By Emma Sauriol
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s Earth Month 2022 is bursting with
a full slate of events, discussions, and outdoor activities.
Earth Month is occurring from March 28th until April 30th and is divided into
themes.
Those themes include: for Week 1 Climate Justice and more, Week 2
Growing Sustainability, Week 3 Social Justice Week, Week 4 Earth Week, and
Week 5 wraps up with a call to Get Outside.
As many people, especially students, understand that we face a lot of serious
challenges, mainly climate change.
The month was kicked off with e-waste recycling, a climate justice teach-in and a Think Oshkosh community networking event at Becket’s Restaurant.
This challenge has a goal of 500 pieces collected between the three UWO campuses.
As stated first on UW Oshkosh Today by the director of the
UWO Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations, “Earth Month is a
chance to engage with like-minded folks and to learn about things you can do.”
This week, there was a presentation about two community groups that came together to grow
and share indigenous foods and seeds as well as a workshop on April 8th on
heirloom apple tree grafting with the chance to make your own apple tree to take
home.
For week 3, these events include a campus cleanup from 1:30pm to 3pm on April
11, and a talk by Oshkosh Mayor Lori Palmeri on Tuesday April 12th on how maps
can be story tellers or factfinders that inform local decisions.
That night of April 12th campus will hold the LGBTQIA+ Ally March, starting at 5pm in the Reeve
Ballroom.
Week 4 will include a keynote discussion by Venice R. Williams, the director of
Alice’s Garden Urban Farm in Milwaukee.
The talk will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 20 at Sage Hall 1-2-1-4.
As stated first in UW Oshkosh Today, “Williams will speak on citizens serving as stewards of the planet and some of the things to be more aware of when it comes to caring for the earth. Williams advocated for embracing the earth more lovingly, intentionally and as
gentle caretakers moving forward.”
