
This year’s theme is “Branch Out! Fostering Inclusive Solutions,” which highlights the importance of inclusiveness between various interdisciplinary perspectives of sustainability. The event will be free and offer fresh local foods, a wide variety of interactive workshops, live music and several keynote speakers.
“The Earth Summit is a great way to bring together all the sustainability organizations, students, staff and faculty that otherwise might be segregated or focused in their goals,” said Melissa Ott, the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program (CUIP) intern for the Sustainability Office’s Education and Outreach team. “It brings us all together for one big celebration and it also brings sustainability to our consciousness in a fun and entertaining way.”
The event will hold two workshop sessions, with five to six different workshop options ranging from recycled art to yoga to discussion on habitat destruction. The festival features local food from the Bagelry, Zameen Mediterranean Cuisine, Redwood Pizzeria, Staff of Life, Kerri’s Kreations and more. There will be two keynote speakers — Flora Lu, who is an environmental studies associate professor who specializes in ecological anthropology and Maya Salsedo who is a food justice activist and has done award-winning work for her work on the Youth Food Bill of Rights. The event will also feature live music from the band Second Floor Funk.
Katherine Lippus, the CUIP intern for the Student Environmental Center, said anyone interested in getting involved with the sustainability movement on campus is encouraged to come. Students may contribute to the Blueprint for a Sustainable Campus, a plan created years ago by the Student Environmental Center to document a sustainable vision for campus. Students may also network with other students in sustainability organizations and can learn about upcoming internship opportunities.
