Last EON Meeting of the Year

Click here to see the minutes from our last meeting.

You'll find the most important announcement in 20 years, a list of EON's major accomplishments for the year, and what you've all been waiting for: next semester's election results!

Green Projects Development Summer Intern (Baltimore)

Would you like to make a tangible difference in the fight against poverty? Work for a greener future? Help shape the rapidly expanding home energy efficiency industry?

Civic Works, a non-profit leader in green jobs training and home energy efficiency, is hiring a Green Projects Development Intern. The Intern will work with the Green Projects Development Coordinator to provide assistance in expanding the size of Civic Works’ current green training programs, developing additional career training programs, and expanding our home performance business. Current college students gain the kind of real-world experience they can’t find in a typical internship.

Civic Works’ green programs have been highlighted by Green for All, The Washington Post, and the US Council of Mayors. Civic Works operates 12 programs in the areas of Community Revitalization, Education, Energy Conservation, and Workforce Development. We provide green job training opportunities, convert vacant lots into community gardens, rehabilitate homes for low-income residents, improve home energy efficiency for low-income residents, and tutor and mentored thousands of students in Baltimore City and County schools.

The mission of Civic Works’ Green Projects is to harness the power of green jobs as a pathway out of poverty for Baltimore residents. The purpose of this internship will be to help develop and expand Civic Works’ Green Careers Initiatives. Since 2003 our B’More Green program has prepared unemployed and underemployed Baltimore residents for brownfields mitigation careers. Beginning in summer 2010, Civic Works will start offering an Energy Efficiency Retrofit Installer training course. Along with these training programs, Civic Works operates a full service home performance company, offering energy audits, energy retrofits and cool roofs.

This is an unpaid internship. However, we will be able to provide a $1,000 scholarship to be applied towards education expenses.

Responsibilities

• Research, write and edit grant proposals.
• Develop presentations to be given at community meetings.
• Communicate regularly with Civic Works’ community partners
• Assist the Energy Retrofit Project Manager in identifying areas to cut costs, improve quality and increase customer satisfaction.
• Conduct research for the development of new energy auditor and energy retrofit installer training curricula.
• Write content for Civic Works’ website and marketing materials that motivates homeowners to implement residential energy efficiency retrofits
Regularly contribute posts on energy efficiency topics to Civic Works’ blog and new media sites.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task and work under strict deadlines
Excellent oral and written communication skills are a must
Commitment to the environment and social justice

Benefits

• Receive a $ 1,000 scholarship to be applied towards higher education expenses
• Healthcare benefits
• We are willing to work with your academic institution if you are interested in receiving credit.
Gain experience and skills in marketing, community outreach, grant writing, coalition building, business and program development.

Time Commitment

20-40 hours a week for 7-10 weeks. The expected start date is June 7.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume to:

Eli Allen
Green Projects Development Coordinator

eallen [at] civicworks [dot] com

Socially Responsible Investing Coalition Meeting: May 4th

Weapons Manufacturing. Dirty Energy. Border Militarization. Environmental Racism. Discriminatory Hiring Practices. Deforestation. Tar Sands Oil Extraction. Natural Gas "Fracking." Animal Testing. Privatized Military Contracting. Factory Farming.

Did you know that Wesleyan invests in all of these practices?

Socially Responsible Investing Coalition Mass Meeting

Date: May 4th

Time: 7:30 PM

Location: Woodhead Lounge

As Wesleyan students, we have the unique opportunity to influence the behavior of the socially irresponsible corporations in which we invest. We also have the potential to push for Wesleyan to shift its investment strategies towards more ethical alternatives.

If you are interested in changing our investments to better reflect your values, come to the first mass meeting of the grassroots, student-led initiative called the Socially Responsible Investing Coalition (SRIC). The SRIC is a brand new, multi-issue coalition that strives to facilitate communication and action between various student groups and individuals who come together in order to assert our student voice in our school's investments.

At our mass meeting on May 4^th, we’ll discuss where everyone’s interests and goals lie, begin to shape the way the coalition will function, and set plans in motion to mobilize for next semester. Anyone should come to this meeting, whether you already have a specific idea for how you’d want to engage with our schools investments, or if you just want to find out more.

If you would like to come chat with the founding organizers of the SRIC, we will be tabling at Usdan from 12-1 all week. Please stop by if you have any questions!

A Friendly Reminder for Spring Fling.

Spring Fling is this Thursday!

If you choose to participate in the festivities on Foss, enjoy the music, great company, and gorgeous weather (forecast: 79 degrees)!

