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Celebrating Black Leaders in the Environmental Movement
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Black History Month is an annual celebration every February of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. This month, we want to highlight some Black Leaders who have done impactful work in the environmental movement.
"1. Wangari Maathai
In 2004, Professor Maathai made history as the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her dedication to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. She started the Green Belt Movement, a community-based tree planting initiative that aims to reduce poverty and encourage conservation, in 1977. More than 51 million trees have been planted helping build climate resilience and empower communities, especially women and girls. Her environmental work is celebrated every year on Wangari Maathai Day on 3 March.
2. Robert Bullard
Known as the ‘father of environmental justice’, Dr Bullard has campaigned against harmful wastebeing dumped in predominantly Black neighbourhoods in the southern states of the US since the 1970s. His first book, Dumping in Dixie, highlighted the link between systemic racism and environmental oppression, showing how the descendants of slaves were exposed to higher-than-average levels of pollutants. In 1994, his work led to the signing of the Executive Order on Environmental Justice, which the Biden administration is building on.
3. John Francis
Helping the clean-up operation after an oil spill in San Francisco Bay in January 1971 inspired Francis to stop taking motorized transport. Instead, for 22 years, he walked everywhere. He also took a vow of silence that lasted 17 years, so he could listen to others. He has walked the width of the US and sailed and walked through South America, earning the nickname "Planetwalker", and raising awareness of how interconnected people are with the environment.
4. Dr. Warren Washington
A meteorology and climate pioneer, Dr. Washington was one of the first people to develop atmospheric computer models in the 1960s, which have helped scientists understand climate change. These models now also incorporate the oceans and sea ice, surface water, and vegetation. In 2007, the Parallel Climate Model (PCM) and Community Earth System Model (CESM), earned Dr. Washington and his colleagues the Nobel Peace Prize, as part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
5. Angelou Ezeilo
Huge trees and hikes to pick berries during her childhood in upstate New York inspired Ezeilo to become an environmentalist and set up the Greening Youth Foundation, to educate future generations about the importance of preservation. Through its schools programme and Youth Conservation Corps, the social enterprise provides access to nature to disadvantaged children and young people in the US and West Africa."
Source: https://bit.ly/EnvBlackLeaders
Visit this page to learn about more Black Climate Justice Leaders.
Upcoming Black History Month Events:
February 19: Los Angeles Black History Month Community Event x Sponsorships
February 19: Reception and Black History-Themed Art Walk at Bergamot
February 26: Black History Celebration - Drive-In Movie
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Associated Students Sustainability Center - Office Clean Out
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The Associated Students Sustainability Center is hosting a New Year, Office CleanOut. Dispose of your unwanted items in your office!
Collection Dates: February 7th-14th from 10am-4pm.
Drop-off location: Sustainability Center
For additional questions or pick-up requests, please email: tosin.folorunso@csun.edu
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Call for Donations - CSUN Public Art T-shirt Drive
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The Sustainability Center is partnering with the Public Art class at CSUN on a new wearable art project. We are looking for clothes that will be used for this project. Students will use recycled materials to create beautiful cyanotype prints on donated clothing.
What they need from you: gently used shirts in light colors and natural fibers (100% cotton or linen, no prints or logos). Students will use sunlight to create blue-toned prints of recyclable food packaging that often ends up in landfills. This artwork will be showcased during Earth Month and at our fashion event in May.
Donations can be brought to the Sustainability Center from February 3 - February 14, Mon- Fri 8 am -4 pm. Please contact tosin.foorunso@csun.edu for any questions.
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Call for CSU Faculty and Student Presentations - WRPI Conference
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WRPI is currently planning its 2022 Annual Conference, which will be held on April 7, 2022, at CSU Northridge.
We are seeking CSU faculty, staff, and students interested in presenting their research and/or discussing their expertise as panelists in topics related to our conference theme, “Water Connects! Justice, Innovation and Resilience.”
