September 12, 2020
Welcome to the Environmental Center (EC) Digest!

Every two weeks, this little gem of digital media arrives in your inbox full of all things environmental, sustainable, socially responsible, and just plain "green".

Scroll down to check out:
  • Environmental Center happenings and chances to get involved
  • Community and campus events, initiatives, and opportunities
  • Jobs, internships, workshops, and trainings

And of course, our thought-provoking opening thoughts from EC students and staff. Enjoy!
Finding Your Resolve

I'll admit it: being an environmentalist is hard. Fighting for change is hard. For so many of us, when we have our eyes opened to the injustices and destruction in the world, we want more than anything to have the power to snap our fingers and fix it all. But none of us have that power. So what do we do?

This morning over my breakfast, I read the NPR exposé about the decades of misinformation surrounding plastic recycling. It was a hard read, in part because at the Environmental Center we have spent years and years fighting to reduce waste and increase recycling here at FLC. It was hard to read about how the message of proper recycling has been twisted in a green-washing effort by huge companies. Beyond that, it is frustrating to be reminded that we are part of an economic system that allows single-use disposable plastics to be "cheaper" than recycling. That is only the case because the manufactures of those products don't pay for the full of environmental impact of drilling for new petroleum, nor the impacts of disposal.

We can choose to have new information weigh us down, or we can choose to let it refuel our passion. For every article like the one above, there are also victories like the recent announcement that USC will be eliminating single-use plastics! We are all born into a world full of the decisions of people that came before us. It's up to us to clean up the mess left to us by decades of greedy and short-sighted decisions. It's up to us to fight to change the system. Is that fair? Nope. But at least future generations can look at our work and know we were fighting to make things better, not lying to make things worse.

Marty Pool
EC Coordinator

PS - Remember, you should still look for all the ways you can REDUCE & REUSE, and then recycle *properly* (especially metal, clean paper, and plastic 1,2 & 5 -- it still makes a difference. But so does pushing for new policy and laws to hold polluting companies responsible for the mess they're handing us.
Environmental Center Happenings
Events, programs, and ways to help make a difference!
Campus Garden Workdays are On!

Get your hands dirty and join us for a Garden Workdays. All students welcome! No need to RSVP - just show up. Wear a mask and dress for the weather. Water, closed-toed shoes, and your own personal gardening gloves are always a good idea!

When: Thursdays from 1-2 PM
Where: The EC Campus Garden (in the parking lot behind Center for Southwest Studies, across the street from Smith Sports Complex)

For more information email Sadie at srmagnifico@fortlewis.edu.
Check out Our Amazing Alumni - Aolani Peiper

Aolani was deeply involved with the Real Food Challenge during her time at the EC. Along her journey she helped lead our (*FLC original*) Vote Real campaigns, presented at the AASHE national conference, and pushed for recognizing deeper social justice and racism issues in our current food systems.

Read more spotlights at the Real Food Challenge website.
Community Events and Happenings
What's Going On at FLC and in Our Local Community
Celebration National Public Lands Day by Giving Back to the Places You Love!

The US Forrest Service along with National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) have put together a great tool to find available projects in our area. Just visit the NPLD project locator and see what projects are going on around you!

And keep an eye out for specific project info in our next Digest!
Durango Farmers Market is OPEN for 2020!

Durango Farmers Market is opening for the season, with all the necessary measures in place to keep you healthy! Farmers and ranchers are working hard to bring you local food! Come to the market and shop for your healthy local food to enjoy immediately or to preserve for our winter months.

Remember, Durango Farmers Market participates in SNAP food assistance Double Up Food Bucks. We can turn $20 of your SNAP funds into $40 of vouchers for food!

Se habla Español!

When: Saturday mornings from 8 AM to 12 NOON (through October 31, opening time changes to 9 AM for October)
Where: TBK Bank parking lot (across from the Durango Transit Center)

For more information and updates, visit the Durango Farmers Market website.
Check Out the Virtual Premiere of Purple Mountains, with live Q&A with pro snowboarder Jeremey Jones!

