Living sustainably is more than just adopting a few “green” solutions to your lifestyle. It is about creating sustainable solutions that transform society by rethinking, redesigning, and restoring integrated systems.
That’s why the Office of Sustainability is hosting Sustainability Week from April 9-13, 2018. Aimed at helping students and the community live more sustainably, Sustainability Week offers a line-up of interactive panel discussions, workshops, and creative showcases, culminating with a fair and festival.
This year’s Sustainability Week events include:
April 9
Open House at the Office of Sustainability
12-2 p.m. at 14 Green Way
The Office of Sustainability has recently moved its offices to the heart of the College’s campus! To kick off Sustainability Week, students, staff, faculty, and the community are invited to visit the new space and learn about the office’s initiatives.
Waste Deep Documentary and Be Zero Q&A
3 p.m. Stern Center, Room 205
View the mini-documentary Waste Deep, followed by a question and answer session with Andrea Sanders of the nonprofit organization Be Zero. Their mission is to inspire, educate, and activate individuals to dramatically reduce their plastic use by creating sustainable habits.
Financial Literacy Workshop
7 p.m. Tate Center, Room 202
Learn how to be an “adult,” stop being broke, and get your life together! This partnership of the Office of Sustainability and the Microfinance Club will teach you the psychology of money and how to budget, save money, and reach your goals. Make use of this hour to gain essential skills for the rest of your life.
April 10
Bill Writing Workshop
11 a.m. Beatty Center, Room 212
Learn about the legislative process and the fundamentals of writing effective legislation with Political Science Professor Matthew Nowlin and representatives from the Student Government Association and the South Carolina Student Legislature. Then, try your hand at drafting a bill yourself!
Mindfulness Workshop
3 p.m. Stern Center, Room 205
Explore mindful awareness as a practice of personal sustainability. We will cover the major aspects of mindfulness and try various techniques that invite you to explore a spacious quality of mind in a safe setting.
Environmental Activism and Solution: Climate Change
6 p.m. Beatty Center, Room 212
A panel discussion highlighting the importance of local environmental activism and legislation and ways to become involved in policy-making. Incorporated within this event will be a discussion of the multifaceted impacts local legislation can have on climate change and other environmental issues.
April 11
Social Justice Coffee Hour: Coded Language
3:15 p.m. Alumni Center, 86 Wentworth St.
The Social Justice Coffee Hour presents a panel discussion delving into how different verbiage, or “coded language,” negatively impacts marginalized communities in local, state and federal policy.
Art Showcase
6:30 p.m. Blacklock House, 18 Bull St.
View a curated multimedia art exhibit by students and Charleston artists who are inspired by sustainability, equality and the earth.
April 12
Waste Audit
6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cougar Mall
Curious to see how much waste the College produces? For the annual Alliance for Planet Earth Waste Audit, student volunteers sort three-fourths of a day’s campus trash into compost, recycling and landfill to display how much trash could have been diverted from the landfill.
Sustainable Nutrition Workshop
4:30 p.m. Tate Center, Room 202
Wanting to learn more about food insecurity and where to get quality, nutritious food in our community? This panel and discussion will focus on the consequences of institutional racism and food insecurity while giving access and guides to quality nutritious food in the community.
April 13
Sustainability Street Fair
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. George Street
This outdoor street fair on George Street between Coming and St. Philip streets will feature food trucks, an all-day clothing swap, local artisan and clothing vendors, and tabling by local organizations.
Souper Cooking Workshop
3 p.m. Cistern Yard, Potluck 5 p.m. Robert Scott Small, Room 235
Join members of the Tri-County Food Alliance, including The Stone Soup Collective and The Blessing Box Project, to learn how to make soup with local veggies. After the workshop, we’ll take the soup over to a plant-based potluck and brainstorm session on ways to solve food insecurity. Nothing is required to attend, but food donations for the pantry and plant-based dishes for the potluck are welcome.
Sustainabili-Bash
6-10 p.m. Cistern Yard
Celebrate the Sustainability Week finale with an evening of local music, poetry and dance performances! Open bar and food provided. Free entry for students and $5 suggested donation for non-students.