Proposals will be accepted for:
Presentations - Team or individual proposals accepted from faculty, staff, and/or students. Presentations will be a max of 15 minutes and might be in the form of panels, lightning talks, and/or PechaKucha.
Posters: Team or individual proposals accepted from faculty, staff and/or students to present their poster.
Presentation Topics
As water connects, we encourage all proposals to be interdisciplinary and/or intersectional.
Topics include (but are not limited to):
1. Justice in Water Policy Initiatives and Regulations
2. Innovation and Technology (applied to water)
3. Water Sustainability and Resilience
4. Water Resource Management and/or Engineering
Please submit your Abstract and Title to the committee at https://forms.office.com/r/pcU6Fz9iqK by 5:00 pm on February 11th 2022.
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Become a CSUN Sustainability Champion!
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We would like to invite you to become a CSUN Sustainability Champion. This is a campus-wide program aimed to educate CSUN employees about sustainability. The Sustainability Champion program aims to elevate and advance campus sustainability by actively engaging and connecting employees through outreach and training opportunities about various topics including waste, water, energy, transportation, and more.
The Sustainability Champions program aligns with the goals set forth in CSUN’s Campus Sustainability Plan, Zero Waste Plan, and as our participation in AASHE STARS, a comprehensive tool that assesses sustainability efforts in all areas of the campus, including employee education. It is through programs and initiatives like this one that CSUN has become a national leader in sustainability, infusing the topic into all facets of the university.
The goal is to have at least one Sustainability Champion per department/office on campus. If you are interested or know of someone in your department who may be interested, please complete the interest form. Thank you for your support of sustainability at CSUN!
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Fueling the EV Revolution
By: Nikhil Schneider
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CSUN is currently expanding its present network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on campus. EV commuters will soon have access to 88 convenient charging stations in total, as new units are installed and all current Level 2 and Level 3 chargers are being replaced with new “smart” chargers. Installation is expected to be completed by the end of February 2022, and the new system platform will be powered by Chargie, the largest installer of EV charging stations in Southern California.
To read more, visit CSUN's Sustainability Blog.
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Western Monarchs Thanksgiving Count Results
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Since 1997, the Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count, led by the Xerces Society, has been cataloging the rapid decline of the Monarch Butterfly. This past winter, there was a surprising increase of 247,237 monarch butterflies observed across the western United States, over a 100-fold increase from last year. In LA county, over 4,000 butterflies were reported by volunteer observers, the highest Thanksgiving Count in the area in over 20 years. However, the population remains more than 95% below its size in the 1980s. This drastic decline is attributed to habitat loss, climate change, wildfires, and pesticide use.
CSUN biology graduate student and former Institute student assistant, Richard Rachman, was the LA County regional coordinator. His work has been highlighted in local media outlets including NPR and the LA Times.
How Can You Help?
While we don't know what exactly caused this increase, we do know that collective efforts from the community can make a difference.
Sarah Johnson, Lead Sustainability Specialist at the Institute participated in the Thanksgiving Western Monarch Count, observing monarchs in Pacific Palisades, Goleta, and Pismo Beach. "During challenging times, it's essential to do things that bring us joy. Volunteering with the Xerces Society to count monarchs did that for me. For a few hours, I was totally present observing these magnificent beings. Gratitude comes easy when it's sixty degrees and sunny on a January morning at the beach."
Read more here.
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Gardening Activities for February in SoCal
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Photo credit: Los Angeles Times
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PLANT COOL-SEASON CROPS
Transplant or direct sow your cool-season crops. You can transplant beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflowers, Swiss chard, celery, kale, leeks, lettuce, and onions. Arugula, carrots, parsnips, peas, radishes, spinach, and turnips are better when direct sown in garden beds. When transplanting or sowing seeds be sure to amend soil with organic compost. Keep a consistent watering schedule. For direct sown seeds, keep your soil evenly moist but not wet over the next few weeks as seedlings emerge.
