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WELCOME TO THE DALLAS COLLEGE ARE WE GREEN ENOUGH.[Hear an online panel of Latino students and community leaders discuss sustainability and conservation efforts. The forum will be a conversation with students, alumni and community and business leaders about sustainability projects that can conserve the environment and improve the community’s quality of life. The panel will explore how much Dallas College has achieved through its sustainability efforts and what more can be done.]
THANK YOU FOR ALL BEING HERE.AND WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PANEL THAT WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL AS WE SAY HERE IN TEXAS.
I WANT TO FIRST TALK ABOUT SOME HOUSEKEEPING RULES.
IF YOU HAVE A Q&A, PLEASE USE THE CHAT BOX YOU HAVE, AND WE'LL HAVE TIME AT THE END OF THE PANELISTS THAT WILL BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE I DO WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE LATINO CONSERVATION IS.
THIS IS AN EVENT IN THE LATINOÂ IT'S CALLED DISFRUTANDO Y CONSERVANDO NUESTRA TIERRA AND IT'S AN INITIATIVE OF THE HISPANIC OKAY FOUNDATION.
IN 2014 IT WAS DOZENS OF PEOPLE DOING IT AND NOW IT'S HUNDRED.
THEÂ WE KNOW THAT WITH COVID 19 IT'S HARD TO BE OUTSIDE.
THE DALLAS COLLEGE FOR THE FIRST TIME IS PARTICIPATING WITH THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT LATINO LEADERS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE WANT TO SHOWCASE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR STUDENTS AND WE INVITED TWO IMPORTANT PANELIST.
ONE ON THE SIDE OF THE NONPROFITS HELPING OUR EARTH HEAL AND WE ALSO HAVE A BUSINESS LEADER AS WELL.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE DOING THIS PARTICIPATION IN THIS LATINO CONSERVATION WEEK BUT AS DALLAS COLLEGE WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT ON SUSTAINABILITY AND WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT OUR PANEL AND AS I PRESENT THE PANEL, COULD YOU PLEASE WAVE SO OUR PARTICIPANTS KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
I'LL START WITH AND PRODUCES EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS FOR THE DALLAS ARBORETUM.
THEN WE HAVE MIRIAM GALLEGOS SHE GRADUATED IN MAY AND WILL BE HEADING TO TEXAS A AND M TO PURSUE A CAREER IN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ARCHITECTURE.
SHE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF CEDAR VALLEY GREEN CLUB AND THE SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP AWARD THAT IS GIVEN TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE MADE A GREAT IMPACT ON THE CAMPUS AND MOVED THE NEEDLE IN SUSTAINABILITY.
THEN WE HAVE MR. JOHN MARTINEZ AND HE'S THE PRESIDENT AND CEO JOHN IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION.
HE LEADS THE CONTRACTOR BUSINESS CENTER THATÂ HE WILL BRING THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE BUSINESS AND HOW IT'S VERY GOOD BUSINESS TO BE SUSTAINABLE.
THE FOURTH PANELIST IS RAMON CRUZ.
HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE SIERRA CLUB.
MR. CRUZ IS THE FIRST LATINO TO SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT IN THE ORGANIZATION IN THE 128-YEAR-OLD HISTORY AND THE SIERRA CLUB SERVES 3.8 MILLION MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS.
WHY WE CHOSE MR. CRUZ TO BE ON OUR PANEL, HE HAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN ADVOCACY AT THE INTERSECTION OF SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY POLICY URBAN PLANNING AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
I WANT TO WELCOME THESE PANELISTS AND NOW I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH OUR MODERATOR.
OUR MODERATOR IS DIANA FLORES.
SHE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPRESENTING THIS DISTRICT SINCE 1996.
SHE'S ALSO SERVING AS A CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ONE OF THE COOLEST FACTS THAT I LOVE ABOUT TRUSTEE FLORES IS SHE IS THE LONGEST SERVING LATINX ELECTED OFFICIAL IN NORTH TEXAS.
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SHE'S KEEN ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.EVERY TIME SHE COMES ON CAMPUS, SHE ASKS HOW SUSTAINABILITY IS COMING ALONG.
