Penn State Sustainability

Join us for the 2nd Annual Sustainability Summit in Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center on Monday, April 1! The Summit will run from 3pm to 8pm, consisting of a variety of informative and team-building sessions. Scroll through the post to learn more about the event and feel free to stop by anytime. Remember, sustainability action requires collaboration and partnership. You are a part of our shared Penn State Community and we hope to see you at the Summit!

Join Penn State Sustainability as we welcome our next Showcase Series Speaker to campus from March 21-March 23. Our guest, Heather Swan is an eco-poet, author, and professor whose work focuses on the human-insect-earthly interconnection and the implications of that relationship. Check out this link (https://sustainability.psu.edu/event/sustainability-showcase-heather-swan/) for more information on events to attend—all are free and open to the public!

Feeling down about climate change? Don't get anxious take action--constructive action. Join us for an expert panel discussion and film screening on how we get to more constructive climate narratives and collective action. Free and open to all, Wednesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. (EDT) online. Learn more and register at: https://intersections.psu.edu/pipeline/

Join us this Wednesday, February 8th from 12-1:30 PM in Foster Auditorium (or Zoom available by request) for a Climate Disinformation and the 2024 Election chat with author and reporter Geoff Dembicki. Registration is at the link in our bio or via QR code.

Geoff will give an opening presentation followed by a Q&A session. This event is part of a series. Throughout the week, Geoff will be visiting classes as well as hosting additional events that are free and open to the public; these events will include a writing workshop from 12-1:30 PM on Saturday, February 10, 2024 (via Zoom) and a conversation and book signing cohosted by the Sierra Club in-person at Webster's also on Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 7-8:30 PM. For more information about this and other events hosted by Penn State Sustainability, check out the "events" link in our bio.

Our spring semester of events will kick off tomorrow with our Waste and Labor Short Films Screening featuring "I Am a Man," “Plastic China”, and "el Empleo." Join us tomorrow and throughout the semester as we explore critical topics related to our discussion theme, "From Anxiety to Action."

All semester long, we'll be hosting film screenings, special guests, speaking engagements, workshop opportunities, and more! Registration for these events can be found on our website (www.sustainability.psu.edu).

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Tonight from 5-7 PM at the State College Municipal Building, you are welcome to join community partners, Penn State faculty and administration, students, and guests to learn about this semester’s projects in the Sustainable Communities Collaborative (SCC) poster exhibition. At the intersection of University outreach and engaged scholarship, the SCC facilitates partnerships between Penn State classes and local governments, community organizations, or campus partners. As part of their curricular class work, students engage in applied, real-world projects and research that increases the partner’s capacity to make better, more informed decisions to advance their sustainability and community resilience.

This past Giving Tuesday, the efforts of 405 unique donors raised over $16,000 to benefit biodiversity at Penn State University Park. The funds will be used to retrofit buildings with bird-friendly glass treatments and create lighting solutions that benefit bird and insect safety while also prioritizing the safety needs of us, their human neighbors.

Thank you for your help in sharing, donating, and advocating for these enhancements. And, if you missed out on making a gift on Giving Tuesday itself... there are still two days left for you to log your donation. Learn more here: https://give.communityfunded.com/o/annual-giving/i/givingtuesday-2023/s/penn-state-sustainability

🦉🌟 Fly with us on Giving Tuesday! 🌟🦆

It’s Giving Tuesday and our feathered friends at Penn State University Park are chirping with excitement! 🙌 Today, we hope you’ll help us reach our goal of engaging 300 unique donors to feather the nest of biodiversity on our campus.

Your donation today will make a world of difference! 🪶💚 Every dollar helps retrofit our buildings with bird-friendly glass AND contributes to lighting solutions that make it easier to turn off lights when not in use, benefitting biodiversity and ensuring safe skies to soar.

To join our "egg-citing" campaign, simply click the link in our bio and donate. Whether you give a little or a lot, your contribution will help our campus take flight to a greener and more bird-friendly future!

