Huskies for Equitable Sustainability (HuES) was launched this Fall by UW Sustainability to provide opportunities for UW students to engage in intersectional sustainability efforts on campus. The monthly meetings are open to all UW students across the tri-campus, and provide an inclusive space to learn about sustainability initiatives and inform UW Sustainability's goals. Meetings are held both in-person and over zoom, and recorded for later viewing to provide opportunities for as many students as possible to connect.
The first two HuES meetings in Fall 2024 provided information on Intersectional Sustainability and the process to update UW’s Sustainability Action Plan. We hope HuES will become a student-led series that amplifies diverse perspectives and inspires innovative action in climate justice at UW.
In my role as the Outreach and Events intern at UW Sustainability, I support HuES by brainstorming activities to share sustainability information, and seeking stakeholder partnerships to highlight a range of climate justice topics. In the fall quarter HuES meetings, I was inspired by my conversations with HuES students to continue fostering an inclusive community of passionate sustainability leaders.
I hope to continue creating opportunities for student leadership, and ensure HuES empowers student engagement through environmental justice.
October Meeting: Kick-off Centered On Intersectional Sustainability
Our kickoff meeting on October 24 introduced HuES as a new initiative designed to share relevant sustainability content with students. The Campus Sustainability Fund’s Tatiana Brown and Maddy Laoprasert led an engaging, interactive session that redefined sustainability through an intersectional and justice-focused lens. Together, the group explored real-world case studies, identified "false solutions," and brainstormed justice-centered approaches to pressing environmental challenges.
Kellie, a student intern with UW Sustainability, reflected on the session: "It was inspiring to connect with students from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about sustainability. As a senior, it was refreshing to hear new perspectives and engage in meaningful conversations about addressing environmental challenges." Attendees brainstormed ideas with their tablemates on what they’d like in future HuES meetings, which were captured on colorful sticky notes.
November Meeting: Shaping UW's Sustainability Action Plan
On November 21, UW Sustainability led a visioning session where students contributed to the development of a 2050 vision for UW's updated Sustainability Action Plan. Beginning with a brief introduction to the current Plan, students explored the sustainability targets established in 2020, the progress made toward those goals, and the remaining gaps. Lauren Schultz from the UW Sustainability team shared, “Reflecting on our progress and recognizing our past achievements, current challenges, and future opportunities is helping us open the door for new and bold sustainability ideas.”
Students then engaged in individual visioning and small group conversations to imagine what sustainability success could look like for UW in 2050. This student-focused meeting built on the Sustainability Action Plan Update kickoff event from the previous day, which fostered collaboration between students, faculty, and staff. Danny Arguetty from the Campus Sustainability Fund shared, "It was wonderful to see so many students engaging in the different topic areas and providing solid and practical suggestions for their 2050 vision of UW." The insights students brought to the session will be invaluable in shaping the next steps of the Plan. Track the Sustainability Action Plan's progress and explore engagement opportunities here.
Looking Ahead: HuES 2025 Series
We are extremely excited that the 2025 HuES series will be full of dynamic topics, including Sustainable Energy, Fast Fashion, Public Lands, Green Jobs, Food Systems, and Zero Waste. Furthermore, meetings will include hands-on activities, meaningful partnerships with RSOs, and opportunities to connect with community organizations. For students, HuES is a unique opportunity to deepen your sustainability knowledge, find a community of like-minded people, and develop new skills to shape the future of UW.
Kellie sums up HuES "as a place where any UW student, no matter their level of sustainability knowledge, can learn, engage, and grow into someone who feels comfortable in applying the climate conversation in every action they do as sustainable citizens.”
We're so excited about this fall quarter's progress, and can't wait to keep this momentum going in 2025! From all of us at UW Sustainability, happy new year and we look forward to seeing you at our next HuES meeting!