Seattle REconomy is a nonprofit promoting sustainability and community through access to tools, ranging from drills and shovels to sewing machines and pressure cookers. There are also classes every month for bikers, gardeners, woodworkers, and everyone in between. On top of that is their seed library, workshop, bike repair station, and reuse store. Their resources, classes, and events are available to everyone regardless of place of residence or income.
This April, they are offering all new members a 15% discount to use at their ReUse Materials Shop, so come on down! They have two locations: The NE Seattle Tool Library and their new Shoreline Tool Library. The NE Seattle Tool Library is most accessible to UW students because it can be reached by taking the 372 bus that runs around campus.
Becoming a member is easy, and it can be done online or in-person. They have volunteers and a laptop at both tool libraries to help you out. All they ask for is an optional membership donation ranging from $0-$750 depending on what you can afford. Proof of income is not necessary. You can also volunteer with them once/month for an in-kind membership.
EarthLab presents an inclusive gathering focused on climate justice and community building. Across the Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma campuses, University of Washington students actively engage in vital discussions about climate change and its profound implications for social justice. Now, we invite UW undergraduates from all campuses to unite for a transformative half-day event at the Husky Union Building.
This free event is a platform for grassroots conversations to build a stronger climate community, where student voices take center stage. Through facilitated discussions grounded in principles of social justice and equity, we aim to ignite excitement and optimism for concrete next steps towards collective climate action at UW.
Join us to connect with peers and faculty, to exchange ideas, and to be empowered to drive meaningful change. Free breakfast & lunch. Networking opportunities with UW faculty and staff. Stay for as long as you can. More information & registration link here.
West Harlem for Environmental Justice a/k/a WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a Northern Manhattan community-based organization building healthy neighborhoods by ensuring people of color and/or low-income, participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair health and environmental protections, policies and practices.
We are seeking an individual to conduct background research and schedule meetings and interviews to support the Executive Director (ED) of WE ACT and our board member (the team as they tell the story of the Environmental Justice movement. We’re writing a book! The Intern will:
Serve as administrative support to the ED: taking notes at meetings; giving summaries of meeting notes to the team with next steps; and organizing book materials effectively.
Communicate with potential interviewees, obtaining schedules and contact information.
Collaborate with the Executive Assistant to get interviews calendared promptly and within deadline.
Know-how-to research and assemble data using Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
The successful candidate will have the following qualifications and experience:
1-2 years writing experience, administrative assistant experience or any background in writing, preferred. English Majors encouraged!
Proficiency with Google, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe, web & app based services.
Ability to adhere to deadlines and possess strong administrative skills.
Excellent attention to detail with an impeccable work ethic.
Passion for equality – rooted in an understanding of racism, would be welcomed.
LOVES the editorial-to-production process: In another life you would have been a book!
This position reports to the Executive Director of WE ACT & Our Board Member in District of Columbia
COMPENSATION
Internship is for a minimum of 7-10 hours a week with a stipend of $500 monthly. This is a hybrid/remote opportunity and the internship will be open until filled.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested applicants should send their resume as a WORD or PDF document to shanell.reyes@weact.org Please put in the subject line “WE ACT Paid Internship”. All staff, including interns, must be and are fully vaccinated. More details at this link.
CSF and the lab are in their 6th year of partnership to promote resilience, compassion, sustainability, and community at the UW. Seed grants provide financial and institutional support to students, staff, and instructors to help them hone skills, create impactful projects or applied research, and develop as leaders.
The application period closes on Tuesday, April 30th at 11:59 pm PST. Funded projects will be awarded grants from $500 to $5,000.
The seed grant webpage provides more information about the application process and proposal guidelines. If you have questions, please contact Tatiana Brown (csfcoord@uw.edu) and Rudy Gallardo (rodrig5@uw.edu0.
Special invitation to a workshop on centering Environmental Justice & Climate Justice in learning! Check out the details below and explore the registration link to sign up for this interactive workshop, offered both in Seattle and Yakima.
At Community Education In Action, a two-day workshop, we’ll dive deep into the heart of collaboration, bringing together community members, youth, and educators to embark on a journey of co-creation. Unleash your creativity as we craft together inspiring learning resources to address climate change through the lens of environmental and climate justice!
Discover the essence of a Just Transition and explore inspiring community-led projects as we learn to create how we can foster this type of transition in our own communities.
Let’s sow the seeds of change together as we share our stories, passions, and expertise to co-create resources that resonate from local communities to the global stage!
***K-12 teachers who complete the workshop will receive 10 clock hours (6 regular. 4 STEM).
We will have food, prizes, and interpretation of English-Spanish during the event.
Don’t miss out on this transformative experience! Join us either in Seattle or Yakima and be part of the movement to spark awareness and inspire action against climate and environmental injustices!
Dates and locations:
Yakima, WA: April 27-28 at the Yakima Valley College Conference Center
Seattle, WA: May 4-5 at the Central Seattle Public Library (Downtown)
SEATTLE (March 20, 2024) — Washington’s farmers are on the front lines of climate change. Whether they are growing vegetables on farmland or raising shellfish on tidelands, farmers’ productivity and prosperity depends on a healthy environment. To help combat climate change while strengthening the regional food system, the University of Washington and partners are launching a new project to link up farms across the region, connecting sea to soil for climate resilience.
