Volunteer as "Trash-Talker" at Commencement 2016

Want to support efforts to make Commencement 2016 a zero-waste event? Join us as a volunteer the weekend of June 10-12!

The Sustainability Office Zero Waste Team is coordinating a team of "trash talkers" for Commencement weekend. These "trash talkers" will interact with families and friends of graduates to educate them about how to properly dispose of waste in correct bins--compost, recycling, and landfill.

Volunteers will sign up for 4-hour shifts and training will be provided in advance. All volunteers will receive a free sustainability t-shirt.

To sign up, please email Alexis at anroney[at]ucsc[dot]edu.

UCSC Bioneers Conference, April 23-24

You are invited to attend the 2nd Annual UC Santa Cruz Bioneers Conference, a Bioneers Resilient Communities Network Event, on April 23-24 at Kresge College in Santa Cruz, California.

As you may already know, Bioneers is a national organization dedicated to social and environmental justice. They host an annual conference in Marin County that attracts more than 2000 scholars and activists.

The UCSC Bioneers Conference will take place in Kresge College at UCSC, and we expect 200 visitors each day to the event. In addition to tabling, inspiring workshops, delicious food, and dancing, the conference will feature 20-minute plenary presentations from visionary scholars, students, and regional community members.

UPDATE: The workshops and speakers have just been announced online here, and more details will be added in the coming weeks.

What is a Bioneer?
You are a change-maker, an innovator, a leader who is invested in creating a more just and sustainable world for the generations to come. You are inspired by the wisdom of nature’s design, you are motivated to make a difference in your community. You want to connect to others who are part of making the change. You are a Bioneer. Learn more about the National Bioneers organization at http://www.bioneers.org/.

Registration
UCSC Bioneers is free and open to the public. Register for your free ticket at http://tinyurl.com/registerucscbioneers16

Want to perform, sing, dance, or create an interactive art piece? 
Please fill out this form by April 8th.

Want to apply to table?
Please fill out this form by April 8th.

An agenda outlining the weekend is below. Please visit the UCSC Bioneers website and the Bioneers Facebook Page for updates and to spread the word about this conference.

Saturday, April 23rd:
9-10: Breakfast Social
10-11: Opening Plenary
11:00-11:15 - Break
11:15-12:45: Workshop
12:45-1:45: Lunch
2:00-3:30: Plenary
3:30-4:00: Break
4:00-5:30: Workshop
5:30-6:30: Dinner
7:00-9:30: Contra Dance! 

Sunday, April 24th:
9-10: Breakfast Social
10-11:30: 4 Workshops
11:30-11:45: Break
11:45-12:45: Plenary
12:45-1:45: Lunch
1:45-3:15: Workshop
3:30-4:20: Plenary
4:20-5: Ice Cream Social

Please email commonground[at]ucsc[dot]edu if you have any questions.

April 2016: Classes, Training, Community

Faculty Workshop: Incorporating Sustainability & Climate Change into UCSC Courses: Deadline to Register April 5th
This one-day workshop for UCSC faculty will provide space for discussing and sharing knowledge about sustainability, approaches for integrating themes into courses, and relevant tools and resources. It will take place on May 20, 2016 from 9am-3pm at Digital Arts Research Center, “Light Lab” Room 306 on the UCSC campus. Faculty will receive $1000 for participating in the workshop to help revise syllabi and course plans. Funds can be used for assistance from a GSR, instructional media, field trips, guest speaker honoraria, lab materials, etc. They will also receive $200 for sharing accomplishments back with the group next year. This workshop is open to all UCSC faculty although space is limited and priority will be given to Senate faculty. Please email asteves[at]ucsc[dot]edu to pre-register.

UCSC Bioneers Conference Tabling & Performance Registration Open: Deadline April 8th
The 2nd Annual UCSC Bioneers Conference, a Bioneers Resilient Communities Network Event, takes place April 23-24th in Kresge College. The conference will feature workshops, guest speakers, artistic performances, dancing, and more! Click here to apply to perform, sing, dance, or create an interactive art piece. Click here to table at the conference with your organization. To get your free ticket for the conference, visit the Eventbrite page and then share this event on Facebook!

Survey on Environmental Sustainability for UCSC Students: Deadline April 10
All UCSC students are invited to participate in the UCSC Survey on Environmental Sustainability, the first campuswide project to gain a better understanding of student perceptions of and participation in the environmental sustainability movement on campus. Your feedback will help the People of Color Sustainability Collective (PoCSC) create programming, resources, and opportunities to better address our campus needs. The survey takes only 5–10 minutes to complete, and by participating, you will be entered for a chance to win an iPad Air or one of 11 $50 gift cards to the Bay Tree Bookstore. PoCSC is an initiative housed under the Ethnic Resource Centers that works in collaboration with Colleges Nine and Ten and the Campus Sustainability Office. For questions or more information, please email pocsc[at]ucsc[dot]edu. Administration of this survey is being done by the UCSC Office of Institutional Research. Participating in the survey is completely voluntary and will not affect your grades, registration, or enrollment in any way. Your responses will be kept confidential and reported only as aggregate data. You can also share this survey on Facebook here.

UCSC Bioneers Conference Announces Speakers & Workshops
The Common Ground Center and the Sustainability Office invite you to attend the 2nd Annual UC Santa Cruz Bioneers Conference, a Bioneers Resilient Communities Network Event, on April 23-24 at Kresge College in Santa Cruz, California. This conference is a two day experience focused on themes like social and environmental justice and activism. The event carries a festive and empowering ambiance with visionary speakers, inspiring and educational workshops, performances and artwork, dancing, food, and music. The workshops and speakers are listed here, and more details will be added in the coming weeks. For more information, visit the Facebook page.

Survey on Integration of Sustainability and Climate Change into UCSC Courses
Have you taken a course where sustainability and climate change were integrated in an especially meaningful, unexpected, or innovative way? Or a class where it could have been better integrated, or included as a unit, module, or lesson? If so, please email Andrea Steves at asteves@ucsc.edu or take this quick, 2-minute, anonymous survey!

Shifting Bike Culture: Submit Your Story!
You're invited to share a story about a time when you felt excluded in a bike space for a collective story project. San Jose-based Cowgirl Bike Courier, Dr. Adonia Lugo, and Sarah McCullough are collaborating on a new blog called Shifting Bike Culture, which will collect these stories together with the purpose of "build[ing] our individual moments into a collective voice that guides the development of community-rooted principles for inclusion in bicycling and other urbanist movements (quote by Adonia Lugo)." Visit the website and submit your story here.

