The annual DCCCD event will be held Nov. 8 at the Mesquite campus.

Oct. 22, 2019

Want to get schooled on sustainability and maybe inspired to think outside the box?

Every year, Dallas County Community College District offers a free sustainability summit, rotating between the DCCCD campuses. This year, Eastfield College in Mesquite is the host for Sustainability as a Social Justice Practice: Developing Resilient Strategies on Friday, Nov. 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.   

The keynote speaker promises a fresh take on the topic of sustainability.

Ian GarrettKeynote speaker Ian Garrett.

Ian Garrett, an associate professor of Ecological Design for Performance at York University in Toronto, Canada will present We made it Up – Creativity as a Driver of Sustainability at 8:45 a.m.

Summit organizer Katy Launius, M.Ed., Dean & Title IX Coordinator of Student Success and Wellness at Eastfield College, says that the about 300-expected attendees are in for a treat. Garrett will talk about how the world has created an environmental crisis and what we can do about it. See Garrett’s profile here.

“He is a creative artist and comes to sustainability through the lens of art, having the ability to challenge and respond to a world where we reconnect with our resources and look at where we are in real life. He will actually call us to rethink the way we live,” Launius says. “He designs for plays, having a background in performance lighting design and production. He has also worked on a variety of performance projects, e.g. virtual reality.”

Overall, the summit is geared toward 17 sustainable development goals. You can participate in the entire summit or choose a specific sustainability summit track. Lunch is free. 

Breakout sessions begin at 10:30 a.m. A breakdown of the summit tracks are Social Equity; Teaching Sustainability (K-16); Institutionalizing SustainabilityResource & Energy Efficiency; and Facilities ManagementSee complete schedule

The Social Equity track covers self care, worker safety, green space restoration, technology solutions and community engagement.

The Teaching Sustainability track includes speakers on STEAM learning, the North Texas Regional Center of Expertise, Citizen Science, UN Sustainable Development Goals and creative resuse in classrooms.

Institutionalizing Sustainability covers sustainable energy management, networking, the Dallas Climate Action Plan and community planning.

The Resource and Energy Efficiency track includes the PACE program, plant-based eating, solar power and City of Dallas energy efficiency

Facilities Management is a track designed for professional facilities personnel, building owners and others interested in reducing operating expenses while incorporating sustainable practices. Also included in this track is designing net-zero energy campuses, commissioning and energy management programs. 

“Eastfield looks forward to hosting another engaging and educational summit where we provide examples and real-world solutions to solve sustainability challenges,” says Launius .

Sustainability as a Social Justice Practice: Developing Resilient Strategies

About: Annual Sustainability Summit featuring keynote speaker Ian Garrett, an associate professor of Ecological Design for Performance at York University in Toronto, Canada. He will present We made it Up – Creativity as a Driver of Sustainability. The event also features 5 learning tracks. Social Equity; Teaching Sustainability (K-16); Institutionalizing SustainabilityResource & Energy Efficiency; and Facilities ManagementSee complete schedule.

Hosted by: Dallas County Community College District 

When: Nov. 8, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Where: Eastfield College, 3737Motley Drive in Mesquite

Cost: Free. Pre-registration requested.

Website


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