Just remember to clean up after yourselves and help keep our campus beautiful!

Children in the Fields: The hidden problem of child labor in America

WesFRESH presents another event for their week of food politics, this time on farm worker justice:

Hundreds of thousands of children work in agriculture throughout the U.S. Child farmworkers as young as twelve often work twelve- and fourteen-hour days under dangerous and grueling conditions. They risk pesticide poisoning, injuries, and suffer fatalities at five times the rate of children working in other jobs. As a result of their long hours, they drop out of school at alarming rates. Nationally, barely half graduate from high school.

Although agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S., child farmworkers are exempt from the legal protections granted to all other working children in the U.S. This briefing will give you an overview of these issues by Human Rights Watch as well as an opportunity to sign a letter addressed to local Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro urging her support of the Children’s Act for Responsible Employment (CARE Act, HR 3564), legislation that would greatly improve the lives of children in the fields.

Date: April 30 - April 30
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Place: Usdan 110

Earth Day 2010

Earth Day Week 2010 at Wesleyan

Wesleyan’s SAGES (Sustainability Advisory Group for Environmental Stewardship) has compiled a calendar of events sponsored by a variety of student, University, and community groups happening this Earth Day Week.

MONDAY, APRIL 19

Students for a Just and Sustainable Future (SJSF) Sleep Out
Foss Hill

Screening of No Impact Man
5:30 pm
Judd 116
Free dinner beforehand and short discussion afterward

TUESDAY, APRIL 20

SJSF Sleep Out

Foss Hill

2:00- Field Organizing Strategy

Lunchtime SAGES talk with Bill Nelligan, Director of Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability
12:00-1:00 pm
Usdan 136

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21

SJSF Sleep Out
Foss Hill

Farmer's Market
11:00 am-2:00 pm
Usdan Courtyard

THURSDAY, APRIL 22

Bon Appétit’s Low Carbon Day

Brian Stewart's Third Annual Earth Day Rant
4:30 p.m., refreshments at 4:15
Exley 58

SJSF Sleep Out / WesFRESH / Farmer’s Market Feast
6:30 pm
Foss Hill

Wesleyan Earth Day Celebration Panel Discussion and Film Screening
8pm
CFA Hall
Free Admission

FRIDAY, APRIL 23

WesFRESH Cooking Demonstrations
Attend cooking demonstrations in kitchens across campus.
check back here for times and locations!

Reggie Wilson / Fist & Heel Performance Group
8pm
CFA Theater
Pre-performance talk by Pamela Tatge and Allison Hurd on Friday at 7:15pm, CFA Hall (formerly CFA Cinema)

SATURDAY, APRIL 24

Reggie Wilson / Fist & Heel Performance Group
8pm
CFA Theater

Screening of Home
2 pm
Goldsmith Family Cinema

Riverfront Clean-up
9:00 am-1:00 pm
Harbor Park, Middletown
Sponsored by Middletown Lions Club and The Jonah Center for Earth and Art

CT Trail Maintenance Outing
Bicentennial Park in Berlin, CT
8:30 am-2:00 pm

SUNDAY, APRIL 25

Bus to DC for the Earth Day Network rally
Email weseon at gmail.com if you want to reserve a spot

Panel on the Present and Future of Sustainable Foods
4:00 pm
Usdan, room TBD

ONGOING

TAP THAT! Campus water fountain awareness
Look for signs and information about campus water fountains and facts about bottled water presented by the TAP THAT! Bottled Water Awareness week, an Earth Day Week program of the Environmental Organizers Network (EON).

For events happening after Earth Day Week (including several WesFRESH events, a screening of Food Inc., and an Earth Day 5K) check back here at the Green Scene!

For more information about sustainability at Wesleyan, visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/sustainability/

Vote for Sustainability in the WSA Elections: Feiring & Firke

Micah Feiring and Ben Firke are running for WSA President and VP and they need your help! Micah and Ben have pledged to do all they can to make Wesleyan more sustainable.

Ben was a crucial ally in passing the Green Fund this year, creating tens of thousands in sustainability funding, and Micah campaigned vigorously during the student referendum. Next year, Micah and Ben plan to finally bring a comprehensive composting system to Wesleyan, promote the Green Fund to ensure the best possible submissions come through, hold the ECS-Prize again, work with Physical Plant to reduce utility waste, and bring renewable energy to campus in some form.

See their campaign video on Wesleying.

The election is open NOW at wsavoting.wesleyan.edu. Micah and Ben thank you for your support.