Apply to Master of Arts in Sexuality Studies at SF State: Priority Deadline April 15th
SF State's interdisciplinary Sexuality Studies MA program has extended its priority admissions deadline to April 15, 2016, with rolling admissions through July 1. Drawing on fields including ethnic studies,  gender and women's studies, history, queer studies, psychology, public health, and sociology, they emphasize theoretical and methodological sophistication and a commitment to addressing social inequality and advancing social justice. They are admitting applicants with a conditional GRE requirement. If a student has not taken the GRE or wants more information, please contact Professor Fields at jfields[at]sfsu[dot]edu. For more information about the program, click here.

Kelp Forest Ecology Summer Course: Deadline April 15
This course is aimed at upper division undergraduates or beginning graduate students interested in benthic ecology & kelp forests. SCUBA certification (Advanced/Open Water II) & all personal diving gear is required (AAUS scientific certification is not required, but desirable). Summer tuition ($5080) will be covered; class size is limited. The application form is available here. Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA Jun 20-Jul 22, 2016 (5-weeks), M-F, 5-units.

LEED Green Associate (GA) Training: April 21
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program acts as a method of evaluating buildings based on energy-efficient and sustainable design. The LEED Green Associate (GA) credential is the only entry level sustainability designation and shows that those certified are knowledgeable in the green building industry. A new LEED rating system (v4) was introduced recently and this training course is one of the few that has been updated to teach the current rating system. This training will take place on the UCSC campus on April 21 from 6-10 PM. For more information including cost and how to register, see here.

California Dream Ride: Registration Opens April 1
Our 3rd Annual California Dream Ride will take place over 5 days from October 3rd to 8th, 2016. The ride is 280 miles from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles. Enjoy gorgeous ocean sunsets with new friends. Ride along quiet beach bike paths, skyline ridge roads, and scenic canyons, enjoying the balmy breeze. Eat fantastic meals with great company. Relax in comfortable hotels at the end of a day of riding. Early bird registration opens April 1.

Women of Wind and Energy Windpower Fellowship: May 23-26
The Rudd Mayer Memorial Fellowships support women to participate in Windpower, attending seminars on current wind energy issues, viewing state-of-the-art technology, meeting others in the renewable energy field, and connecting with employers about potential internships or permanent positions. Windpower 2016 will be held from May 23-26 in New Orleans, LA. The Fellowship covers the cost of travel to and from the Windpower conference site, conference registration (and included meals), and lodging. Find out more on the website here.

The Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy Program: Deadline July 1
The Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy (SISE) is a two-week intensive workshop and lecture series for students and professionals at the University of Illinois at Chicago. From August 4-16, a diverse body of participants will engage a broad spectrum of energy and sustainability-related topics through daily presentations, collaborative projects, mentoring activities, site visits, and networking opportunities with leading research institutions and companies in the digital technology and energy sectors. They will accept applications through July 1st. Application information, program information, and more can be found at their website. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Thomas Aláan uic.sise.admissions[at]gmail[dot]com, SISE Program Coordinator.

Climate Ride Summer Session: June 17 - July 10, 2016
The Climate Ride has a new program designed to engage young adults (ages 18-24) in the bike advocacy, conservation and sustainability movement. The 2016 inaugural ride is a 24-day, 1200-mile van-supported bike trip from Portland, OR to Santa Barbara, CA through some of the Pacific Coast’s most beautiful locales. In order to participate, riders must fundraise a minimum of $3,500 for the Climate Ride beneficiary organizations of their choice. There are more than 100 beneficiaries to choose fromSpace is limited to 20 participants. For more information and to register click here.

Sustainability Studies Minor
The minor incorporates courses offered by College Eight and departments across campus, student-initiated classes through the Education for Sustainable Living Program, and an interdisciplinary capstone. The minor is open to all UCSC students. For more information, click here.

Divestment Student Network People Of Color Caucus
The People of Color Caucus is a place for organizers of color in the divestment movement to meet, collaborate on shared projects, and support each other to build the Climate Justice movement the world needs. Check out their Purpose, Principles and how to get involved here. Divestors of color who are interested in learning more can fill out this quick membership form to be shared on their listserve, membership contact page, and Facebook group.

Inter-Organizational Sustainability Retreat Highlights

Jay Luce Nelson, the Sustainability Office CUIP Events Coordinator, reports back on the Inter-Organizational Sustainability Retreat.

Over the weekend of January 8th-10th, members and representatives of 42 different UCSC organizations came together to enjoy the 6th Annual Inter-Organizational Sustainability Retreat. The retreat, coordinated by leaders of social and environmental sustainability efforts around campus, aims to build leadership skills, explore concepts of sustainability, build community, and promote collaboration between sustainability-minded organizations.

Friday's events included an alumni panel, dinner catered by Vivas Mexican Food, and small alumni group discussions. Student and staff attendees were given the opportunity to talk to alumni about their lives and careers post-graduation.

Saturday and Sunday's events took place at YMCA Camp Campbell in Boulder Creek. Saturday began with a group activity that explored our understanding of words and ideas such as "space" and "decolonizing," led by Adriana Renteria, People of Color Sustainability Collective Coordinator, and Elida Erickson, Interim Sustainability Director and Sustainability Programs Manager. Following was the keynote presentation by Pandora Thomas, environmental educator and co-founder of the Black Permaculture Network, who spoke about her experiences regarding community education, environmental racism, and the importance of recognizing and celebrating the sustainable practices of communities of color. Workshops later in the day explored topics such as self care, food sovereignty, the power of storytelling, global agricultural coalitions such as La Via Campesina, and more.

As a coordinator of the retreat, seeing the Planning, Programming and Logistics Committees' plans come to fruition was an amazing experience. The Inter-Org Retreat allowed me to meet members of other organizations that I might not have the opportunity to interact with otherwise; it was wonderful meeting so many people with such varied interests and backgrounds, each bringing their own ideas of sustainability.

