This week, the Hamilton community celebrates Green Week, a week of activities dedicated to promoting sustainability here on the Hamilton campus. Green Week began on Earth Day (Friday, April 22) and will conclude on Arbor Day (Friday, April 29).

Sara Soika, Environmental Health & Safety Specialist, discussed some of the inspiration for Green Week, sharing, “HSC has been hosting Green Week for many years to bring awareness to Earth Day. This year, however, with the announcement of the change in the College’s climate neutrality date and the 50th Anniversary of Arbor Day, they set out to have more events and hoped to reach a larger portion of the campus. HSC is hosting events that the faculty and staff are participating in as well, such as the green car show.”

Soika explained that Hamilton Sustainability Coordinators (HSC) planned and organized the week’s events in collaboration with “the staff from the Arboretum and Fillius Jazz Archives, faculty members Aaron Strong and Peter CannavÒ, the Sustainability Working Group, Hamilton Outing Club, Plants @Hamilton, Hillel and Sadove Programming Board.” Soika also noted that the AV team did a lot of the behind-the-scenes work that made the week’s events possible.

HSC began planning for Green Week at the start of the spring semester. They formulated a schedule that would combine new programs with events from previous years. Soika says these past events are “turning into traditions,” citing “Mug Monday, the Farmers Market and collaboration with Sadove Programming.”

Soika also noted that members of HSC focused on connecting their personal passions with the campus community. For example, Ellie Sangree ’24 hosted a Glen Walk to share her passion for the outdoors and knowledge of edible and medicinal plant species.

Green Week was filled with various activities for students to learn about sustainability inside and outside of the College. On Earth Day, HSC kicked off Green Week by hosting Weigh the Waste, an event to “measure how much uneaten food waste is generated at one dining hall waste station…It will help remind everyone to take only what they can eat to avoid food waste.” Hamilton Hillel also held a sustainability-themed Shabbat dinner as part of the Green Week celebration.

On Saturday, April 23, students and community members were able to stop by the farmers market at the Sadove Terrace. Local businesses, including Clinton Pottery, Evolve Gifts and Plum Blossom Honey, participated in the farmer’s market. Hamilton organizations made contributions as well, with Hamilton Aquaponics selling cherry tomatoes they had grown themselves.

“The Mojo Music Show” also took place in the Events Barn Saturday evening. Terry Mojo Johnson played music using instruments made from reclaimed materials during the performance, which was described as “a melting pot of art, music and shop class” in an email sent by the sponsors of the event.

On Thursday, April 28, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson will participate in a virtual conversation regarding sustainability. The talk will be moderated by Peter Cannavo, Chair and Professor of Government at Hamilton. The watch party for this event will take place in the Red Pitt at 7:00 p.m. and also be available via Zoom. An email sent by the HSC describes Johnson’s experience, saying, “…Johnson is marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and Brooklyn native. She is co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab, co-founder of the climate initiative The All We Can Save Project, and co-creator of the podcast How to Save a Planet.” Soika shared that she is excited about this event because “there is so much we can learn from Dr. Johnson.” She hopes that “the students and employees will participate in this conversation.”

Reflecting on Green Week, Soika expressed, “we aim to have an element of entertainment and education in each of our activities. The students working for HSC have such passion for and knowledge about sustainability, this is their week to share that with the campus! We hope each member of the community can learn one sustainable practice and incorporate it into their daily life.”