In This Issue:
- Join Trustee Bravo for a Sustainability Town Hall Meeting
- Texas Southern University Professor, the “Father of Environmental Justice,” Sees Hope Amid Despair
- Join Dallas College’s Sustainability Book Club
- Upcoming Events
- Summit Recordings Now Available Online
- Follow us on social media!
Join Our Sustainability Town Hall Meeting on Feb. 24
Join Dallas College Board of Trustees Chair Monica Bravo on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m., as she, and community sustainability experts, explain the ins and outs of how Dallas College and leading businesses, educational institutions and governments are practicing sustainability through pursuing the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Guests include:
- Heather King, SalesForce, Sr. Director of Sustainability
- Susan Alvarez, City of Dallas, Assistant Director of Environmental Quality and Sustainability
- Dr. Jasmine Parker, Dallas College, Sr. Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Georgeann Moss, Dallas College, Sr. Director of Sustainability
Have questions? Awesome! Submit them in advance at sustainability@dcccd.edu.
To join this free, online event on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m., visit www.dcccd.edu/sustainability.
Pre-registration is not required.
Texas Southern University Professor, the ‘Father of Environmental Justice,’ Sees Hope Amid Despair
By Debra Dennis
Depending on your ZIP code, Dr. Robert Bullard can determine how long you may live, the quality of your life and whether you suffer from respiratory maladies. Those in higher poverty areas are subjected to more pollution, little to no medical care and a life expectancy that’s less than optimal.
“Your ZIP code is a better predictor of your health than your genetic code,” said Dr. Bullard, an environmentalist who has advocated for the safety of clean air and water for more than four decades.
Dr. Bullard will speak at an upcoming Sustainable U event jointly hosted by Dallas College’s Office of Sustainability and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on March 23.
The lack of clean water and the ongoing threat of storms caused by climate change have further marginalized the elderly, low-income residents whose communities are killing them.
“Our neighborhoods are hotter, and climate change is going to make it worse. People accuse me of being a tree hugger,” he said. “But we don’t have any trees in our neighborhood to hug.”
Dr. Bullard, the former Dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs and currently a distinguished professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University, has long advocated for greener, cleaner communities. He counts himself among other environmentalists who have placed racial justice at the core of their mission. His philosophy is a simple one: All communities have a right to equal protection and equal enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. He is finding like-minded individuals among young people who want to save the environment.
“Historically, Black and brown communities have borne more than their share of the brunt of environmentally unsafe neighborhoods and preventable diseases,” Dr. Bullard said. “These ‘cancer clusters’ are the result of contaminated air and tainted groundwater, among other environmental horrors.”
The pandemic, he said, only compounded the problems.
“You have communities that are on the frontline with chemical plants, refineries and other kinds of industrial facilities. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist. You just go to those communities and look at the people who end up having the most tremendous problems — cancer clusters, high asthma rates and respiratory problems.”
Clean air, he said, should be a right for everyone.
“We have long been saying, ‘I can’t breathe.’ Environmental racism kills. It’s bad for your health,” said Dr. Bullard. “We have to work hard so that we’re not leaving any communities or populations behind.”
Dr. Bullard is a member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, a group of appointed members who advise and make recommendations on how to address environmental racism.
Last month, the Houston Endowment awarded a $1.25 million grant to establish the Robert D. Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University.
Dr. Bullard will be speaking at a special Sustainable U event on Wednesday, March 23, from noon to 1 p.m. This event is jointly sponsored by Dallas College’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Office of Sustainability. Register to hear Robert Bullard. For more information, see Upcoming Events below.
Join Dallas College’s Sustainability Book Club
Did you miss the first book club meeting? No worries! Join anytime.
On Friday, Feb. 25, we will discuss Chapters 4-8 of “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World” by Dr. Katharine Hayhoe.
The book serves as a guide for people wanting to facilitate productive climate change conversations. Hayhoe argues that when it comes to changing hearts and minds, facts are only one part of the equation. We need to find shared values in order to connect our unique identities to collective action. This is not another doomsday narrative about a planet on fire. It is a multilayered look at science, community and human psychology from an icon in her field — recently named chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy.