THANK YOU SO MUCH DIANA FLORES FOR BEING OUR MODERATOR AND I'LL PASS IT OVER TO YOU.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT DALLAS COLLEGE HAS PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT TOUCH ON MANY AREAS OF SUSTAINABILITY AS YOU WILL LEARN.
NOW, WHEN WE SAY SUSTAINABILITY, MOST OF US MAY THINK OF GOING GREEN.
TRULY IT MEANS MORE THAN THAT.
SUSTAINABILITY IS BY BUILDING A HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY BASED ON THREE AREAS OF AWARENESS.
EQUITY, ENVIRONMENT, AND ECONOMICS.
THESE ARE THE THREE PILLARS AND THEY'RE INTERCONNECTED.
WE MUST WORK TOWARDS A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, STRONG ECONOMY, AND EQUITY FOR ALL.
AS WE KNOW, CURRENTLY THERE IS NOT THE ENERGY NEEDED FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY SYSTEM TO WORK OPTIMALLY.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE FORUM TODAY.
WE MUST BE BETTER EDUCATED AND INFORMED AND WORK TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS THROUGH THE THREE PILLARS.
EQUITY, ENVIRONMENT, AND ECONOMICS.
THE UNITED NATIONS 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALSÂ DALLAS COLLEGE HAS COMMITTED TO USING THE 17 GOALS AS A FRAMEWORK TEACHING THE COMMUNITY HOW TO TAKE POSITIVE ACTION TODAY TO SUPPORT THE GOALS.
THE TEAM HAS GUIDED EFFORTS AT ALL LEVELS TO INSPIRE STUDENTS, FACULTY, EMPLOYERS, VENDORS EXAMINE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO INCORPORATE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIVES.
THESE PRACTICES ADDRESS THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES WE FACE INCLUDING THOSE RELATED TO POVERTY, INEQUALITY, THE 17 UNITED NATIONS GOALS ALIGN WITH THE PRIORITIES DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT ECONOMIC HEALTH AND VITALITY IN DALLAS COUNTY TODAY AS WELL AS TOMORROW, IMPACTING MANY DECISIONS FROM THE CURRICULUM TO CAMPUS OPERATIONS.
AS WE CELEBRATE LATINO CONSERVATION WEEK, TODAY'S FORUM ADDRESSES HOW LATINOS ARE ADDRESSING CHALLENGES AND HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING ISSUES AS A COMMUNITY.
ARE WE DOING ENOUGH TO INSPIRE STUDENTS? ARE WE DOING ENOUGH TO CALL TO ACTION THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND SUPPORT THE EFFORTS IN SUSTAINABILITY.
ARE WE DOING ENOUGH TO ENSURE A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT OUR FUTURE CITIZENS CAN ENJOY.
THE PANELISTS TODAY WILL HELP US ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AND EXAMINE EXPAND ON THE IMPORTANCE OFÂ IN ORDER TO EFFECT NEEDED CHANGE.
SUSTAINABILITY TEAM WILL SHARE INFORMATION WITH YOU ON OUR EFFORTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR GREAT WORK.
I KNOW THE TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO HELP DALLAS COLLEGE BECOME A SUSTAINABILITY LEADER AND ASPIRES TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT TEAM THERE ARE SLIDES I WANT TO SHOW BUT FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT I'VE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT NINE YEARS, BUT THE SUSTAINABILITY EFFORT STARTED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
THE CHAMPION OF THAT IS MR. GEORGIAN MOSS.
SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND OUTREACH.
WITH HER, EACH OF THE CAMPUSES HAVE PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE BEEN DAY IN AND DAY OUT INCORPORATING SUSTAINABILITY INTO THE CURRICULA AND DOING ACTIVITIES SO OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY GRADUATE HAVE FORMATION AND SUSTAINABILITY.
THESE TEAM MEMBERS ARE ZONE I CAN'T FORD IN RICH LAND CAMPUS, BRANDON IN BROOKHAVEN, AND NORTH LAKE.