On Saturday I attended the workshop "Food Justice & Oppression" facilitated by Adriana Renteria and Crystal Owings, Food Equity and Access Specialist for the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems. Participants at this workshop were enabled to examine bias and injustice inherent in our food system. Later I attended "La Via Campesina: Globalizing Hope, Globalizing the Struggle" with People of Color Sustainability Collective interns Amran Khan, Catherine Alfaro, Raymond Lebeau, and Cristal Gonzalez. Through role-playing, we learned about the various agricultural groups comprising the agricultural justice coalition La Via Campesina. I highly encourage others to look into this movement if you, like myself before attending this workshop, do not have prior knowledge of it.

Special thanks go out to the Sustainability Office Zero Waste Team for providing funding used to make Friday a zero waste event; everyone involved in the planning process; our many carpool drivers; the workshop leaders; Camp Campbell, which has recently made the switch to reduce waste by using reusable cloth napkins; and keynote speaker Pandora Thomas. Pandora's website can be found at pandorathomas.com.

Pictures from the retreat can be found on Facebook here. For future updates about this annual retreat, please visit the website here.

Earth Week Events

Earth Week 2015 at UCSC is taking place April 19-25, with the theme Your Plate, Your Food, Your Impact. College Eight’s Earth Week 2015 strives to build environmental awareness by exploring the power of individual choice in our food systems. By understanding our impact, Earth Week aims to educate our community and encourage collaboration on how to make sustainable food choices.

A couple of events happening during Earth Week include:

April 18: Earth Day Santa Cruz at San Lorenzo Park
Earth Day Santa Cruz is an exciting community event offering educational information, activities for kids including an arts and crafts tent, live music and a focus on green businesses. Come and enjoy this fun environmental celebration for the whole family on April 18th, 11 am – 4 pm in San Lorenzo Park! The Sustainability Office will be tabling there, so come say hello!

April 21st: Food Fight-Forum
The Food Fight event highlights the power of choice by examining different perspectives on April 24 from 6 pm - 7:30 pm. Students across campus are invited to participate in a space that aims to discuss various topics of sustainability in regards to food. The topic is “What Does It Mean to Eat?” Addressing the social and environmental impacts of the food systems. With the guidance of speakers who have expertise in the field, this event intends to spark questions about our relation to food and understand ways of improvement.

April 22: Local & Organic Tasting Fair
Join UCSC Dining in their 5th annual Local and Organic Tasting Fair. On Wednesday, April 22nd from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm at the College 9 & 10 Multipurpose Room, there will be local vendors and free samples of food and beverages! The event is free and open to all of campus.

April 23: Jon Young - Understanding Bird Language to Bring More Presence to All That You Do
Join the Common Ground Center's Collaborative Learning Class for their speaker series! On April 23rd at the Porter Meadow from 2 - 3:45 pm, nature mentor Jon Young will speak about how bird language can be added to our everyday lives. Jon has been mentoring folks in the nearly lost art of understanding bird and animal language. Just as science is beginning to see the credibility in this ancient skill, Jon has been leading communities world-wide to get these skills back through lectures, workshops, media.

April 24: Earth Summit
On Friday, April 24th, the Student Environmental Center will be hosting the 14th Annual Campus Earth Summit from 11 am to 4:30 pm at the College Nine & Ten Multipurpose Room. The Earth Summit is a space for students, staff, faculty, administrators, and community members to come together and celebrate the history and current actions in campus sustainability, reflect on the 2014-2015 Student Forum events, plan for future sustainability projects, and strengthen overall involvement. The theme of this year’s event is a fusion of activism and art, with a focus on increasing communication and community problem-solving through the avenue of art and personal expression. Learn more about the Earth Summit event and ways you can get involved at their website!

April 24: UCSC Greenhouse Tour
Enjoy a tour of UCSC's Science Hill, including rooftop visits to the  instructional plant collection, restoration project plants, and current research projects. Director Jim Velzy will give an overview of the various aspects related to these rooftop facilities and light refreshments will be served. For more information visit this website.

April 24: Sustainability Alumni Reunion
Join the Sustainability Office for a mixer with alumni and current students involved with UC Santa Cruz environmental sustainability and conservation efforts. This is an opportunity to catch up with old friends and create networks with new ones in honor of UCSC's 50th Anniversary. Students, staff, and alumni from UCSC sustainability organizations will be gathering informally at Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing and nearby West End Tap on Friday, April 24th from 5-8 p.m. You don't have to be 21+ to attend! Please invite others who may be interested in attending. To RSVP or ask questions, please email Melissa at mott [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

April 24: M. Sanjayan - A New Wild: Saving Nature in a Human-Dominated World
Sanjayan’s talk will draw on his 2015 PBS television series EARTH: A New Wild to reveal how, through human ingenuity, technology and sometimes ecological tragedy, people are becoming a positive part of the ecological systems we depend on for our well-being. The result is a new framework that reinvents environmentalism by making saving nature about saving ourselves. This presentation is part of the True Originals Notable Alumni Speakers Series. For more information, check out this website.

April 25: Sustainability Office at Pan-DANM-onium Faire
UCSC’s Digital Arts and New Media (DANM) MFA Program invites the community to a day-long festival celebrating DANM’s first decade, on April 25, 2015. The Sustainability Office will be hosting a table at this innovative event; come learn how to recycle properly and learn how much energy your appliances really use! This free event includes outdoor exhibits and interactive demos, the annual DANM MFA art exhibition, alumni slideshows, research lab open houses, and a masquerade ball. It’s a day of DIY making, projection mapping, repurposed military vehicles, free food, fine art, vacuform masks, kids crafts and more – it’s pan-DANM-onium! Learn more about the day-long event here.

April 25: Arboretum Tour
The Arboretum is offering alumni a guided tour of the world-renown UC Santa Cruz Arboretum during alumni weekend. On the tour you will learn about the collections of rare and endangered plants from around the world and the importance of them to the university and community. They have sizable collections of mostly drought-tolerant native Californian, Australian, New Zealand, and South African plants, including cacti and succulents. For more information, check out this website.

April 25: Farm Tour
Enjoy a guided tour of the gardens, fields and orchards at UCSC's 30-acre organic Farm. Founded in 1971, the 30-acre Farm includes handworked gardens of annual and perennial food and ornamental crops, mechanically cultivated row crops, orchards, and research plots. Learn about the education, research, and public service activities taking place through the work of the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS). Please wear comfortable walking shoes for this event. For more information, check out this website.

