April 2017 Sustainability Profile: Genoa Faber

Name: 
Genoa Faber

Title:
Office Manager/Event Coordinator of the Sustainability Office

Educational background: 
Studied Environmental Studies at Cabrillo College. Received a B.F.A in Digital Media from San Jose State University

What did you do before coming to UCSC? 
Previously I was the Program Associate - Alumni and Grant Coordinator at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, Colorado. I worked closely with environmental artists to coordinate art exhibits around the country.

What does "sustainability" mean to you? 
What sustainability means to me is the ability to connect a community through the environment, social practices and economic equality for a continued balance of resources and reduction of waste. I believe that education is the key to successful sustainable communities.

How do you practice sustainability in your daily life? 
I practice sustainability in my everyday life by the moto “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.” I reduce the about of waste I generate, reuse materials when I can and recycle. I continue to buy local food and support organizations that give back to the community and the environment.

What are you most looking forward to about working in the Sustainability Office? 
I look forward to working with the bright UCSC students that will be essential leaders in environmental development to create sustainable practices within our communities.

Each month, our newsletter features a person or group on campus that is working toward a more sustainable world. If you know of a person or group on campus that you think we should profile, or if you would like to be profiled, please send us an email.

April 2017: Internships, Employment, & Volunteering

Internships:

Students for Organic Solutions Campaign Membership
The Student Environmental Center's Students for Organic Solutions (SOS) campaign is seeking members for Spring Quarter.  Current projects include addressing food insecurity, creating mindfullness in food waste, and increasing the amount of composting on campus.  Both two-unit and five-unit internships available.  For more information, and to apply, email Sofia Vermeulen at svermeul[at]ucsc[dot]edu.

Self-directed Sustainable Transportation Internships
The Student Environmental Center Transportation Campaign is looking for enthusiastic volunteer to spearhead and work on their own projects relating to transportation sustainability!  Two-unit and five-unit internships avaliable.  For more information, and to apply, email Tanya van Renesse at tvanrene[at]ucsc[dot]edu.

Provost's Sustainability Internship Program: Deadline April 28
The Provost's Sustainability Internship Program (PSI) is accepting applications for the next academic year.  PSI is a year-long combination course/internship that helps students develop leadership skills for an environmental career. Interns are paired with mentors who work with them on projects and research that help the campus reach its Campus Sustainability Plan goals. Students receive internship credit for the fall, winter, and spring quarters and a $1500 stipend upon completion of the program in spring quarter.  PSI student applications are available now.  For questions, contact the PSI program at psi[at]ucsc[dot]edu.

Incoming Frosh Outreach Ambassadors: Deadline April 7 (40 positions)
UCSC's Call-a-thon Team is now recruiting for Outreach Ambassadors! This new initiative is designed to help new Fall applicants feel more connected to UCSC before coming to Orientation and beginning in Fall. The team looking to find 40 student interns who will make up the calling team. For full details, and to apply, visit Slug Quest (job # 49148).  Position is paid, 8-10 hours per week. All students are encouraged to apply.

American Indian Resource Center Intern: Deadline June 16
The American Indian Resource Center is dedicated to supporting the needs of American Indian students and increasing Native visibility on campus by advocating students centered programs, cultural events, and tools for academic success. AIRC student interns gain leadership, facilitation, event planning, research, and project management skills as well as the opportunity to learn more about American Indian culture, history, and current issues. 10 hour-per-week commitment. For more info, please contact AIRC Director Rebecca Rosser at rrosser[at]ucsc[dot]edu.

California Botanical Society Paul Silva Student Research Grants: Deadline April 24
The California Botanical Society's Paul Silva Student Research Grant is now available to qualified undergraduate and graduate students working on projects that will help achieve the California Botanical Society's goal of advancing Western American botany. Application requires a letter of support from a faculty advisor. For full details, and to apply, visit the California Botanical Society's website. 

RE-volv Solar Ambassador Program: Deadline April 28
RE-volv's Solar Ambassador Program is offering college students an opportunity to develop project management, outreach and communications skills while tangibly taking action on climate change through solar energy. Student teams will receive in-depth training in solar energy policy, financing, crowdfunding and community organizing while working in their community to deploy a solar energy project for a local nonprofit. Applications can be found at RE-volv's website. Applications close on April 28th. For questions, please contact info[at]re-volv[dot]org."

US Department of the Interior - Office of Environmental Policy & Compliance:
The Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Policy & Compliance (OEPC), Region IX (San Francisco, CA office) is offering full-time and part-time internship opportunities for both Spring and Summer.  As an OEPC intern, you will gain benefits such as: an understanding of existing and evolving regulations and resources; coordinate with Department of the Interior bureaus and other federal, state, and tribal agencies; and reviewing proposed agency actions, and conduct general document research. You may have a hand in several of the OEPC's ongoing projects. Qualified applicants must have US citizenship and must be a current student. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Janet Whitlock at janet[underscore]whitlock[at]ios[dot]doi[dot]gov. 