START SUMMER CROPS INDOORS
Technically, most of Southern California can start these crops earlier (in late-December or January) but it feels odd to be planting tomatoes at Christmas. Instead, wait until early February to start most summer crops so, when it’s time to transplant them, the weather is truly starting to warm up. Most of these summer crops such as tomatoes, melons, peppers, or squash prefer warm weather to really start growing, so planting early won’t help much anyway. If you plant in early February, then your starts should be ready to transplant sometime in March.
PLANT CALIFORNIA WILDFLOWERS
If you didn’t plant wildflowers in the fall, then this is a good time if you’re planting in an area that receives supplemental irrigation (or if you’re going to water by hand). In open fields that will rely solely on rainfall, it’s best to only plant in fall. When planting, be sure to clear the soil of any weeds, grass, or other unwanted debris.
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Volunteer at the Institute Food Garden
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The CSUN Food Garden is finally open for volunteers! By volunteering in the garden, folks will help plant winter crops, grow seedlings, weed and mulch, as well as water plants and harvest produce for the Food Pantry.
Currently, time slots are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and certain Saturdays. To sign up for a volunteer slot, visit bit.ly/sustgarden21.
To learn about the required documents to volunteer, please visit our website.
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CalFresh & WIC 101: Program Basics and Benefits Workshop
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Nutrition Access LA invites you to participate in the virtual CalFresh & WIC 101: Program Basics & Benefits Workshop. The purpose of this workshop is to increase knowledge about the basic components of food assistance programs, including CalFresh Food and WIC.
This event is open to community-based organizations, school districts, health care clinics, and any other organizations who may be interested in learning more about eligibility, benefits and how to apply, in order to better promote these programs and increase participation. RSVP link here
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New Economics for Women - Free Food Distribution
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New Economics for Women (NEW) has begun their FREE food distribution service at the Van Nuys Family Source Center.
There is one prerequisite to be able to participate and it is to be registered with the center. The documents they need are proof of address (proving residence in Los Angeles City) and proof of income (verifying low-income level).
English and Spanish flyers
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Climate Resolve
Coolest in LA
March 17, 6pm-9pm PST, Banc of California Stadium
Buy tickets here.
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American Climate Leadership Summit
March 28-31, Online
Click here to register.
Students, retiree, frontline workers, military veterans, un/underemployed, activists, or strapped for cash for any reason, qualify for $15 off the All Access Pass. Enter discount code: “CLIMATECHAMPION15OFF”
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Job/Internship Opportunities
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CSUN Food Pantry
Pop-Up Pantry Student Assistant
Handshake #5883603
Click here to learn more
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USDA Forest Service
Forest Service Engineer
Click here to learn more
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Coalition for Clean Air
Communications Manager
Click here to learn more
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Coalition for Clean Air
Office Manager
Click here to learn more
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Resource: Women's Research and Women's Resource Center - Food and Toiletry Pantry
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The WRRC Food and Toiletry Pantry is open for all students with a student ID number. Students are welcome to visit the pantry during any of their open hours of operation. Students are required to sign-in each time they visit the pantry.
For more information, please visit: https://www.csun.edu/womens-research-resource-center
Instagram: @wrrc_csun
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Click on the button above to send us any sustainability-related news, events, resources, or career/volunteer opportunities that you would like to be included in The Footprint!
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Sustainability is a key priority at California State University, Northridge, integrated into all aspects of the university from operations and infrastructure to outreach, education and research. We’ve taught thousands of students how to grow their own food, to rethink “waste,” to conserve energy and water, and to take what they learn at CSUN back to their communities.
We rely on the generosity of donors to expand CSUN's sustainability leadership - from academic learning opportunities for students to cutting-edge research and engagement that benefit our campus, state and planet. Please consider giving to the Institute for Sustainability. Your tax-deductible contributions help support our mission and invest in our students, faculty and staff who make a difference both on campus and in the community.
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