April 25: UCSC Campus Natural Reserve Hike
Join a hike on the UC Santa Cruz Campus Natural Reserve, which serves as an outdoor classroom and living laboratory that provides a vital link between ideas discussed within traditional classrooms and hands-on learning in the natural world. The campus reserve features steep redwood ravines, flowering azaleas along forested springs, sweeping ocean views, northern maritime chaparral, and more. Meet at the Firehouse parking lot. Gage Dayton, Administrative Director for physical and biological sciences, and Alex Jones, UCSC Campus Natural Reserve Steward, will begin with a brief overview of the reserve, followed by a steward-led hike along the interpretative loop trail. This event is family friendly. For more information, check out the following website.

April 25: Kenneth Norris Center Dedication
The Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History Dedication is an opportunity to celebrate natural history training accomplishments over the past 50 years and articulate a vision for the new Norris Center to the campus community, alumni, and other potential donors. For more information, check out this website.

April 25th: Sustainable Food Choice Fair, 2015 5pm-7pm 
On April 25 from 5-7pm, the Sustainable Food Choice Fair will act as the finale to College 8 Earth Week activities and will continue to highlight the idea of food choices and their impact on the environment. Through interactive stations, the event will highlight the themes mentioned earlier in these stations where students can participate in activities that relate to real life issues and decisions. The goal is to create an environment that is engaging and allows students to discover new ideas about their food choices. At the same time, organizers will serve food that models sustainable choices in order to provide an example that shows students it is possible to make sustainable choices.

April 26: Campus Clean Up Day
The Student Union Assembly and the Sustainability Office's Zero Waste Team have teamed up to coordinate the First Annual Campus Clean-Up Day on April 25! The vision for this event is to bring students and campus users together to clean up our beautiful campus and shed light on littering issues and improper cigarette butt disposal. The goal of this event is to motivate campus users to properly dispose of waste and encourage campus stewardship.

April 26: We Are Wiser Together World Cafe
Live music, free food, and meaningful intergenerational conversations. Connect with student leaders, community partners, and alumni during a series of World Cafe conversations about how we can be wiser together through collaboration across generations. How can we work and play together as we turn 50? What becomes possible when we - one generation alive and awake together at this unique moment in history - form partnerships in business, politics, education, and civil society? Farm fresh lunch prepared by students from the Kresge Common Ground Center and Kresge Garden Coop included with pre-registration. For more information check out this website.

April 28: Walk to Class Challenge
UCSC's 2nd Annual Walk to Class Challenge Day will take place on April 28, 2015! Registration is open until April 27th, and the first 60 students to register will receive a free event t-shirt. The challenge is a student-led effort to promote walking as a viable and sustainable transportation mode for cross-campus travel, reduce UCSC’s carbon footprint, and help students make more sustainable choices for themselves and the environment. Register for free at taps.ucsc.edu and then fill out a survey after the event for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card! Join the Facebook page, Instagram, and visit the website for more information.

Below are the College Eight Earth Week Events:

"Every year on April 22nd marks the anniversary of what many consider the beginning of the modern environmental movement.  In 1970, Americans were slurping leaded gas through massive V8 sedans. Industry belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of legal consequences or bad press. Air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity. Although mainstream America remained oblivious to environmental concerns, the stage had been set for change by the publication of Rachel Carson's New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962. The book represented a watershed moment for the modern environmental movement, selling more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries and, up until that moment, more than any other person, Ms. Carson raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and public health. Earth Day 1970 capitalized on the emerging consciousness, channeling the energy of the anti-war protest movement and putting environmental concerns front and center."

- EarthDay.org

For more information, visit the College 8 Earth Week event site for upcoming updates or contact Derek Dean at drdean [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

What We Did: Inter-Org 2015

On January 9th-11th, the Campus Sustainability Office planned and hosted their 5th annual weekend retreat for a variety of organizations. The beauty of the Inter-Organizational retreat is that attendees' primary focus does not have to be sustainability. Groups with a variety of interests and foci were in attendance. The unique point of view that every organization brought made for a far richer experience. The first night, Friday, took place on campus, while the remainder of the retreat took place in Boulder Creek, California at the YMCA Camp Campbell.

Friday night began in the Stevenson Event Center with a delicious dinner prepared by volunteers, and the Inter-Org Foods subcommittee. The planning team would like to thank PICA for letting them use their kitchen and supplies to cook the meal on Friday evening. The meal consisted of delicious, spicy vegan chili and tortilla chips. Dessert was a delicious gluten-free, dairy-free brownie. There was assigned seating so that attendees were forced out of their comfort zone by being required to meet new people and mix and mingle with other organizations and individuals. Thanks to Lily Urmann and Chris Kane, two UCSC student leaders, we were all able to silk screen our white t-shirts after dinner, with the weekend's motto: "Communi[ty]cation!"

Next, we were introduced to the Recreation Department's Experiential Leadership Program. It consisted of an awesome group of student leaders who taught us activities that allowed us to practice the skills necessary to working well in a group. One activity that stood out as particularly fun was the blind-fold maze. We were placed in groups of two, and one member wore a blindfold. The other member of the pair had to guide the blindfolded individual across the maze through their directions- no physical guidance was allowed! If you stepped on the cones, you were frozen! Communication and trust were absolutely integral to playing this game; just as communication and trust are an integral part of working together in an office and organization!

Friday night ended with fun skits! Each of the team building groups were given about 15 minutes to create their own original cheer, chant, rap or story that was representative of their evening at the Inter-Org kick off dinner. Shortly after, most went home to pack and get their camping gear in order for our early morning the following Saturday.

Saturday morning kicked off with a great seminar by Generation Waking Up, led by Mira Michelle of PICA, Tawn Kennedy of Green Ways to School/People Power/Sierra Club, and Maiya Evans of UCSF. Generation Waking Up is an open source curriculum that works to ignite the passion in young people to bring forth a more sustainable world.

After Generation Waking Up, attendees were treated to a variety of workshops presented by our fellow student organizations. Some workshops topics included Cultural Resilience, Biomimicry, and Compassion. The workshops left everyone feeling energized and full of new knowledge and understanding. After the student-led workshops, everyone shared a delicious dinner together and then gathered at the campfire for the annual talent show! It is amazing how much talent each and everyone individual who attended possesses!

