Sustainability Champions Program Builds Momentum as it Enters Second Year
Last fall, the Office of Sustainability launched a new program, Sustainability Champions, which is designed to educate and mobilize faculty and staff around sustainability issues on campus and in their communities. The vision for the program is to create a network of employee leaders who are trained on a variety of topics through monthly lunchtime workshops and field trips.
Although the program was brand new, in its first year 26 staff and faculty members from five different colleges, the university library, all five divisions, and the office of the President signed up to participate. Through workshops presented by Office of Sustainability staff and several guest speakers, the Champions had the opportunity to engage in conversations about climate justice, home composting, sustainability in the fashion and textile industry, sustainable food systems, and more.
Champions were provided with tools for understanding their personal carbon footprints, briefed on the university’s own sustainability goals and programs, and invited to participate in several off-campus site visits, including one to the Signal Hill facility where the university’s waste is processed.
“I have really enjoyed joining the lunch and learn program during the past year and I always take home a bit of new information on sustainability practices, but my favorite activity was the field trip to EDCO recycling facility,” said Varenka Lorenzi, a Lab Coordinator for the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. “It was incredible to experience in person the huge amount of trash coming through every day and seeing the workers having to hand pick the pieces of trash that contaminate the recycling. It made me even more careful in sorting my trash and I feel like everybody should visit similar facilities to understand the gravity of the problem.”
Other field trips enjoyed by the Champions included a tour of Willow Springs Park, led by the City of Long Beach’s Sustainability Coordinator Larry Rich, and a visit to the 2-acre community garden at the neighboring VA Hospital.
In addition to gathering once per month to learn and share information, Champions have also had opportunities to support various campus sustainability programs. For example, Carrie Lucas from Enrollment Services and Kesly Medrano from University Relations and Development volunteered to help review and screen student projects for the annual Green Generation Showcase, while others helped out at the event itself, assisting with guest check in and other critical duties.
As it enters its second year, the program has begun providing opportunities for Sustainability Champions to act as peer-educators. Librarian Chloe Pascual led the August lunch and learn session, sharing information about sustainable transportation options in Long Beach and her personal experiences living a mostly car-free lifestyle. “I have been riding my bike and taking the bus to work at CSULB since 2005, and it has been a rewarding experience that has reduced my use of fossil fuels and helped me see the city and region from a different perspective,” said Chloe. “I loved getting to share that experience at a recent Sustainability Champions lunch and learn, and I have loved learning from my colleagues in the program.”
Also this month, COTA faculty member Kent Hayward and Assistant Director of Communications for Student Affairs Vu Mai volunteered at Convocation to help educate attendees about how to properly sort their waste and utilize the new compost bins that are being introduced this year (Read Kent’s account of his experience in the right sidebar). The Office of Sustainability is planning this year’s workshops, field trips, and volunteer opportunities and hopes to continue to grow the program.
“Building this network of Sustainability Champions has been very rewarding,” said Sustainability Manager Holli Fajack. “We always knew there were a lot more employees across campus who care about sustainability and want to help advance the university's goals and we are excited to have this new program to offer to those who want to get involved and learn from like-minded folks.”
If you would like to represent your department or college in the Sustainability Champions Program, please obtain approval from your supervisor first and then complete the registration form here.
You can also learn more about the program and reach out to sustainability@csulb.edu with any questions.