LORI DE LA CRUZÂ AND THEN WE HAVE STUDENT INTERNS AND PART TIME WORKERS IN ALL CAMPUSES HELPING THIS INITIATIVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
SOMETHING THAT IS CRUCIAL TO ALL IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
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WE CAN'T BE GOING DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.THE GOALS ARE 17 GOALS THAT HAVE ALIGNED OUR ACTION IN THE DALLAS COLLEGE.
IF YOU SEE THEM HERE UP ON THE SCREEN, IT IS VERY MUCH IN TUNE WITH THE TYPE OF STUDENTS WE SERVE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT EATING PROPERLY OR DON'T HAVE GOOD HOUSING OR ARE LIVING IN THE MOST (INDISCERNIBLE) PARTS OF THE CITY.
WE HAVE USED THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN A WAY TO EMBED SUSTAINABILITY IN EVERYTHING WE DO.
IN THE NEXT SLIDE, I'LL SHOW WHAT OUR OBJECTIVES ARE.
AND SO THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO SAY IS SUSTAINABILITY IS NOT A DESTINATION, IT'S A JOURNEY AND WE'VE JUST BEGUN.
WE'RE FOCUSING ON NO POVERTY, ZERO HUNGER AND GOOD HEALTH AND WELL BEING.
WITH THE CORONAVIRUS, WE'VE SEEN OUR STUDENTS ARE VULNERABLE AND THERE IS ALL TYPES OF WRAP AROUND STUDENTS WE'VE BEEN GIVING STUDENTS TO SUCCEED.
THE NEXT SLIDE WE SEE THAT OUR STRATEGIC GOALS INCLUDE NOT ONLY OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY INCLUDING WASTE MINIMIZATION AND CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES WHICH IS SOMETHING OUR GUESTS JOHN MARTINEZ WILL SPEAK ABOUT GREEN BUILDINGS.
WE'RE DOING A HUGE EFFORT TO MINIMIZE OUR IMPACT ON THE PLANET BYÂ WE'RE TRYING TO RECYCLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE A STRATEGIC GOAL THAT HAS TO DO WITH EDUCATION.
THAT'S OUR SECOND GOAL, EDUCATING STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.
HOW OUR PERSONAL ACTIONS IMPACT NOT ONLY OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILY BUT OUR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD.
WE'VE EMBEDDED SUSTAINABILITY CONTENT INTO ALL COURSES.
IF YOU'RE TAKE AGO PHILOSOPHY OR HVAC CLASS, WE HAVE EMBEDDED SUSTAINABILITY IN THERE.
THE THIRD STRATEGIC GOAL AND NOT BECAUSE IT'S THIRD IT'S LESS IMPORTANT, IT'S THE SUSTAINABILITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO SATISFY THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY AND OUR BUSINESSES.
SO, THE EVENTS THAT WE HOST, AND YOU WILL HEAR STUDENTS TALKING ABOUT THESE EVENTS ACTUALLY SERVE A BIGGER COMMUNITY THAN OUR CAMPUS.
IN THE NEXT SLIDE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE ARE OTHER SUPPORTING GOALS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, AND ONE OF THE KEY ONES, AND THE CHANCELLOR JUST FINISHED A TOWN HALL AND HE WAS HIGHLIGHTING HOW COVID HAS IMPACTED THE WORKFORCE.
MANY JOBS THAT WENT AWAY ARE NOT COMING BACK.
IT'S OUR JOB AS DALLAS COLLEGE TO GET THESE PEOPLE LAID OFF INTO DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH INDUSTRY AND INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE INDUSTRY TELLS US WHAT KIND OF COURSES WE NEED AND (INDISCERNIBLE) INTO THE WORKFORCE.
WE ALSO WORK A LOT WITH (INDISCERNIBLE) IN THIS LATINO CONSERVATION WEEK SHOWS HOW THE DALLAS COLLEGE IS VERY COMMITTED TO BEING DIVERSE AND GIVING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES, OUR DALLAS COLLEGE SERVES TOTAL OF, WHAT, MORE THAN 80,000 STUDENTS AND AS WE FORM OUR STUDENTS TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE, THEY GO BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEY TEACH THESE PRINCIPLES.