The following morning, the retreat wound down with a delicious breakfast and break out sessions for individual organizations to gather and discuss ways to incorporate their newfound knowledge and inspiration into future projects. Inter-Org ended with a group circle where everyone shared a word that personally summed up their experience at the retreat.

Thanks to Lauren Korth for the photographs, and to everyone who made this retreat possible! If you are interested in getting involved in planning next year's retreat, please email Melina at mmeserol[at]ucsc[dot]edu.

Sustainability Office Fall Retreat

On October 4, UC Santa Cruz Sustainability Office students and staff, as well as interns in the Provost's Sustainability Internship Program, gathered for a day packed with knowledge, bonding and planning for the coming year! The morning started with a delicious breakfast and mingling, followed by some get-to-know-you games, and an introduction to sustainability at UCSC. Other topics covered throughout the morning included climate action and the Carbon Fund and how to manage work, plan projects, and have effective meetings. These trainings were led by some of our fantastic staff: Lacey Raak, Elida Erickson, Chrissy Thomure, and Melissa Ott. In addition to sustainability and professional development trainings, this year's retreat included diversity, inclusion, and communication as one of its major topics.

One activity in particular was called "We See From Behind Our Eyes," where one partner described a picture to the other (who could not see the picture), and the parter who could not see the projected picture, had to draw the picture as it was described from their teammate. Laughter, confusion, and silly-looking drawings ensued, but a poignant lesson was learned about the importance of and challenges with clear communication while working with others. In our own heads, we "see" things in a particular way, but when trying to explain concepts or ideas to others, we have to make sure we are considering how they might be "seeing" our explanation. Even when we're all speaking the same language, there is a certain level of translation that occurs--being clear and understanding can minimize how much is lost in this translation. 

Other activities in this session included writing "I Am From" poems, exploring how to build lasting relationships with other organizations and individuals, and brainstorming our Office Principles of Community based on the UCSC Principles of Community (read them here).

One of the last activities we did at the retreat was a fun waste relay led by the Zero Waste Team, where students put their recycling/waste/compost sorting knowledge to the test in the form of a fast-paced relay race. Everyone won in the form of enhanced knowledge about our different waste streams on campus. We wrapped up the day-long retreat with a small trek to a gorgeous wooded area on campus, where everyone shared one word summing up their experience that day (inspiring, motivated, learning, new friends, just to name a few!). After a team cheer and photos, we said our goodbyes, rejuvenated and excited for the coming year. What a great way to kick start the new school year! Thank you to all who made the retreat possible!

UCSC Farm Hosts Fall Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 12

Fall has arrived and it’s time to celebrate the changing seasons at the 20th annual Fall Harvest Festival, coming up on Sunday, October 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at UC Santa Cruz’s 30-acre organic farm.

The festival features live music from marimba to reggae to bluegrass, including a headliner performance by Dylan McDonald and the Avians. Also on tap: hay rides, kids’ crafts, workshops, pumpkin and produce sales, and campus and community group information tables.Visitors of all ages are invited to sample apples and roasted pepper varieties, enter the pie baking contest, try their hand at pressing cider, scale the climbing wall, pick sunflowers and make a "bike smoothie" as part of the "Food, What?!" youth group's fundraiser, and enjoy locally sourced, tasty treats.

Workshops on making guacamole, growing and using peppers, saving seeds, baking apple crisp using acorn flower and a solar oven, and preparing your garden for fall and winter are also on the schedule, along with farm tours and an herb walk through the garden.

Want so see how your favorite apple pie recipe measures up? Be sure to enter the Apple Pie Contest by 12:30 pm (see rules, below).

Admission is free for UCSC students, kids 12 and under, and members of the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden; general admission is $5. See below for a full schedule of the day's events.

The Harvest Festival is cosponsored by the UCSC Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS), UCSC’s Measure 43, and the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden, with major support from Driscoll’s. People Power will provide free valet parking for bicycles.

For directions to the UCSC Farm, visit the CASFS web site at http://casfs.ucsc.edu/about/directions. Free parking will be available at the Campus Facilities and Barn Theater parking lots, and a free shuttle will be available. For more information call (831) 459-3240 or email casfs@ucsc.edu.

2014 Harvest Festival Schedule

MUSIC

• Ben Davis, acoustic guitar, 11:15 – 12:30
• Sadza Marimba, 12:45 – 2:00
• Ancestree Reggae,  2:15 – 3:30
• Dylan McDonald & The Avians, 3:50 – 5:00

WORKSHOPS & ACTIVITIES

• Roasted Pepper and Apple Variety Tasting, 11:30 – 4:00
• Holy Moly Guacamole, 12:00 – 1:00, Alyssa Billys, Food System Working Group
• Apple Pie Contest Bake-Off (entry deadline), 12:30
• Tours of the UCSC Farm, 12:30 & 4 pm
• Planting the Fall/Winter Garden, 1:15 – 2:15 
• Herb Talk & Walk through the Garden, 1:30 – 2:30: Darren Huckle, Western/Chinese herbalist & licensed acupuncturist
• Seed Saving Workshop, 2:30 – 3:15: Conner Spears, Demeter Seed Library
• Pepper Varieties of the Farm & Garden, 3:15 – 3:45: Orin Martin, Alan Chadwick Garden
• Taste of the Oaks: Sun-Baked Acorn Flour Crisp, 3:45 – 4:30: Leah Walsh, UCSC grad and chef

Official Rules for the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden Apple Pie Contest
Pie entries accepted October 12, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Official judging begins at 12:45 p.m. Winners will be announced at between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

1. The Friends of Farm and Garden Apple Pie Bake-Off is a nonprofessional baking competition open to Harvest Festival attendees (entry to the Harvest Festival is $5; free admission for UCSC students, Friends of the Farm & Garden members and for children 12 and under).

2. Contestants are responsible for submitting a written (preferably typed) recipe with their pie.

3. Contestants are responsible for supplying all ingredients and baking the pie prior to bringing it to the contest.

4. All entries in this contest must be homemade.

5. A representative of the Friends of the Farm & Garden will assign each contestant a number. Contestants should verify that the number on the bottom of their container is the same number assigned by the representative.

6. Contestants’ entries are judged on taste, presentation, and creativity.

7. The decision of the judges shall be final. Pie not consumed during judging will be returned to the contestant.

All pies must be entered by 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, at the Fall Harvest Festival, UCSC Farm. For questions or additional copies of the rules, call (831) 459-3240 or e-mail casfs@ucsc.edu.

