In late September, a group of Bemidji State University students, faculty and staff attended the 2019 Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability conference held at Carlton College in Northfield, Minn. Six students and three staff members gave presentations about sustainability initiatives completed at Bemidji State.

The UMACS Conference was co-hosted by the Sustainability Officeand the Center for Community and Civic Engagementof Carleton College. This year’s conference theme was Diversity, Community & Creativity: Elements for Sustainable Transformation.

Presentations by BSU Staff & Students included:

• “Niizhoo-gwayakochigewin: Two Ways of Making Things Right,” presented by Erika Bailey-Johnson, sustainability director, and Alyssa Hauser, a senior majoring in aquatic biology from Bayfield, Wis.
• “Sustainable Packaging: How To Do Your Part To Reduce Package Waste,” presented by Michelle Holbeck, a senior majoring in design from Jordan, Minn.
• “Building Resilience through Community Partnerships,” presented by Anna Carlson, assistant professor of environmental studies, and Jordan Lutz, sustainability project manager.
• “Strengthening the Bridge Between Church Communities and Sustainability,” presented by Holbeck.
• “The Arts of the Earth Festival,” presented by Nitzana Flores, a junior studying science from South Haven, Minn., and Anna Haynes, a senior majoring in mass communications from Albany, Minn.
• “The Importance of Meaningful Collaborations Outside of the Sustainability Community,” presented by Vern Cooper, a sophomore majoring in project management from Bemidji, Minn.
• “The Bemidji State University Student Green Fee,” presented by Bailey-Johnson and Lutz.
• “Food Waste and Recovery,” presented by Alexandra Torrance, a senior majoring in environmental studies from West Fargo, ND.

During the conference, Bailey-Johnson also received the James Farrell (Re)Cognition Staff Member Award which honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions toward advancing sustainability efforts in the upper Midwest. The award was named in recognition of James Farrell, a Saint Olaf professor of history, American studies and environmental studies. Before his passing in 2013, Jim was an advocate for advancing the sustainability work in the Upper Midwest region. He inspired others to think more deeply about their connections to the environment and each other.

“I am so honored and humbled to receive this award,” Bailey-Johnson said. “Jim Farrell is one of those special mentors for me that made me really think differently about my role as an educator and how to connect others with Mother Earth. I would not be who I am today without his influence and so many others that have provided ideas and support.”

About Sustainability

The Bemidji State University Sustainability Office is a collaborative group of students, faculty, staff and administrators who guide the university’s core fundamental commitment to sustainability. The office not only educates, communicates, plans and manages projects and initiatives related to campus sustainability, resource usage and wellness, but also has grown into a community and regional leader in all aspects of sustainability. The office also manages the university’s “Green Fee,” a $7.50-per-semester student fee passed at the behest of BSU students which funds a variety of sustainability related projects on campus.

Contact

• Erika Bailey-Johnson, sustainability director; (218) 755-2560, erika.bailey-johnson@bemidjistate.edu

Links

• Carleton College Sustainability Office
• Carleton College Center for Community and Civic Engagement
• UMACS Conference 2019
• UMACS on Facebook

Bemidji State University, located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling more than 5,100 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and eight graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. The university’s Shared Fundamental Values include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and international and multicultural understanding. For more, visit bemidjistate.edu or find us at BemidjiState on most of your favorite social media networks.

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