Can't contribute today? No worries! You can still support us by sharing this post and spreading the word to your "tweet"-astic friends. Together, we can make our campus a true haven for our winged and wild friends!

To help make Giving Tuesday 'for the birds' visit https://give.communityfunded.com/o/annual-giving/i/givingtuesday-2023/s/penn-state-sustainability 🐦✨

On December 7 from 5 to 7 p.m., the Campus and Community Sustainability Expo will once again be co-hosted by State College Borough and Penn State Sustainability.

The Expo is a showcase of student projects facilitated by the Sustainable Communities Collaborative in partnership with Pennsylvania communities. This semester, classes representing the colleges of Arts and Architecture, Agriculture, Liberal Arts, Smeal Business, and Earth and Mineral Sciences, as well as Penn State Commonwealth campuses Brandywine, Altoona and Hazleton will present their work in this poster exposition.

In addition to Penn State students, faculty, and administration, community partners, and special guests, the event is open to the general public.

Pre-registration is not necessary.

Join us tonight for the first film in our 2023-24 "Soundings" water film series and the fourth film in our Intersections film program. "Flood Bound" is a heartwarming but urgent film about community resilience to flooding driven by climate change. Learn more at https://intersections.psu.edu/appalachian

🦉🌟 Early Giving Options for Giving Tuesday! 🌟🦆⁠
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Giving Tuesday will be held on 11/28, but early giving options are open NOW and our feathered friends at Penn State University Park are chirping with excitement! 🙌 Help us reach our goal of engaging 300 unique donors to feather the nest of biodiversity on our campus!⁠
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Your donation today will make a world of difference! 🪶💚 Every dollar helps retrofit our buildings with bird-friendly glass treatments AND contributes to lighting solutions that make it easier to turn off lights when not in use, benefitting biodiversity and ensuring safe skies to soar.⁠
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To join our "egg-citing" campaign, simply click the link in our bio and donate anytime between NOW and Giving Tuesday on 11/28. Whether you give a little or a lot, your contribution will help our campus take flight to a greener and more bird-friendly future!⁠
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Can't contribute today? No worries! You can still support us by sharing this post and spreading the word to your "tweet"-astic friends. Together, we can make our campus a true haven for our winged and wild friends!⁠
⁠
Let's make Giving Tuesday for the birds! 🐦✨

👉⁠https://give.communityfunded.com/o/annual-giving/i/givingtuesday-2023/s/penn-state-sustainability👈

Join us this week for a culinary voyage and celebration of Native American Heritage! Register here: https://sustainability.psu.edu/freddie/
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On Monday, Nov 6. at Noon, join us in Foster Auditorium for Chef Freddie's presentation highlighting the history and contributions of Native Americans to global cuisine.⁠
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On Tuesday, Nov. 7, join us for a celebration of Native American Heritage Month for a culinary exploration of modern Native American Cuisine with Chef Freddie Bitsoie. ⁠
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Celebrated for his modernization of Native American cuisine, Chef Freddie’s journey began amidst the landscapes of Utah and extended through Albuquerque’s Sandia Mountains and California. Initially exploring cultural anthropology at the University of New Mexico, a discourse with an archaeology professor led him to the culinary arts. He pursued mastery at Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale, Arizona, and soon became a distinguished figure on the Food Network and at the Mitsitam Native Foods Café within the Smithsonian. Author of “New Native Kitchen” and a contributor to indigenous culinary education, Chef Bitsoie’s passion is evident in every dish.

Join us for the Commonwealth's annual Sustainability Week, Monday, October 2nd, through Friday, October 6th! Daily webinars from leaders from state government, higher ed, business, community groups, and more! Find ways to get involved advancing PA's climate goals. Register today to attend at https://www.dgs.pa.gov/greengov/Pages/Sustainability-Week.aspx!