Employment:

Student Sustainability Advisers: Deadline April 28th 
The CHES-Student Sustainability Advisers are accepting applications for the 2017-2018 academic year with 7 positions available; Cowell/Stevenson SSA, Crown/Merrill SSA, College Nine/College Ten SSA, Porter/Kresge/Redwood Grove SSA, Oakes/Rachel Carson College SSA, Family Student Housing/Graduate Student Housing SSA, and Camper Park/The Village/University Town Center SSA. The positions are available on the UCSC Career Center ER system (ER# 7056) and all students are welcome to apply. The SSA's are seeking for staff that are passionate about promoting sustainability on campus to housing residents. If selected to be an SSA, applicants will be guaranteed on-campus housing in their assigned area, and a $1500 rent credit per quarter. The student application is located here. For any questions or concerns, please contact Catherine L. Green at calgreen[at]ucsc[dot]edu or 831-459-5714.

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Job Fair: April 18 1:30pm - 2:30pm (multiple offerings)
The UCSC Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Department and UCSC Career Center, will be hosting a job fair on April 18.  Fair is open to all students interested in finding an EEB-related career or internship.  The fair will be on Monday, April 18 from 1:30 - 2:30pm in the Cervantes & Velasquez Conference Room (above the Bookstore).  For disability-related accommodations, please call (83I) 459 -2I84.  For more information, email the EEB advisors at eebadvising[at]ucsc[dot]edu.


Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center: Open Until Filled (multiple offerings)
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center is seeking two Program Assistants.  Program assistants Assist in the daily operations at the Center, act as a point of contact for volunteers, and assist with administrative duties.  Position is part time, two 8-hour days per week from April - September.  Undergraduate Environmental Studies, Biology, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Marine Biology, or similar majors desired. Qualified applicants should enjoy working with the public and have experience with Microsoft Excel.  Full details available on the Sanctuary's assistant flyer.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center is also seeking a Maintenance Specialist to fill apart-time position (approximately 20 hours per week) on a contract with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.  Responsibilities include maintaining all aspects of the building’s operations (HVAC, boiler, hot water, fresh and saltwater systems, safety equipment, lighting, janitorial oversight, restrooms, etc).  Qualified applicants should have five or more years of professional experience with facility maintenance and day-to-day experience operating building systems (e.g. heating, plumbing, lighting, electrical, fire/life safety, and elevators).  Full details available on the Sanctuary's maintenance flyer.

Carbon Lighthouse (multiple positions)
Carbon Lighthouse, a green energy consulting group, is hiring for multiple positions at their New York City and San Francisco offices.  Openings include Project Manager, Engineer, Field Technician, and Sales Development Representative.  Internships are available as well.  Full details and application information available at Carbon Lighthouse's website.

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District: Deadline April 10 (2 positions)
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties) is looking to hire two seasonal rangers.  Rangers have a wide variety of responsibilities and opportunities to exercise independent judgment while working on District preserves. Rangers patrol on foot, in all-terrain vehicles, and in four wheel drive patrol trucks. Rangers ensure safe public use of preserves and provide visitors information while enforcing District land use regulations and applicable laws. Rangers also respond to emergency calls and perform maintenance and resource management work on District properties and facilities.  Qualified applicants should have completed police officer or ranger law-enforcement training.  Full details available on Midpeninsula's flyer.

Volunteering:

Earth Day Santa Cruz 2017
Earth Day Santa Cruz 2017 is an annual community event that offers education, activities for kids , live music, and a focus on green businesses.  The event is looking for volunteers to help with a variety of tasks including manning the rock wall, providing event information, educating kids at the Eco-Station, and managing traffic flow.  For more information, and to sign up, visit the Earth Day web page.

Midpeninsula Open Space District Ranger Flyer

April 2017: Contests and Funding

UCSC Student Research Project
This is your chance to participate in a by-student for-student focus group that has been designed to collect your experiences with various resources on campus. The Culture and Achievement Collaborative wants to hear about the resources you have found useful, not useful, or even ones you may think need to be brought to campus. The findings from this project will be used to better inform future UCSC programs and services offered to students. Email Sylvane at ucsc.collab[at]gmail[dot]come to sign up.

UCSC Green Labs Certification Program

Is your lab Green Labs certified? Is there a new energy efficient piece of equipment you have had your eye on? If you are a Green Labs certified lab, there is now a simple equipment funding application that you can submit to Green Labs to apply for new equipment. Find more information by clicking this link.

Sanctuary Exploration Center Maintenance Flyer

Sanctuary Exploration Center Assistant Flyer

April 2017: Spring Tips

In this modern age, many of us have become detached from our food systems and growing seasons. Spring has come around and the Sustainability Office would like to share some gardening tips and crops associated with this time of year.

The fruits and vegetables that are best to plant in April include: Beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, melons, onion, peas, peppers, summer squash, tomatoes and herbs like sage, oregano, thyme, and sage. Learn more when to plant certain crops throughout the year at the Urban Farmer article, "What to Plant Now."