YOU WILL HEAR TWO STUDENTS TALK ABOUT THAT.
THE LAST SLIDE I'LL BE SHOWING HAS TO DO WITH OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE ALSO HAVE (INDISCERNIBLE) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM BE BETTER CONSUMERS, USE LESS RESOURCES AND ALSO LEARN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE ACTION AND SEE AND SUPPORT THEM AS THEY BECOME CITIZENS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN DEALING WITH THIS CRITICAL PROBLEM OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND 17, MY FAVORITE GOAL, HOW DOES THE DALLAS COLLEGE ACHIEVE ALL THIS?
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IT'S THROUGH IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIPS, NOT ONLY WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS INSIDE THE DALLAS COLLEGE, BUT WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, AND SO WITH THESE STRONG PARTNERSHIPS, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD THE NEEDLE AND BECOMING NOT ONLY MORE SUSTAINABLE AS AN ORGANIZATION BUT EACH OF US INDIVIDUALS INSIDE THE ORGANIZATION ARE LEARNING HOW TO LIVE CONSUMING LESS RESOURCES AND BEING LESS WASTEFUL AND ALSO APPLYING THAT TO OUR ORDINARY LIFE.WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THIS PANEL IS LOOK AT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
TAKE OUT YOUR PEN AND NOTEBOOK AND JOT DOWN IDEAS YOU CAN IMPLEMENT NOW.
CHAIR FLORES, I HAND IT BACK TO YOU.
>> CERTAINLY WE'RE NOT TOTALLY THERE YET BUT WE'VE MORE THAN BEGUN.
WITH THAT WE'LL TURN TO OUR PANELISTS.
RAMON CRUZ, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BEING THE FIRST EVER LATINO PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL CR CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
CAN YOU TELL OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT YOU AND WHY SUSTAINABILITY AND CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? ON OKAY GOOD I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
WELL, FOR YOU THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
I'M IN BROOKLYN NEW YORK RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS, YOU MAY NOT BE AS (INDISCERNIBLE) BACKGROUND WITH NEW YORK, BUT THERE IS SOME GREEN SPACES AS WELL.
SO, YEAH, FOR ME, I GUESS YOU KNOW IF I THINK OF MY BACKGROUND AND HOW I BECAME AN ENVIRONMENTALIST, IT WAS, I GUESS GO BACK TO MY FAMILY IN PUERTOÂ RICO AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPERIENCING OUTDOOR NATURE AND I THINK YOU KNOW MY MOTHER WAS BACK IN THE 80S LIKE PEOPLE AT LEAST INTO PUERTOÂ RICO WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT RECYCLING AND ALL THAT.
SHE IN THE SCHOOL THAT I WAS IN AND THAT SHE WORKED AS A TEACHER AND I GUESS THOSE WERE MY FIRST INSTANCES, YOU KNOW, INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD, BUT LATER ON, AS A STUDENT IN THE UNIVERSITY, I BECAME VERY INTERESTED IN LATIN AMERICAN MOVEMENTS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE 20TH CENTURY.
I DECIDES WHEN I FINISHED THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY CALL, THE CALL OF MY GENERATION.
ALSO BECAUSE IT WAS A MOVEMENT THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF, LIKE, FACELESS OR OUT OF PROTAGONISTS.
WE'RE ALL PROTAGONISTS ON THIS AND THAT IS SOMETHING BENEFICIARY.
WHEN PEOPLE RELY ON PROTAGONISTS, THAT'S WHEN A MOVEMENT FAILS.
THAT'S WHY THIS FACELESS MOVEMENT WILL DO GREAT THINGS FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PLANET AND THEN FOR OUR COUNTRY, SO.
I THINK THAT IS IN A NUTSHELL.
OF COURSE, I DIDN'T COME BY MYSELF.
THERE WERE A LOT OF MENTORS AND KEY PEOPLE ALONG MY JOURNEY THAT HAS BEEN KEY TO, YOU KNOW, WITH ME IN THAT DIRECTION.
>> WELL YOU KNOW, THAT IS VERY TRUE.
WE CAN'T DEPEND ON THE PROTAGONIST.