FYI -- we're still excited to screen "Beyond Zero" as part of the Intersections film series. But due to our panel's availability, we need to reschedule from September 20 to November 1. Learn more at https://intersections.psu.edu/beyond-zero

Grab your lawn chairs and your popcorn bowl as you join us for our first ever outdoor screening under the stars at the ! You're invited to help kick off our 2023-24 Intersections film program with the classic American film, The Grapes of Wrath on Wednesday, 9/6 at 7:30 PM (Rain location 114-116 Katz).⁠
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Previous communication advertised this event as occurring on 8/30. Unfortunately, due to high winds and unsafe weather conditions, we have rescheduled to our rain date on 9/6. ⁠
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Register at https://bit.ly/grapesmovie and we'll provide the popcorn at this free event that is open to the public!⁠
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This screening is in partnership with the Center for Global Workers’ Rights (), the Ross Student Farm ⁠
(), and the Arboretum at Penn State ().

Today is National Senior Citizen Day! National Senior Citizen Day is about letting your elders know how much you care. It’s also an opportunity to recognize their contributions, wisdom, and lived experiences. ⁠
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Many of our elders face age discrimination, especially when re-entering the workforce. As we work to reduce inequality (SDG 10) in all its forms, make sure to include senior citizens in your activism. Check out the link in our bio for more ideas and information.

Welcome back to campus, Penn Staters! We hope you'll have a successful and sustainable return to school. This year we have a variety of programs, events, and opportunities planned to help you keep your finger on the pulse of all things sustainable at Penn State. ⁠
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Follow this page for event alerts, sustainable living tips, and more throughout the school year.

Have you used a Spin Bike at the University Park campus yet? These bikes are electric and power-assisted making them a great alternative to driving. Find them at a variety of convenient locations both on campus and throughout downtown State College.⁠
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Download the Spin app to see where you can take them!

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Did you know that there are community garden plots on campus that you can apply for?⁠
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Located behind the Morningstar home, many plots and tools are available in exchange for two days of your help every week! You can be a Penn State faculty, staff, or student to apply for a plot. It is a great way to save money but also relax.

School is just around the corner, so here are some sustainability tips to remember while preparing to return!⁠
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Shaving a few minutes off of your shower time regularly and waiting until you have a whole load of laundry to do a wash are both excellent sustainability practices and can save you some money!⁠
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If you can't afford higher price tags of sustainable brands, there are still ways to consume clothing that are kinder to the environment. You can purchase many household and everyday living goods second-hand to cut down on the use of new resources and to reduce waste. If you are looking for furniture or clothes, check your local second-hand shop before searching online.⁠
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If you notice that some of your items are used less than you thought, donate them! Someone out there will love the item just as you did. Dollars are welcome, but so are your old clothes, computers, dishes, bicycles, cell phones, and furniture.

Black Business Month is celebrated this month, in August. It’s a time to acknowledge and appreciate black-owned businesses nationwide and all they represent in the country’s continual strides toward diversity and equality. Around 10% of all American businesses are black-owned, which amounts to about two million companies owned by African Americans. Almost 40% of black-owned businesses are in health care, social assistance, repair and maintenance, and personal and laundry services. Other categories include advertising firms, auto dealerships, consulting services, restaurants, barbershops, beauty salons, and more. Celebrating the contribution of black business owners and entrepreneurs pays tribute to them and their legacies, especially since celebrating this month recognizes the importance of black-owned businesses in contributing to the nation’s economy. Support and encourage African American-owned businesses in your community.

Today is International Day of Friendship! The UN General Assembly created this day with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures, and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build community bridges. Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of companionship and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the essential shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good. This was put in place to emphasize the involvement of young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity.

Happy National Disability Independence Day! This day commemorates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which was signed 33 years ago on July 26th, 1993. The ADA was designed to build on the progress of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The goal was to expand the rights of the disability community in a single law by ensuring their freedom from employment discrimination and access to all levels of government, public establishments, transportation, and communication. The ADA protects from employment discrimination and better access to goods, services, and contacts for people with disabilities. Not only does this act apply to in-person accessibility but also online accessibility needs, too.

Here are a few ways to celebrate the ADA:
- Participate in online courses, audio conferences, and podcasts.
- Visit exhibits of works by artists with disabilities
- Demonstrate the use of assistive devices at a community event.