People Power of Santa Cruz County Launches "I Give 3 Ft" Safety Campaign

California’s new bike-passing law takes effect Tuesday, Sept. 16 and many motorists aren’t aware of the new requirements, so People Power of Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (HSA), and the California Bicycle Coalition are launching a safety campaign urging motorists to pass bicyclists safely by giving at least 3 feet of clearance when passing. On Tuesday, Sept 16, California joins twenty-five other states with similar laws.

Image source

People Power and HSA are hosting a press event on September 16th at 10 AM at Santa Cruz City Hall, to encourage widespread education of motorists and cyclists on the new law. The event will feature local elected officials, the Watsonville and Scotts Valley Police Departments, and the Capitola AAA office.
“This bill will be a powerful educational tool in Santa Cruz County,” says People Power Director Amelia Conlen. “People on bikes are often passed dangerously close, especially on our rural roads. The new law gives us the opportunity to talk to drivers and cyclists about how to interact safely.”

“More and more Californians are discovering that bikes are an easy, healthy, and fun way to get around, but it’s unnecessarily dangerous sometimes when a motorist passes too closely,” said Dave Snyder, the executive director of the California Bicycle Coalition, whose organization advocated for the bill to remind motorists that three feet is the minimum clearance necessary for safety. Bicyclists need some “wiggle room,” Snyder said, to safely avoid a pothole or road debris without having to worry about getting hit by a passing car.

At least three cyclists have been killed in automobile collisions in Santa Cruz County in the past year.

AB 1371 was signed into law last September. When it takes effect, violators will face a $35 fine plus fees, or a $220 fine -- $959 with fees -- if a collision occurs. Where a violation results in a collision that injures a bicyclist, the law will be valuable because it establishes a basis for citing the driver for unsafe passing.

People Power is providing free bumper stickers and window clings to motorists who want to put them on their car to remind other motorists of the need to pass safely. Visit the press event to pick one up.

For more information, please contact Amelia Conlen, People Power Director, at (831) 425-0665 or director AT peoplepowersc DOT org

May Bike Month Events

What better time to dust off your bike, tune it up, and go for a ride than May, which is National Bike Month!

Bicycling is not only fun, it's also a zero-emissions method of transportation, it's great exercise, and you can save a lot of money on gas and maintenance by transitioning your commute or daily trips from car to bicycle.

From our bay views to our hills to our thriving bicycle community, Santa Cruz is one of the best places to be during National Bike Month and Bike Week (May 2-9). There are more than 15 bicycle events happening in town and on-campus in May alone! Here's the complete list--notice how many events are happening at UCSC!

Bike Night First Friday at the MAH - May 2 at 5pm - 9pm 
Museum of Art and History, 705 Front Street. 
Ecology Action Bike Week kick-off party in collaboration with People Power of Santa Cruz County. Join us for an evening of live music, local artists, craft vendors, friends, family, a group ride and so much more at the Museum of Arts & History. Visit the Bike to Work website for details.

Stevenson Bike & Food Justice Fest - May 3 at 12pm - 4pm
Stevenson Main Quad, UC Santa Cruz. 
Join us for a bike & food justice fest featuring free bike maintenance, bicycle education and history, bike-generated strawberry smoothies with education about strawberry production, music, bike part art, a food justice & transportation board game, and more! At 2pm, there will be a speaker panel discussion about the intersections of transportation and food justice in the Stevenson Fireside Lounge. Email Melissa at mott [at] ucsc [dot] edu for details.

Slug Bike Party Ride Around Campus – May 3 at 3:30pm 
Meet in Stevenson Main Quad, UC Santa Cruz. 
During the Bike & Food Justice Festival, a group will be heading off on bikes to explore easy and secret routes around campus while also touring some of the campus gardens. Bring a bicycle in good working condition, a helmet, and comfortable shoes. Bike party! Email Melissa at mott [at] ucsc [dot] edu for details.

Capitola Open Streets - May 4 at 11am - 4pm 
Santa Cruz Open Streets fosters individual and community health through creative use of public space. Capitola Village’s first Open Streets event will close the road to car traffic and fill the street with people walking, biking and playing. There will be music, local organizations, and fun activities! For more details, visit the website.

Cycle & Dine - May 5 
Cyclists will receive between a 15-25% discount on their meal at participating restaurants! Upon arrival at any of these restaurants make sure to show your helmet to your server or at the cash register before ordering. Each restaurant will be providing varying discounts within the noted range. Participating restaurants include: Charlie Hong Kong, Chocolate, Harbor Cafe and Midtown Cafe. Other restaurants to be confirmed shortly; visit the website.

Bike Week World Cafe - May 5 at 5pm - 7pm 
Kresge Piazzetta, outside Kresge Seminar Room at Porter-Kresge Rd, UC Santa Cruz. 
The World Cafe is a weekly potluck of both food and ideas that takes place in Kresge College. The theme for this week is bicycles to celebrate the beginning of Bike Week in Santa Cruz! Join us for conversations about the revolutionary role of bicycles to empower and free people in our community, enjoy some bike generated smoothies and music, and learn some basic bike maintenance. For more information, contact Melissa at mott@ucsc.edu

Staff of Life Market Breakfast - May 6 at 7am - 10am 
1266 Soquel Avenue. 
Free pastries, juice, and coffee for cyclists! Join us for a fun event in the seated patio area for yummy food, delicious beverages, free bike goodies and more! Learn more here.

UCSC Bike Helmet Giveaway - May 6 at 1:30pm - 4pm
Base of UCSC campus, corner of Bay & High. 
In celebration of Bike Week, Transportation and Parking Services is hosting the Bicycle Safety Campaign! TAPS will be surveying cyclists and handing out 200 free helmets to members of the UCSC community on first come first serve basis. Proof of UCSC affiliation required. Invite your friends if you care about them staying safe on the road! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Julie.

Free Basic Bicycle Maintenance - May 7 at 12pm - 4pm 
Downtown Farmers’ Market, Cedar Street & Lincoln Street. 
Spokesman Bicycle mechanics will have a tent set up at the Farmers Market to provide FREE basic bike maintenance. Get your bike tuned up and ready for Bike to Work Day!