THEY MAY BE THE CAT LIFT, BUT WE NEED MASSES TO BUY IN AND TAKE ACTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ENSURING THERE ARE CAT LIFTS OUT THERE SUCH AS YOURSELF THAT BEGIN THE SPARK AND SPREAD MORE.
THAT'S WHY LATINO CONSERVATION WEEK IS SO IMPORTANT.
OURÂ BECAUSE OF HOW WE'RE IMPACTED IN THE DIFFERENT AREAS, SOCIAL JUSTICE CERTAINLY BEING ONE OF THEM.
NOW WE WILL GO TO JOHN MARTINEZ.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PANELIST TODAY.
JOHN IS THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL HISPANIC CRACKERS ASSOCIATION, HE HAS NATIONAL IMPACT AND SERVES AS THE PRESIDENT ANDÂ SO JOHN, WHAT IS IT ALSO THAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN SUSTAINABILITY.
WE KNOW THERE'S A DIRECT TIE TO THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD.
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IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY PROFESSIONAL BUT PERSON PERSONAL WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN SUSTAINABILITY AND CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.>> WITH ME, GOOD MORNING AND TO EVERYONE, WAS A THREE-STEP PROCESS.
ONE IS I REMEMBER WHEN DALLAS CITY HALL AND THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS BUILT.
WAS A GREAT ARCHITECT AND THE BUILDING WAS BEAUTIFUL.
IF YOU WERE AROUND THE FIRST WEEK IT WAS OPENED, IT HAS THE BEAUTIFUL BALCONIES AND WALKWAYS AND OPENING, THAT FIRST WEEK THEY HAD TOÂ THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE FROM THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
I THOUGHT THEY HAD TO GET RID OF FURNITURE, BUILD WALLS, CLOSED OFF THE BALCONY BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE THROWING BOOKS OFF THE BALCONIES.
I THOUGHT, THE BUILDING IS GREAT, BUT WHAT A WASTE AND WHAT THIS ARCHITECT WHO EVEN THEN WAS WORLD RENOWNED DIDN'T TAKE INTO HOW THE BUILDING WOULD BE USED AND THE CITIZENS BECAUSE THE HOMELESS HAVE A RIGHT TO THE LIBRARY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
THAT WAS MY FIRST AHA MOMENT OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, THERE IS AN INTEGRAL RELATIONSHIP AGAIN BUILDING AND HUMANS AND HOW THE USE IT.
RIGHT AFTER THAT I WENT TO LOOK TO JAPAN FOR A COUPLE OF YEAR.
IF YOU WANT TO GET PAPER TOWELS AND NAPKINS, IT WAS LIKE GETTING GOLD.
YOU GO TO GET SOMETHING FROM A TO GO PLACE AND YOU GET ONE NAPKIN IF YOU ASK.
PAPER TOWELS WERE EXPENSIVE, AND WE HAD IT KNOW A WHOLE SYSTEM OF THE TRASH.
OVER THERE, I HAD FOUR DIFFERENT BINS.
I STARTED SEEING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ACCESS OF COMMODITIESÂ WHY WAS THIS COUNTRY HAVING TO SEPARATE THEIR TRASH? WE JUST CHUCKED IT AND THAT WAS IT.
WE CAME BACK TO THE US AND SEEING THE COMPLETE DIFFERENCE HOW WHY WEREN'T WE RECYCLING.
AFTER TWO YEARS, THAT'S HOW IT WAS.
WE BOUGHT THINGS AND SEPARATED THEM AND LIVED IN HIGHLAND PARK AT THE TIME AND THE TRASH BIN JUST CAME AND DUMPED EVERY TRASH IN THE SAME TRUCK, RIGHT.
AND THAT WAS MY OTHER AHA MOMENT IN THAT THE WHOLE WORLD HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WATER, RESOURCES AND WHATEVER POLLUTION IS A ONE COUNTRY EFFECTS THIS COUNTRY SO WE CAN'T RUN AND HIDE FROM IT.