Some of the fruits and vegetables that are in season for April include: Artichokes, Arugula, Asparagus, Chives, Dandelion greens, Fava Beans, Horseradish, Lettuce, Limes, Oranges, Papayas, Peas, Rhubarb, Shallots, Strawberries, Sweet Onions, Turnips, Watercress. Find out more about what is in season at the Spruce website.

Spring time is an especially productive time on the farm. The most hard work for the farmer or gardener goes into the spring to provide for summer and all crops. These crops were traditionally what got people through the winter. The Stevenson Garden is planting a variety of crops throughout the Spring (March, April & May). These crops include: peas, kale, carrots, holy hock, summer squash, varieties of tomatoes, corn, broccoli, and sunflowers.

If you want to find out more, CASFS has great information about sow dates and growing seasons for various crops. Check out this article on Growing Seasons in Santa Cruz.

April 2017: Classes, trainings, and community

Trajectories of Justice in America Class (Cowell 126) at UCSC for Spring 2017
Romero Institute is hosting a super cool class at UCSC called The Trajectories of Justice in America that will cover historical and contemporary events like the #NoDAPL movement and the root causes of climate change. The class will be taught by Daniel Sheehan. Even if you are not a student, cannot enroll, but are generally interested in the content, you are free to audit. Class will be held from 3:20 to 4:55 every Tuesday and Thursday. You can access more information on the class website. Email class[at]romeroinstitute[dot]org for any questions and permission codes.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program Info Session on April 4th
If you are graduating this year or if you have recently graduated, you may be eligible to apply for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Attend an information session about the program on April 4th at 3 pm in the Graduate Student Commons Fireside Lounge at Quarry Plaza (above Cafe Iveta) to find out if you are eligible or interested. Visit their website to find out more. If you know that you want to attend, RSVP for the session.

National Movie Screening and Discussion of "Priceless" on April 5th
On Wednesday, April 5th at 7 PM eastern, The Bard Center for Environmental Policy will host a national screening of “Priceless,” an episode from the National Geographic Series, Years of Living Dangerously. The one-hour show, focusing on both carbon pricing and the biodiversity loss threat from climate change, will be followed by a webcast panel discussion. Participating schools will be able to watch the episode at no charge, and the panel will welcome questions from a national viewing audience. A great event to kick off Earth Month! Students clubs and classes welcome to participate. Please RSVP to stay updated about this free screening and national discussion. 

Earth Week: Monday, April 17 - Saturday April 22
Earth Week is a campuswide, week-long series of events dedicated to increasing environmental awareness and engaging students in current sustainability issues. This year’s Earth Week aims to foster a positive relationship between our society and our planet with the theme of “Standing Together: Taking Action in our Community and Environment.” With this theme, the organizers want to focus on the importance of integrating social justice into sustainability and environmental issues. Ultimately, it is their goal to promote action and sustainability, through the mission statement that we are stronger when we stand together. Check out the Earth Week 2017 homepage to find out more. Rachel Carson College Highlights are listed below.

Eco Fest on Monday, April 17 from 11 am to 2 pm
Eco Fest is happening on April 17th at the Rachel Carson College Plaza. The goal of Eco Fest is to bring organizations together to showcase the amazing sustainability work being done in our community. The Earth Week team will provide sustainable snacks and DIY activities at Oak’s Field. Eco Fest will allow people to get outside and enjoy the campus’s natural environment, as well as meet others in the community who are also focused on changing the world through sustainable practices.

Campus Sustainability Plan Student Feedback Workshop April 18, 6-8pm
Undergraduate students: Join the Sustainability Office for this student-centered workshop, a hands-on opportunity to engage with other students on the campus sustainability issues that are most important to you and provide direct feedback on the proposed goals and strategies for the next 5-year Campus Sustainability Plan. The workshop will take place at the Porter Hitchcock Lounge. Vegan and vegetarian pizza will be served! Learn more about the Campus Sustainability Plan here on the website. RSVP on the Facebook event page.

Sustainable Cinema on Tuesday, April 18 from 7-10 pm
Sustainable Cinema takes place on April 18th at the Rachel Carson College Red Room and will feature a movie that will bring attention to the theme of community and environment. This movie feature will lead to an open discussion about how to engage with each other and within the environment, bringing up topics such as social justice and inequity in sustainability issues.

Art & Action Banquet on Wednesday, April 19 from 11 am to 1 pm
The Art & Action Banquet will take place on April 19 at the Rachel Carson and Oakes Colleges Dining Hall. The Art & Action Banquet will be the largest event consisting of a lecture and organic food in the Oakes & Rachel Carson Dining Hall. The night will be centered around a lecture by artist Benjamin Von Wong who makes incredible art pieces with trash and recycling (partnering with the Sustainability Office). Additionally we will be working with dining staff to create a menu featuring sustainable, local, and organic foods.

Pre-Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 22 from 11 am to 1 pm
On Saturday, the City of Santa Cruz is hosting a festival in San Lorenzo Park and on-campus organizers want to encourage students to get involved in the local community and attend the off-campus festival. They will be rallying people at Rachel Carson College with giveaways and music before encouraging students to go together to the festival by bus and bicycle.