Riding for Transportation - May 7 at 6pm - 7:30pm
Epicenter Cycling, 1730 Mission Street. 
Epicenter Cycling will be hosting this free workshop which will include everything you need to know about commuting by bike. Epicenter will demystify the rules of the road and will be discussing equipment options, riding at night, biking with kids, locking up, and much more. The workshop will also feature a panel discussion including Andrea from Epicenter, Amelia Conlen (Director at People Power of Santa Cruz County), and local longtime commuters Gary and Rebbie, followed by a Q&A. Snacks will be provided + great deals for workshop attendees on Epicenter commuter gear!

Bike to Work/School Day! - May 8, 2014 at 6:30am - 9:30am 
Have you ever wished someone would celebrate your bike commute with free food? Well that’s what Bike to Work Day is all about! There will be 15 public breakfast sites for people who bike to work/school this day. For more information, visit the website.

Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing Fundraiser for Bike to Work Day - May 8 at noon - 10pm 
402 Ingalls Street #27. 
$1 per pint will go to support Ecology Action's Bike to Work/School Program. Drink up!

Bike Party: The (Bike) Empire Strikes Back! - May 9 at 7pm - 9pm 
Meet at Bike Church, 703 Pacific Avenue. 
Bike Party is a fun, social ride every 2nd Friday of the month. The goal is to create a safe and cooperative roadway environment for all users. Bring your Star Wars inspired costumes, light sabers and polish those storm trooper boots or just come as you are! Prizes for best individual and group costumes.

Bike Party photo by Bradley Allen.

Edge of Eden Music Festival (Free Bike Valet) - May 10 at 2pm - 10pm 
Take your bike to this music festival at the UCSC East Field and receive free bike parking! Parking is limited for the event anyway, and you won’t have to worry about your bike while you enjoy the show. Learn more here.

Free Bike Commuting Workshop at UCSC - May 14 at 12:30pm – 1:30pm 
Science and Engineering Library Room 332, UC Santa Cruz. 
Come to a free one-hour workshop for UCSC bike commuters of all skill levels hosted by People Power of Santa Cruz County. We’ll cover best practices for commuting to campus, including gears, laws, and routes. Free helmets and front bike lights!

Smooth Cycling at UCSC - May 14 at 2pm - 3:30pm
College 9/10 Community Room, UC Santa Cruz.
Come to this Smooth Cycling presentation by Ecology Action to learn how to safely cycle in Santa Cruz! Learn about the best roads and trails, find out the best way to avoid collisions, how to avoid theft, and more! Free bike lights! Additionally, a representative from the East San Jose Bicycle Cooperative will be available to help provide free mechanical support to anyone looking to tune up their bike.

Endless Summer Bike Ride - May 18, 2014 at 11am to 3pm
Soak in the sun, practice your cycling skills and explore little-known routes around Santa Cruz on this easy 8-10 mile bike ride. $6 cost includes a picnic lunch at Twin Lakes Beach. Bring a helmet and bike in good working condition. Register online here.

Free Bike Commuting Workshop - May 19, June 16, and July 21 at 6pm - 7pm 
People Power of Santa Cruz County Office, 703 Pacific Avenue. 
Biking to work is a great way to save money, stay fit and reduce your carbon footprint. Learn rules of the road, basic skills and maintenance, what gear to bring and how to make the most of your bike commute at these monthly workshops every third Monday of the month until July. People of all bike skill levels are welcome, from beginners to seasoned commuters. Register for a workshop here.

UCSC Sustainability Spring Fest

SUSTAINABILITY 

SPRING FEST CELEBRATION

May 22nd, 11:45am-3:00pm

Stevenson Event Center

Mark your calendars! On May 22nd, we will be celebrating the sustainability projects that occurred this year by students, staff, and faculty in a poster symposium and an awards ceremony. If you are interested in attending this year's Spring Fest, please RSVP on the google calendar event. If you cannot find the event on your google calendar, please contact Darlene Khalafi at dkhalafi [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Interested in Volunteering? Contact Darlene Khalafi at dkhalafi [at] ucsc [dot] edu. Volunteers will be needed at the event and can also help with outreaching to organizations about the event. There will also be an opportunity for volunteers to help create the decorations for the event - this day will be determined once we have a list of volunteers. If you are interested, please email Darlene.

Awards Ceremony: At this year's event we will be hosting an awards ceremony to recognize some of the outstanding projects of the year. If you are interested in voting for these projects, vote here! Other than cutting the cake, the Chancellor will also be presenting the winner of the Chancellor's Sustainability Challenge Impact Award. Lastly, for those of you that will have a poster at the event representing your projects, there will be a "Best Poster" Award that all attendees will vote for at the event, so make your posters beautiful and engaging!

If you have any general questions about the event, email Melina Meseroll at mmeserol [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Sanctuary Celebration - May 17th

SANCTUARY CELEBRATION 

Saturday, May 17, 2014 

11:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Santa Cruz Wharf Commons 

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of our nation's most spectacular marine protected areas, will be celebrated at the Santa Cruz Wharf with free live music, crafts, educational talks and demonstrations and short eco-tours of the Wharf. Experience the unique marine sanctuary as you stroll the wharf and join the fun! Learn all about the things that have drawn locals and visitors to the Wharf for a century: fishing, history, sports, birding, sea lions, whale watching and more, including recent efforts to make the wharf sustainable. Interactive, educational and fun activities will be presented by groups like the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, the Sanctuary Exploration Center, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Institute, Save our Shores, UCSC, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and more.

SANCTUARY CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES

• Guided EcoTours by the Seymour Marine Discovery Center 
• Bird spotting by UCSC bird experts 
• Participatory art for kids 
• Interactive historical and scientific exhibits 
• Native plant pop-up parklet to relax on the Bay Boatbuilding and fish cleaning demonstrations 
• Storytelling by Geoffrey Dunn 
• Free solar consultations by the City – bring your PG&E bill! 
• Food vendors featuring seafood caught in the Bay 
• Representatives on hand to share Rail Trail and Wharf Master Plan progress

We encourage the use of alternative transportation such as the free downtown trolley and our free bike valet to get to the event!

Download Mobile Ranger's Free Wharf app at the iTunes store an event guide with detailed information on activity times and locations! Sponsored by the City of Santa Cruz, Bay Photo, Sandbar Solar and Electric, Lighthouse Bank, ZNA Communications, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the UCSC Sustainability Office and Student Volunteer Center. Co-sponsored by the Santa Cruz Sentinel, KCBA TV and KPIG 107.5 FM. Visit www.santacruzwharf.com. Cost: FREE!

