Celebrating ‘The Power of 10’
Towson University celebrated 10 years of environmental education, advocacy and networking with the anniversary of the TU Environmental Conference
By Briana Richert '20 on April 10, 2019
Towson University celebrated 10 years of environmental education, advocacy and networking with the anniversary of the TU Environmental Conference.
“The Power of 10: One Decade Can Define a Century” Environmental Conference brought together students and environmentalists from the Baltimore area within a space of education, networking and environmental advocacy.
“I think people are so in the trenches especially when it comes to environmental work, but to have a space that intentionally brings everyone together to take a moment to celebrate the progress that we’ve made, recognize how much further we need to go as far as environmental change, and recognize the impact that we are having inside and outside of the classroom is a powerful thing,” says Luis Sierra, assistant director of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility[BROKEN LINK].
Sierra's office has helped move Towson University to the forefront in environmentally-thoughtful campuses. Through a partnerships between the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility and the Office of Sustainability, TU has launched a number of sustainability efforts in the past year. And in the fall, TU was recognized as one of the nation's greenest campuses.
The conference kicked off with keynote speaker, TU alumna and human-rights activist Destiny Watford '17, who spoke on her work in fighting against the Baltimore Refuse Energy Systems Company (BRESCO) and the implementation of trash incinerators into the local communities.
Watford believes that the public funding behind the BRESCO incinerator is better used for environmentally conscious alternatives, such as recycling and compost. She said the incinerator's emissions can be linked to health problems for Baltimore residents.
“Essentially, we are paying the BRESCO incinerator to poison us, to destroy our environment and to endanger our lives,” Watford said.
One solution to this issue, Watford asserts, is the taking on of the Zero Waste challenge as a plan to reduce the amount of food waste sent to be burned at BRESCO facilities. This initiative also works to raise money for rocket composters — which are industrial composting machines that will create compost used by community gardens.
“It’s really cool to come back full circle and hopefully inspire and work together with folks at Towson to take on this Zero Waste challenge that we’re leading the way on,” Watford said. “College campuses are huge. When you think about Towson and these big anchor institutions in our state, we produce a lot of waste.
“Towson University students are key because right now the top climate scientists are saying that this is the first generation experiencing the effects of climate change and we’re the last generation that can do something about it.”
Watford’s words and overall activism have definitely inspired those of this generation. Sophomore Karlee Perry has been following her work for years. A TU resident assistant, Perry recently posted Watford — her “hero” — onto one of her floor’s bulletin boards.
“In high school is when I first heard about Destiny,” Perry said. “Just knowing she is from my community and knowing that she was another black face on Towson’s campus who was making a difference, that’s what inspired me about her in particular.”
The conference later broke off into different educational breakout sessions including lectures from university professors, non-profit organizations, and TU students themselves. Focus on student involvement in this event with a former student as the keynote speaker, student-led lectures and the discussion between student attendees was entirely crucial to the success and impact of the TU Environmental Conference.
“This conference would not be in existence and serve its purpose if the students, who are oftentimes in the front lines of climate advocacy and environmental advocacy around the world, are not at the table. If they are not at the table, then this conference does not serve its purpose,” Sierra said.
“This event is 10 years of bridge building, 10 years of not only celebrating but also taking a second to just recognize we’ve got work to do,” Sierra added. “My hope is that this conference gives students and everybody in attendance an opportunity to recognize that we can accomplish that work so that years from now, our kids and our grandkids have clean air that they’re breathing, equitable access to their water and their food, that we take further steps to make sure that the environment and our climate is better than how we found it.”
Towson University's Celebration of Excellence
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The series ties together key events and provides a perfect path leading up to the ultimate recognition event: commencement.
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