Motivated by an urge to protect the places he loves, Jeremy set out on a physical and philosophical journey to find common ground with fellow outdoors people across diverse political backgrounds. He learns their hopes and fears while walking a mile in their shoes on the mountain and in the snow.

There are limited spots available for the premiere screening, so be sure to sign up today!

When: Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 6 PM.
Where: Virtual - see website for more information
Cost: Free!

More information and to register, the Purple Mountains film website.
The Village Aid Project Kick-Off Meeting Sept. 22

Want to know about the Village Aid Project's (VAP) plans for the upcoming year? Come to the first meeting and find out! VAP is a non-profit student and faculty run organization whose focus is to design and implement water, sanitation and hygiene systems in needy communities in developing countries. Welcome to all majors!

When: Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5:30 PM
Where: Theater Tent outside the Theater building in the middle of campus.

More information and to register, the Purple Mountains film website.
Grub Hub is Your Resource if You're Hungry
Help MSI with Citizen Science - Bighorn Sheep Monitoring

Mountain Studies Institute (MSI) is working to help the Forest Service (FS) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) record observations of bighorn sheep in all of Colorado with a focus on the Weminuche Wilderness and surrounding San Juan Mountains and most critically in or near any domestic sheep grazing allotments. They are looking for citizen scientists to help make observations of wild bighorn and domestic sheep while recreating out in the mountains.

For more information or to get involved visit the MSI website.
Opportunities
Jobs, Scholarships, Internships, and more!
The Colorado Water Center is Accepting Water Research Grants

The grants are max $5k for one year student projects. Proposals require a faculty sponsor. There is interest in funding more students around the state, so we are encouraged to submit proposals! Upon complete of the project, the student projects are highlighted in Colorado Water,

Proposal submission deadline is Oct 19, 2020.

For more information for how to apply, email Dr. Gigi Richard with the Four Corners Water Center at garichard@fortlewis.edu
The Good Food Collective is Hiring for Several Positions

The Good Food Collective (GFC) works with partners and stakeholders across Southwestern Colorado to reestablish an intact regional food system. Are you passionate about strengthening the local food system? Do you thrive in a FUN and dynamic work environment? Check out these open positions to see if you would be a good fit!

Applications received before September 1 will be given priority.

For more information and to apply, visit the Good Food Collective website.
The Environmental Voter Project is Hiring for Campus Coordinators

The Environmental Voter Project is seeking applicants for its Campus Coordinator Program for the 2020-2021 academic year. Each Campus Coordinator will work closely with EVP’s Organizing Director to build a campus-specific organizing plan and then oversee all organizing and voter contact for that designated college campus.

For more information and to apply, visit the Environmental Voter Project website.
Colorado Organizer Position with National Young Farmers Coalition

Are you passionate about cultivating and supporting a generation of knowledgeable young farmers? Check out this opportunity with The National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers)! Young Farmers seeks a dynamic, part-time Colorado Organizer to support young farmer chapters and members across the state and help drive forward farmer-led structural change, advocating for policies with a strong racial equity approach.

For more information and to apply, visit the Young Farmers website.
Be Sure to Share Opportunities with Us

Hey there campus and community organizations! We pride the EC Digest in being an excellent resource for students and community members looking for jobs, internships, and other opportunities in this field. We believe in the power of strong social networks to share this important information.

Know of an opportunity? Be sure to email it to the EC Coordinator, Marty Pool at mlpool@fortlewis.edu
What We're Diggin'
News and Inspiration from Our Community and Beyond
  • This super inspiring video from Protect Our Winters (POW) has got us fired up to vote in November! Share it with your friends and make your plan to vote!
  • Sometimes it can be really helpful to put things into perspective. Check out this fun and eye-opening quiz from NYT about the scale of different personal choices around climate impact.
Environmental Center | Fort Lewis College | 970-247-7676 | envcenter@fortlewis.edu