WHEN I GOT INTO THE CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION ABOUT 16, 17 YEARS AGO, I CONNECTED ALL THOSE DOTS AND THAT IS WHEN LEEDS STARTS TO COME IN AND THE GREEN BUSINESS BUILDING COUNCIL AND STUFF.
ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, I HAD NOT THOUGHT ABOUT INTEGRATION BETWEEN ARCHITECTURE AND USE IN SUCH A VIVID WAY YOU POINTED OUT USING THE EXAMPLE OF THE LIBRARY.
IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE BEAUTIFUL, BUT BECAUSE OF THE REALITY OF THE HOMELESSNESS AND PEOPLE USING IT AS A PORT FOR THEMSELF, IT MAKES IT CHALLENGING FOR OTHERS TO ENJOY BUT ALSO WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THE HOMELESS.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ONGOING EFFORTS, BUT IT HAS NOT GREATLY DIMINISHED THAT ISSUE.
ORIANA, THANK YOU FOR BEING A STUDENT LEADER.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON HERE WITH US.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR THE STUDENT SIDE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE.
SO, THERE HAS TO HAVE BEEN A CAT LIFT OR SPARK FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED.
CAN YOU SHARE WITH US FROM YOUR PERSONAL STANDPOINT AND STUDENT STANDPOINT WHY YOU CARE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT TO YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME.
MY NAME IS ORIANA, I'M FROM VENEZUELA.
DUE TO POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REASONS, I MOVE (INDISCERNIBLE) IN 2018.
AS SOON AS I COULD, I ENROLLED IN COLLEGE DESPITE ALL ADVERSITIES AN IMMIGRANT LIKE MYSELF COULD HAVE.
THANKFULLY, MY ADVISERS AND PROFESSORS HELPED ME TO ADJUST.
I (INDISCERNIBLE) THIS SUMMER.
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I CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, EVEN BEFORE I LIVED IN THE US, THE LIFESTYLE I GREW UP WITH MADE ME AWARE OF HOW IMPACTFUL IF RESOURCES CAN BE IF THEY ARE MISMANAGED.WITHOUT PERCEIVING THE DAMAGE THAT THEY DO TO THE PLANET.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY STRUGGLE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S INABILITY TO MEETING BASIC NEEDS.
THEREFORE I'M THANKFUL THAT DALLAS COLLEGE GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING IN A SUSTAINABLE OFFICE ON CAMPUS MANAGED BY (INDISCERNIBLE) MANAGER FOR MY TEAM AND ME.
SUSTAINABLE TEAM, WE ALWAYS SHARE OUR EXPERIENCES, WE (INDISCERNIBLE) KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED IN THE CLASSROOM AND AT WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT.
>> THANK YOU ORIANA, AS SOMEONE NOT TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY AND HAS NOT LIVED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR YOUR EXPERIENCE TOGETHER WITH THE EXPERIENCE JOHN GAVE ON HOW OTHER COUNTRIES LIVE.
ESPECIALLY WHAT YOU POINTED OUT, SOME COUNTRIES CANNOT MEET THE BASIC NEEDS OF ITS CITIZENS.
MIRIAM, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A LEADER AT CEDAR VALLEY AND ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY IN THE AREA OF SUSTAINABILITY.
CAN YOU SHARE WITH US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT?
SO FIRST OFF I WANT TO THANK YOU DOCTOR BOCCALANDROÂ I'M NOT INCOMING STUDENT TO TEXAS A AND M.
I GRADUATED THIS MAY WITH AN ASSOCIATES OF SCIENCE AND I MEAN I JUST I'VE GROWN TO, I'VE GROWN AND DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH MY EXPERIENCES AND ENCOUNTERS AS THE PRESIDENT OF GREEN CLUB AND AS A STUDENT.
WE ALWAYS FOUGHT TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SPREAD AND HELP EDUCATE THIS SPECIAL MESSAGE THAT CARING FOR SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE PLANET IS A WIN/WIN FOR ALL.
I HAD THE GREAT FORE TUNE OF LEADING A SUCCESSFUL GREEN CLUB THAT STUDENTS MAINTAINED THE REALLY ADVANCE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THE MISSION OF BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE ENVIRONMENT BY BEING INVOLVED HAS INSPIRED AND SHAPED MY FUTURE AS I WILL NOW STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
IN HOPES OF FURTHERING MY EDUCATION TOWARDS THE PATH OF SUSTAINABILITY.
