UM-Flint to host third annual Sustainability Week, Sept. 30-Oct. 4

As the old saying goes: "The third time's a charm." And while Earth may only have one chance, the University of Michigan-Flint's Planet Blue Ambassador program wants you to know that you can still make a difference during its third annual Sustainability Week, Sept. 30-Oct. 4.  The PBA program will offer daily events that aim to teach the campus community about new ways they can contribute to the health of our ecosystem, both locally and beyond. 

"Overall, sustainability is just a really scary topic for people, and it's not even because it's scary in terms of the climate crisis or anything like that, but it can be a lot to get involved in," said Jazlynne Cathey, sustainability programs coordinator at UM-Flint. "The goal of the Planet Blue Ambassador's program, and really what this week is supposed to do, is to bring some fun into learning about eco-friendly habits and to make it less intimidating. You don't have to do sustainability perfectly. Doing it at all is better than nothing, and it's about employing the habits that make sense for your lifestyle."

Many of this year's events focus on bringing the UM-Flint community together to start a dialogue about small changes that can make a big difference in the local ecosystem. Cathey described the Flint River Cleanup event, Sept. 30, as "environmental stewardship in action" and said local cleanup efforts can make a huge difference in campus life. "I'm excited because it's an educational way to show people why they shouldn't use balloons for outdoor events, for example. We can all come together and really feel like we make an impact that is easy to visualize. We're seeing ourselves pick up a lot of the trash and the styrofoam and it looks cleaner after the fact," Cathey said.

On Oct. 1, the PBA program will host an ambassador training session where attendees can learn about sustainability while also gaining PBA certification. Cathey said earning the certification can be valuable for students of all majors. "You would be surprised how much sustainability overlaps with other areas," she said. "It's going to be up to sociologists to look at how it affects behavior, and up to artists to find new sustainable ways to express themselves."

Events such as the Sustainability Family Feud Showdown on Oct. 1 won't just include students, as entire organizations and departments will be going head-to-head on sustainability trivia. Compost friendly food and utensils will be provided, with the goal of diverting 90% of the event's waste away from landfills.  Later in the week on Oct. 3, the Eco-Extravaganza will showcase organizations like Wolverine Essentials, Turn Up Turn Out, the Intercultural Center, and many more. Participants in these events will have the opportunity to win prizes and create a few environmentally friendly crafts to celebrate the festivities.

"Sustainability is a campuswide priority," Cathey said. "We're going to keep talking about it, keep seeing it, and and finding new ways to innovate as this becomes a more pressing topic, not just universitywide, but also in the grand scheme of life."

To see a complete lineup of events, visit the events page. Learn more about contributing to sustainability at UM-Flint on the sustainability webpage.