Waste Not: Consumption and Waste at UCSC with Annie Leonard

On the morning of Wednesday, February 12, the Permaculture and Whole Systems Design class in Kresge College welcomed Annie Leonard, the creator of The Story of Stuff, to campus for a lively class period, including tales from her travels to waste sites around the world, information about impactful environmental work being done to solve waste issues, and some inspiring advice to students on making change. Students engaged in asking questions and discussion and left feeling entertained, informed, and inspired.

That afternoon, Annie Leonard and students, faculty, and staff attended a zero waste luncheon hosted by the Program in Community & Agroecology. There, they filled themselves with delicious homegrown and homemade spring rolls and salads as they casually conversed about various topics such as composting and renewable energy.

That evening, Annie's Story of Stuff video was shown, and following this, Annie Leonard spoke with panelists from the UCSC sustainability community about the "stuff" that enters and leaves our campus and how we can be more conscious about consumption and waste. Panelists included Ben Crow (Sociology Professor), Kathryn Cunningham (a Buyer with Procurement Services), Brad Angell (Planned Maintenance Coordinator with Physical Plant), and Gabi Kirk (Alumna, Environmental Studies 2012, Former student sustainability organizer).

More than 120 people attended this discussion and gained insight on global inequality, sustainable procurement, and grounds services. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and get involved with an interactive Q&A.

At the end of the day, there was a reception and book signing, where people socialized and connected over appetizing hors d'oeuvres.

Thank you to all who came to the event. And thank you to the UCSC Sustainability Office, Common Ground Center, Education for Sustainable Living Program, and the Student Environmental Center for hosting this event!

November 2013 Sustainability Profile: Marina Gonzalez Flores

Each month, our newsletter features a person or group on campus that is working toward a more sustainable world. This month features Marina Gonzalez Flores, a student leader in the social justice movement on campus.

We asked Marina what she thinks about sustainability and how it relates to her work at UCSC.

Name: Marina Gonzalez Flores

Title: I am the Chancellor's Undergraduate Intern for the College Ten CoCurricular Office and my title is the Social Justice and Community Programs Coordinator.  I put on events surrounding Social Justice and Community Issues and practical ways for involvement.

Year in school and major: Third year; Politics and Latin American and Latino Studies Major

Favorite Green Tips: At our office we make it one of our goals to reuse as much as possible. With big annual events we make laminated posters and signs that can be reused each year to discourage paper and poster wasting. We save everything and reuse as much as we can.

What does "sustainability" mean to you? For me, sustainability means the ability to continue living a certain way. For an industry to be sustainable it needs to use its resources knowing they will grow back or continue on with or without human intervention. For people to be sustainable we need to live in a way that we encourage our planet to keep evolving and producing without hurting it. 

How does sustainability relate to your role at UCSC? What's one cool thing you've done to make UCSC a more sustainable place? With my role at UCSC I try to bring awareness on social justice and community issues, which ends up being tied with a lot of sustainability issues. The two credit courses I facilitate have a section, which cover environmental racism, and how impoverished communities of color, suffer the consequences of man made pollution. This year, I am trying to coordinate events that create dialogue between agroindustry and agroecology as well as how agroecology is more sustainable for farmers in Latin America and elsewhere.

How do you practice sustainability in your own life? Recycle, ride my bike, buy farm friendly produce, and compost as much as possible. Being sustainable in my personal life is a challenge but as I keep learning each year, it gets easier.

Have you had a favorite sustainability moment at UCSC? Last year I was able to go to the Earth Summit and I was surprised the event was zero waste. It became my goal to make other events such as the Practical Activism Conference become more environmentally friendly. It really inspired me to make my programs more sustainable.

Zero Waste Events: Student Perspective June 2013

As the year comes to an end the Zero Waste Team has been wrapping up some amazing pilot projects that got launched this year.  Along with the successful Bring Your Own Mug (BYOM) campaign, collaboration with PTAGS on paper towel removal from the dorms, collaboration on the creation of the position of Student Sustainability Advisors, and the Green Lab Certification Program, the Zero Waste Team has been working on the Zero Waste Commitment for student organizations on campus and a zero waste commencement 2013!

Zero Waste Event Commitment 

The goal for this pilot project is to increase the number of Zero Waste events on campus. Since a Zero Waste Event often requires more planning and support than a normal event, we hope to address this by providing training, materials, planning and volunteer support to help student groups make a commitment to Zero Waste. A Zero Waste Event (or a “Zee Wee” as nicknamed by Wikipedia) is an event that follows sustainable practices to send the least possible amount of waste to the landfill. This involves having a waste station to sort out trash, recyclables and compost. Check out the Sustainability Office  How to Hold a Zero Waste Event Guide  or the Plastic Free Blog  to learn more.

Milestones:

1. Made a pitch and conducted brief trainings for Tri Chi Sorority, CARe Project, Chinese Student Association, Student Union Assembly
2. Created an official logo to build a visual identity for the campaign
3. Designed a Zero Waste Event Kit to be given out to orgs in the Fall
4. Created a Trash Talkers’ pamphlet in collaboration with SEC
   
   Are you tired of waste at your events? Want your organization to be greener and help UCSC achieve Zero Waste by 2020? If interested in making the Commitment Pledge to make a future event zero waste, contact us now at zerowasteucsc@gmail.com  

Zero Waste Commencement 2013

The Zero Waste Team is working on making graduation at all ten colleges a zero waste event this year. Graduation is a wonderful opportunity to show the entire student community and the many visitors that our campus is committed to sustainability and our Zero Waste goal by 2020! We’ve partnered with Candy Berlin, Program Coordinator, UC Santa Cruz Dining, Zaunna Wells, Operations Manager, UC Santa Cruz Conference Services, Steve O'Neil, Bookstore, and Bob McCampbell, Executive Director Bay Tree Bookstore to make all ten college graduation ceremonies zero waste!

By providing waste stations for attendees to recycle and compost their waste, selling and giving away reusable water bottles at each ceremony with water refill stations, and promoting Zero Waste through signage and trained “Trash Talkers” to redirect recycling and compost from the landfill at the ceremony, we are truly committed to achieving our Zero Waste goal by 2020!