I HAD EXPERIENCES WHERE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, TO GET THE AMOUNT OF FOOD YOU NEED TO FEED YOUR FAMILY.
WE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY IN HOPES OF A BETTER LIFE, BETTER LIFESTYLE, AND I SEE LIKE SHE SAID PEOPLE NOT BEING CONSCIOUS OF HOW MUCH THEY HAVE, HOW UNAPPRECIATIVE AND, IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE HOW, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ALL THESE CLEAN ENERGY, FREE AND CLEAN WATER, AND YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BRING MORE AWARENESS NOT ONLY TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY BUT ALSO COMMUNITIES AROUND US AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU MIRIAM AND AGAIN, YOU REMIND US AS HAS ORIANA AND JOHN HOW BLESSED WE ARE IN THIS COUNTRY.
OFTEN WE'RE NOT COGNIZANT OR APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A TIME CONSTRAINT.
DALLAS COLLEGE COMPLETED THE FIRST EVER DISTRICT WIDE GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY AND STARS REPORT.
MANY EMPLOYEES ADVOCATED FOR THIS INITIATIVE.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY CHALLENGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY ADVOCACY WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING AS A LATINO AND WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE LATINOS THAT WANT TO BECOME ADVOCATES.
I MUST SAY (INDISCERNIBLE) WHOLE FOCUS, CAN YOU STILL HEAR ME? CAN YOU STILL HEAR ME, OR YOU HAVE DIFFICULTIES? YUP.
NO, THAT I WAS GLAD TO HEAR MARIA SPEAKING ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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GOALS AND HOW YOU'RE (INDISCERNIBLE) LOCAL LEVEL.I ACTUALLY WAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY PRIVILEGE ENOUGH IN MY CAREER TO BE WORKING ON ALL THESE (INDISCERNIBLE) SO I WAS VERY INVOLVED ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS THAT THE UNITED NATIONS THAT LED TO THE ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS BETWEEN 2013 AND 20 IS A.
MANY COLLEAGUES COULD BE PROUD TO KNOW THE EFFORTS HOW THIS BASICALLY TO GO DOWN TO A VERY LOCAL LEVEL.
THE LANDSCAPE HAS CERTAINLY CHANGED, I THINK, DURING THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUES.
I THINK FOR A LONG TIME THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORLD WAS A PLACE WHERE, I MEAN AT LEAST MAINSTREAM GROUPS AND GOVERNMENT ETÂ CETERA WAS A PLACE WHERE IT WAS MOSTLY WHITE, YOU KNOW.
I THINK AS IF YOU FOLLOW THE SIERRA CLUB, YOU SEE THAT YESTERDAY ACTUALLY WE STARTED A SERIES OF BLOGS ON REEXAMINING OUR HISTORY.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND 128 YEARS, BUT CERTAINLY FOR A BIG CHUNK OF THOSE MOST PEOPLE WERE NOT LOOKING LIKE MANY OF US, NO.
IT WAS MOSTLY A WHITE, VERY PRIVILEGED, AND WEALTHY PLACE WHERE, YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH AS A PROGRESSIVE FOR THE MOST PART AND PUSHING FOR A PROGRESSIVE AGENDA, IT WAS A PLACE THAT WAS ALSO COMPLACENT WITH MANY INEQUITIES AND EXCLUSIONS.
AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP A CAREER IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD IS THANKS TO MANY OTHERS THAT CAME BEFORE ME THAT ALLOWED TO OPEN THIS SPACES FOR PEOPLE LIKE US.
SO MANY LOCAL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WERE PUSHING FOR THIS ISSUES AND ALSO TO BRING THEM AT A LEVEL THAT NOW ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SIERRA CLUB WITH ALMOST 4Â MILLION MEMBERS AND 60 PLUS CHAPTERS NATIONWIDE ARE ABLE TO ADOPT AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE POLICY, GUIDE OURSELVES THROUGH THE WHAT IS CALLED THE PRINCIPLES FOR DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZING, BEING BETTER COLLABORATORS AND NOW OPENING UP AND THINKING THIS RECKONING MOMENT THAT OUR NATION IS GOING THROUGH.
