Earth Month and Laudato Si’: Opportunities for the Campus Community

Dear Students and Colleagues,

As we enter the month of April and approach the annual Earth Day on April 22, we want to take a moment to reflect on the work that has been conducted in light of the university’s commitment to institutional participation in Pope Francis’ Seven-year Journey toward Integral Ecology through the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP), as integrated in the Reigniting Our Strategic Directions goals. We also encourage you to participate in the many events and opportunities for engagement organized during this Earth Month at Seattle University.

One year ago the LSAP Executive Committee at Seattle University adopted the Laudato Si Action Plan to advance “sustainability in the holistic spirit of integral ecology.” Earth Month provides an opportunity to bring renewed energy and celebrate the LSAP goals that we have accomplished so far. With the many initiatives planned by student clubs and departments across campus, we encourage you to learn, engage and advocate for the advancement of environmental justice, sustainable development, and climate solutions for our common home. For an up-to-date calendar of Earth Month events at Seattle University, please see www.seattleu.edu/earthmonth.

Some highlights are:

• Mission Day featuring renowned speaker Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass, who will help us recenter, reconnect and reclaim our sense of belonging as collaborators in building a more just and humane world. (April 11, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Pigott Auditorium)
• Red Talks with Professor Jeanette Rodriguez offering her insights on “La Tierra, Home, Identity and Destiny,” a Latina’s Perspective on Integral Ecology. (April 16, 12:30 p.m., Pigott Auditorium)
• The annual Earth Talks showcasing 5-min brief presentations by SU students, faculty, staff and community partners during a lunch event with keynote address by Jessyn Farrell, Director of the City of Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment. (April 22, noon - 1:45 p.m., Pigott Auditorium)
• Work Parties in SU Gardens hosted by the Grounds team
• The Duwamish River: An Examination of Environmental Justice Issues in Seattle and the Changing Landscape of Climate Lawyering. The event is organized by the Environmental Law Society and Native American Law Student Association and features alumna Jamie Hearn (School of Law, ‘22), Director of Environmental Law and Climate Policy at the Duwamish River Community Coalition (April 23, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., Sullivan Hall C5)

We hope you will join us in celebrating Earth Month 2024!

Sincerely,

Jeanette Rodriguez, PhD
Co-Chair, Laudato Si’ Action Platform

Yolanda Cieters
Co-Chair, Laudato Si’ Action Platform

Phillip Thompson, PhD
Director, Center of Environmental Justice and Sustainability