Michigan Campus Earth Day 50.5
Thu, October 22, 2020 at virtual conference
Michigan Campus Earth Day 50.5 is a collaborative event to engage faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders in a series of virtual convenings. The event will educate and provide action items for campuses to create awareness and advance environmental and social justice, including the importance of voting, how to incorporate environmental justice in curriculum, and how to improve food justice on campus. The event includes a civic engagement component, including a live voter registration. The day is split into morning and afternoon sessions geared toward professionals and student audiences, respectively.
The Michigan Campus Sustainability Collective (MiCSC), a program focused on influencing and educating future generations on sustainability and elevating and promoting the use of sustainability on Michigan campuses is proud to present MI Campus Earth Day 50.5.
Join us for speakers from around Michigan and surrounding campuses as we improve higher education sustainability initiatives through education, including an increased awareness of the importance of public health, racial equity, and social justice. We will facilitate connections between professionals and students with environmental justice experts. While the momentous Earth Day 50.5 was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts, the Earth Day 50.5 milestone provides an opportunity to develop a collaborative space for Michigan colleges to empower the future generation in sustainability work, while increasing voter registration on campus and educating individuals about environmental justice issues and candidate stances on the ballots.
Speakers and Agenda
9:30 am: Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Rose Spickler, Membership Manager, West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum; Instructor, Culinary Institute of Michigan, Baker College
9:45 am: Panel – Integrating Sustainability & Environmental Justice into Curriculum & Student Activities
Panelists:
- Denise Keele, Associate Professor of Politician Science and Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Western Michigan University; Chair, Climate Change Working Group; Faculty Co-Chair, WeVote
- Silvia Secchi, Associate Professor of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, University of Iowa
- Geoffrey Habron, Professor of Sustainability Sciences, Furman University
11:30 pm: Lunchtime Michigan Good Food Charter and Food Justice Discussion
- Lindsey Scalera, Community Food Systems Collaboration Specialist, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems
12:30 pm: Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II
1:00 pm: Environmental Justice Actions for College Students
Panelists:
- Monica Lewis-Patrick, Human Rights Activist, President & CEO, We the People Detroit
- Justin Onwenu, Community Organizer, Sierra Club
- Kyle Whyte, Professor & Environmental Activist, University of Michigan
2:00 pm: Get Out The Vote – How to Vote and Be a More Informed Voter
Presenters:
- Claudia Berry, President, League of Women Voters Holland Area
- Tina Pawlak, Voter Services Director, League of Women Voters Holland Area
3:00 pm: How to Align Your Sustainability Values with Policy Decisions
- Hallie Fox, Government Affairs, League of Conservation Voters
4:00 pm: Looking For Careers with a Sustainable Business/Environmental Organizations
- Aiman Shahpurwala, Data Analyst, Washington Water Trust
- Andrew Adamski, Farmer, Full Circle Community Farm
- Matthew VanSweden, Director of Innovation & Integration, Catalyst Partners
5:00 pm: Conclude Conference