This spring, the UW Earth Day Committee - made up of passionate and driven students - was the driving force behind a dynamic week of programming that celebrated sustainability in all forms. Through weekly planning meetings with my supervisor Emily and coworker Kellie, we co-created interactive and educational events that raised visibility for intersectional sustainability and highlighted the importance of environmental action. Collaborating with student leaders connected us with a wide array of on-campus organizations and helped us center diverse perspectives for students from all backgrounds.
From climate policy and forced migration to local farming and thrift fashion, students had the opportunity to attend free events that made sustainability accessible, engaging, and empowering. Through co-leading these programs with the student committee we cultivated a deep sense of community and helped students build leadership capacity that will carry climate justice forward at UW and beyond.
Here are a few of our favorite Earth Week highlights:
Climate Policy Forum
An incredibly impactful event highlighting the forefront of climate policy in the Seattle area organized by the ASUW Office of Government Relations and SEED with support from Earthday.org. The forum discussed community-based approaches to climate preparedness and orienting legislation toward communities historically excluded from environmental decision-making, with topics ranging from walkable urban design and equitable green infrastructure. This panel left students with a greater understanding of climate policy and motivation to be the change they want to see.
HuES Green Jobs Panel
This was the first professional development-focused meeting by Huskies for Equitable Sustainability (HuES) and it brought together four incredibly accomplished panelists in the environmental field. To start, students discussed interviews, internships and community engagement and shared helpful resources related to professional development. The second half featured the panel - Daaniya Iyaz with the King County Executive Climate Office; Timothy Randazzo with King County's Department of Natural Resources and Parks; Jennifer Grove with Washington state Department of Commerce; and Emily Adams of UW Sustainability - who shared their stories of success and failure. The panelists had experience in climate policy, community organizing, and student engagement, and shared practical advice for how to navigate a green career. The event left students feeling empowered in their professional journeys and fostered a strong sense of unity among future environmental leaders.
Sustainable Cooking Demo
An educational Earth Week collaboration between ASUW Food Cooperative, the Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF), and Anime Nation RSO, this cooking demo gathered students for a hands-on look at how food can be both sustainable and fun. Two talented student chefs from Anime Nation demonstrated how to prepare flavorful, seasonal meals (risotto and rhubarb salad) using locally sourced produce from UW Farm, along with tips on repurposing food scraps and shopping affordably at local farmers markets. This event brought together sustainability, affordability, and culture in food systems while introducing students to nearby resources like the UW Food Pantry, Bean Basket, and the U-District Farmers Market. Students learned new recipes, food skills, and a better understanding of how everyday cooking impacts sustainable food systems.
Thrift Event
A collaborative event with Green Greeks, this thrift pop-up focused on sustainable and accessible fashion throughout the UW community. We gathered hundreds of clothing items through donations from students and community members which we were able to give away for free or for low prices with all profit going towards the environmental justice non-profit Front and Centered. This day was filled with community with students dropping by to shop for Spring, make some art with local artists who volunteered their time or just sit on the field and listen to some good music! Supplying students with free and accessible clothing had an amazing impact throughout our community by spreading awareness about how important it is to shop sustainably, and helping students fill up their closets. We look forward to more events like this in the future.
Humble Feast
An event which happened after Earth Month, the annual Humble Feast community dinner was a heartwarming way to wrap up the Spring quarter. Hosted by the ASUW Student Food Cooperative, Humble Feast offered a free, plant-based community dinner centered around food justice and student leadership. Held in the HUB Lyceum and catered by Chu Minh Tofu, students enjoyed a delicious vegan meal of bánh mì sandwiches, crispy eggrolls, fresh spring rolls, and dessert.
The evening featured powerful storytelling, as Dr. Jan Whittington, Associate Professor in the Department of Urban Design and Planning, spoke about the impact of UW Solar, a student-led initiative that has installed solar energy projects across campus buildings and dormitories. Following her talk, students from the UW Farm's Dirty Dozen RSO presented on the importance of local farming, cultivating community, and finding connection. With sustainability-focused student organizations tabling throughout the room and donation collection for the UW Food Pantry, the Humble Feast was a bright celebration of community ties and climate action through food.