Climate Education Month features online forums each Friday in October, open to the public
The educational sessions are for UH students, staff, faculty and members of the community-at-large who are interested in exploring sustainability issues with experts from the UH campuses and local community.
The University of Hawaiʻi Office of Sustainability presents Climate Education Month 2021, a series of interactive online public forums exploring sustainability and resilience to be conducted each Friday in October.
Anya Benavides, a UH Hilo alumna and current Johnson Controls International Americorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) Fellow at UH Hilo will curate the series.
“For me, the climate crisis needs to be addressed from an intersectional perspective,” says Benavides. “For too long, the ever-connecting, root causes for the climate crisis have been left out of discussion.”
“When I think of the climate crisis, I think of colonialism, capitalistic structures exploiting land and people for profit, racism, patriarchy, homophobia, transphobia,” she adds. “My vision for this event series was to create a space where these discussions could be had, and led by those serving as stewards to this land.”
Session schedule
The sessions are for students, staff, faculty and members of the community-at-large who are interested in exploring sustainability issues with experts from UH campuses and the local community. All sessions are from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Register online for the series and to receive more information.
Friday, Oct. 1, “Re-envisioning Education” with Presley Keʻalaanuhea Ah Mook Sang. Ah Mook Sang is the creator of Pu’uhuluhulu University and an instructor of Hawaiian language at UH Mānoa.
Friday, Oct. 15, “Healing Through Art” with Leilani Ka‘ohunani Yates. Yates is a tattoo artist who connects to the ʻāina through her art. Learn about her journey and how healing, art, and caring for the land are interwoven.
Friday, Oct. 22, “Exploring the Intersectionality of Queerness, Women & Environmental Oppression.” Presenters are Mariana Monasi, a creator, artist, photographer, activist; Lala Nuss, a regenerative practitioner and founder of Conscious Concepts; and Tatiana Young, an instructor at UH West O‘ahu anthropology department. The three will discuss the links between oppression of women and queer people, and oppression of the environment.
Friday, Oct. 29, “Reimagining Invasive Species on a Changing Planet” with Malia Akutagawa, founder of Sust‘āinable Molokai and UH Associate Professor of Law and Hawaiian Studies; Joey Valenti, founder of the Albizia Project; and Vince Dodge of Waianae Gold. The three will discuss how communities can cultivate positive relationships with species considered invasive and challenge the dominant narrative on how we value or don’t value invasive species in Hawai‘i.
Most sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing at the UH Center for Sustainability Across Curriculum YouTube channel. Follow @sustainableuh on Instagram and Facebook for more updates.
Learn more about these and other sessions at UH System News.
Susan Enright is a public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
