Sustainability celebration showcases green programs

Contact: Deanne Puca
Photo of a fresh vegetables hanging in a natural cotton recyclable shopping bag.

Enjoy live music, locally grown food and poetry slam-style talks on building a sustainable community Sept. 28.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Live music, locally grown food and poetry slam-style talks on building a sustainable community are highlights of an open house at Western Michigan University Thursday, Sept. 28.

Doors open at 2 p.m. for the 2017 Fall Sustainability Celebration at the Office for Sustainability. The event will include a lively outside bazaar featuring campus sustainability groups, EcoJug distribution for new students, fresh locally grown food from the Gibbs House, live music and a raffle every half hour—all free and open to the public.

Also featured will be the office's programs and projects that range from internships and experiential learning opportunities to Student Sustainability Grants, research projects and new campus resources. There will be an opportunity to meet recent graduates who are emerging sustainability leaders and participate in a question-and-answer session with them. In addition, the Wecultivate It wall is a place to share ideas for sustainable projects or collaborations that help build a culture of sustainability on campus and beyond.

The celebration concludes with the second annual Sustainability Slam, an elevator pitch meets Ted Talk experience where participants make two-minute cases for campus or community projects that advance the Office for Sustainability's mission of improving quality of life for all.

It runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and is intended to "cultivate a space for leveraging good ideas, networking, and having fun while creating new opportunities for advancing collaboration on campus and beyond," says Harold Glasser, executive director for Campus Sustainability. "We are excited to bring together a diverse group of participants and ideas. If past events have shown us anything, it's that there is something really special happening in our community and we've only begun to tap into the possibilities."

Parking and additional information

Free parking for community members will be available in Lots 49 and 76. For more information, visit wmich.edu/sustainability or the event website at wmich.edu/sustainability/events/celebration-0.

The Office for Sustainability is located on the corner of Howard and West Michigan Avenue.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.