Drawing on interdisciplinary research and personal stories, Hayhoe shows that small conversations can have astonishing results. “Saving Us” leaves us with the tools to open a dialogue with your loved ones about how we all can play a role in pushing forward for change.
The club will meet twice a month, on the second and fourth Friday of the month from noon to 1 p.m.
Email Faye Davis to register at fdavis@dcccd.edu.
Want to join but don’t have the book? Email fdavis@dcccd.edu, and we will send one to you!
*Limited copies are available.
Use these links to join the discussion:
Upcoming Events
March 2022 Sustainable U Webinars
There is no charge to attend these events, but we do ask that you register in advance using the links below.
March 1, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.
Virtual via Webex
Emerging Sustainability Reporting Standards With Keith Baker
J. Keith Baker, M.S.F.S., MBA, CPA, CFP
Intensive pressure from environmentalists, activist investors, stock analysts, unions, financial planners, financial analysts, stockholders, cities and states wanting more accountability and transparency created a large group of stakeholders desiring environmental focus. Register to hear Dallas College’s Keith Baker speak about sustainability reporting and emerging common standards.
Register for “Emerging Sustainability Reporting Standards”
March 8, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.
Virtual via Webex
Local Agriculture and the Dallas Farmers Market
Savannah Nordstrom, Farm and Enrichment Coordinator, Dallas Farmers Market
The Dallas Farmers Market is home to farmers and ranchers from across Texas. Choosing to shop with local farmers and ranchers supports sustainable land stewardship, protects Texas farmlands and ensures fresh food for our community. Learn how the Dallas Farmers Market is cultivating a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle for all North Texas. Register to hear Savannah Nordstrom speak about local agriculture and the impact it has on our economy, community and food security.
Register for “Local Agriculture and the Dallas Farmers Market”
March 22, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.
Virtual via Webex
Blown Away: How Texas Leads the Nation in Wind Power and Wind Energy Research
Michael Mendoza, Assistant Director for the Wind Energy Center at UT Dallas
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Texas accounts for 27% of the total wind energy generated in the United States. Texas wind farms maintained 33.1 gigawatts of generation capacity as of December 2020. That figure is more than the next three highest states (Iowa, Oklahoma and Kansas) combined. Energy generated from wind in Texas alone was enough to power over 8.25 million average homes. As Texas wind farms grew over the past decade, researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas led projects that advanced the industry. Register to hear Michael Mendoza speak about the significance of wind energy and the development of UTD’s Wind Energy Center.
Register for “Blown Away”
March 23, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.
Virtual via WebEx
The Father of Environmental Justice Sees Hope Amid Despair
Environmental justice embraces the principle that all people and communities have a right to equal protection and equal enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. Dr. Robert D. Bullard is described as the father of environmental justice because he has been on the front lines of the environmental justice movement for more than 40 years. Dr. Bullard will share his knowledge, experiences and insights on the future of the environmental justice movement. Dr. Bullard is the Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University. This special event is jointly sponsored by Dallas College’s Offices of Sustainability and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Register for “The Father of Environmental Justice.”
March 29, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m.
Virtual via Webex
Prairie Preservation: Pockets, Remnants and Restorations
Carly Aulicky, North Texas Outreach and Stewardship Director, Native Prairies Association of Texas
Texas is a prairie state from east to west, encompassing unique prairie ecosystems that underlie much of Texan pride. However, much of the prairie in the state has been lost to agricultural conversion and urban expansion. In the Blackland Prairie ecosystem, where Dallas is located, less than 1% of the former prairie remains. Learn how the Native Prairies Association of Texas is working to conserve vulnerable grasslands, such as the Blackland Prairie, and how you can help preserve Texas’ natural heritage.
Register for “Prairie Preservation”
Sustainability Summit and TRACS Summit Recordings Now Available Online
If you didn’t get to watch the online Sustainability Summit (Nov. 5) or Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) Summit (Nov. 8-9) live, check out the recordings, which will be available until May 31. Just visit the websites below and click on the “View the Session” buttons.
dallascollege.edu/SustainabilitySummit
dallascollege.edu/TRACS
Note: After May 31, the recordings will be available in a different location.
Follow Us on Social Media!
Follow Sustainable Dallas College on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube! Stay up to date on our upcoming sustainability events, and connect with other people passionate about creating a sustainable way of life.
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