Each year, shellfish farmers in Puget Sound remove nuisance seaweed, which fouls their beds and gear. Photo: Sarah Collier.
As seaweed and kelp grow in marine waters, they protect coastal ecosystems by limiting the harmful effects of ocean acidification, which makes it hard for shellfish to form their shells. The marine algae perform this service as they grow by absorbing excess carbon dioxide that contributes to ocean acidification, as well as sponging up nutrient pollution. However, the benefits are only temporary if seaweed and kelp are left to decompose in the marine environment.
Each year, shellfish farmers in Puget Sound remove nuisance seaweed, which thrives in nutrient-rich waters and fouls their beds and gear. The seaweed is typically left to decompose in the tidelands, returning its captured carbon and nutrients to nearshore waters.
“There is a better solution here that is not yet being realized,” noted Meg Chadsey of Washington Sea Grant, a partner in the new project.
As an alternative, harvesting seaweed from aquatic systems and applying it to agricultural soils is a strategy that could both lessen ocean acidification and improve soil quality on farms. Adding seaweed to farmland has the potential to replenish soil carbon, which is often depleted due to management practices such as tillage. Such a novel sea-to-soil channel for carbon sequestration could aid in mitigating climate change. The solution also carries the added benefit of improving overall soil quality, enhancing water and nutrient dynamics and building resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Harvesting seaweed from aquatic systems and applying it to agricultural soils could both lessen ocean acidification and improve soil quality on farms. Photo: Washington State Department of Agriculture.
“This is really a win-win,” said Project Director Sarah Collier, assistant professor in the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences and the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program. “It creates a potential revenue stream out of what is currently a problem for shellfish growers, offers an exciting new natural soil amendment for specialty crop growers, and showcases a regional innovation that can help combat climate change.”
However, the knowledge base and community of practice to support this novel sea-to-soil solution does not yet exist. That’s why the Blue Carbon, Green Fields project is bringing together a team of interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners from around Puget Sound to tackle the challenges.
Together, the team will provide shellfish and specialty crop growers with comprehensive technical assistance, perform rigorous environmental and economic analyses to capture the benefits of this practice, and establish a long-term framework to verify results.
Ultimately, the project aims to pave the way for future adoption of this practice across the Puget Sound region.
“What I especially like about this project is how it creates a regionally tailored pathway to building food system resilience,” said Michael Frazier, executive director of Viva Farms. “We are lucky to live in a place known for both specialty crops and shellfish, and yet there is potential to further the connection between land and sea growers who share values and a commitment to a healthy planet.”
The first order of business for the five-year project is to refine the logistics of seaweed harvest and application, and then to get a research network up and running. As the effort matures, the project team will be inviting both shellfish and specialty crop growers to join the network and pilot this new practice.
“This is welcome news for our region’s growers,” said Jodie Toft, deputy director of Puget Sound Restoration Fund. “With the diverse communities and types of expertise we are bringing together, we have an opportunity to create a scalable model of collective stewardship that will see benefits well beyond the scope of the project itself.”
The UW Youth Protection office is hosting a Youth Programs summer job fair next week! Below is the flyer for this event with an updated QR code that goes to their webpage with more information. The webpage has our list of vendors that will be in attendance, links to position descriptions, and how many positions are looking to be filled. The job fair will take place at the HUB “main street” on April 3rd from 12:30-2:30.
Below is a list of vendors which can also be found on the informational webpage:
Boys & Girls Clubs of King County
Foundation for International Understanding through Students
Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) is March 31st every year. The College of the Environment is excited to announce an event tailored specifically to our College community on Tuesday, April 2nd, at 5pm in the Forest Club Room in Anderson Hall. In order to foster understanding, dialogue, and solidarity, we are organizing a panel discussion featuring transgender and non-binary speakers from across the CoEnv. We believe that sharing experiences, insights, and expertise will not only enhance our understanding of transgender issues but also strengthen our commitment to inclusivity and allyship. Following the panel discussion, we will have a social period for attendees to connect, reflect, and further engage with one another. We anticipate the panel and social to be relevant for both trans folks and allies. This event is open to all!
If you have questions, you can email Michael Martinez (they/them) at mcfm@uw.edu or Miro Stuke (they/them) at stuke@uw.edu.
A note about accessibility: The Forest Club Room is on the second floor of Anderson Hall, which does not have an elevator. We are deeply sorry if this is a barrier to your attendance, and we will plan future events far enough in advance to book accessible rooms on campus.
🍄 Are you a BIPOC member of the environmental studies major or minor looking to build community and advocate for an equitable program? Check out SPORES, a new group for BIPOC students to share experiences and connect with fellow peers & faculty.
🌱 Join the GroupMe to learn more (link in bio) and stop by the first meeting on Friday, 4/5 in ACC 120.
Wondering what courses you can take this summer to count towards one of 8 required Integrating Disciplines categories? Check out this helpful handout for a list of ENVIR courses and courses taught outside the major that can count for credits in each area.
Get ready for an exciting adventure with 