A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS ARE REEXAMINING OUR PAST AND ALSO OUR POLICIES AND SO WE BASICALLY IN THE LAST MONTH CHANGE OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM SO NOW THE STRUCTURE IS GOING TO BE AT LEAST WHAT GUIDES OUR VALUES MISSION VISION AND CULTURE.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXECUTIVE TEAM, A NEW EXECUTIVE TEAM THAT IS MAJORITY BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE NEW THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT I HOPE WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT RESEMBLE THIS SOCIETY WE LIVE IN.
AND I DON'TÂ MAYBEÂ >> THAT WAS GOOD.
WHAT STRUCK ME, WHAT I TOOK FROM WHAT YOU SAID IS YOU JUST HAVE TO START.
KEEP YOUR FOCUS, KEEP WORKING AT IT, DON'T GIVE UP.
LOOK AT WHAT YOU WERE ABLE TO DO.
IF I UNDERSTOOD YOU CORRECTLY, YOU WERE INVOLVED HELPING TO DEVELOP THE UNITED NATIONS 17 SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.
I UNDERSTAND IT WAS A BROAD TEAM BUT THE FACT YOU WERE A VOICE THERE, I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO WHY THE GOALS ARE SO RELATABLE, REALLY ADDRESS CORE NEEDS, NOT JUST ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS, BUT THE COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS THAT MAKE UP TRULY SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.
IT'S NOT JUST THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THAT YOURÂ JUST AS MANY NOW ARE QUESTIONING THEMSELVES AND PARTS OF THEIR HISTORY THAT WERE NOT THE BEST.
AND DID NOT SERVE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WELL.
I'M GLAD WE'RE AT THIS MOMENT WHERE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE
[00:35:03]
KNOWING THE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK FOR US IN MANY AREAS BUT NOW A LOT OF INSTITUTIONS, GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE SIERRA CLUB HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT AND ARE COMING TO FACE WITH THAT AND WILL HOPEFULLY MAKE CHANGES FOR THE BETTER.FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT ARE THE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FACES LATINOS TODAY AND HOW CAN YOUNG LATINOS GET INVOLVED IN SOLVING THEM.
AND NOT JUST YOUNG LATINOS BUT ALL OF US.
HOW CAN WE GET INVOLVED IN SOLVING THE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES WE FACE?
>> I GUESS I WILL ANSWER THAT QUESTION OR THERE ARE TWO PARTS OF THE QUESTION, NO, SO IN TERMS OF WHAT ISSUES ARE RELEVANT TO LATINOS, THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES THAT ARE RELEVANT FOR EVERYBODY, NO.
BUT ESPECIALLY DISADVANTAGE COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT FOR MANY YEARS HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN BY THE GOVERNMENT, OR MAINSTREAM INSTITUTIONS.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO, FOR EXAMPLE, ALSO BORDER COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE NOW, YOU KNOW, UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION TO BASICALLY SUE THE (INDISCERNIBLE) WANTED TO MAKE A NOISE CHECK, IS THAT OKAY?
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LEGAL CHALLENGING THE BORDER WALL THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS BROUGHT UP AND USED ILLEGALLY THE FUNDING FROM THE MILITARY TO DO THAT.
THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY THINK RIGHT AWAY AS SOMETHING ENVIRONMENTAL, BUT THAT HAS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO THE ECOSYSTEM THAT IT'S MARKETING.
THERE ARE MANY ISSUES LIKE THAT ALL OVER THE (INDISCERNIBLE) WHERE PEOPLE OF COLOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS, VERY (INDISCERNIBLE) AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE LATINX COMMUNITY TO BECOME VERY ACTIVE AND INVOLVED IN THAT.
THIS ADMINISTRATION UNFORTUNATELY I COULD GO ON AND ON IN EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN DISMANTLING FROM ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT WERE, THAT TOOK 50 YEARS TO BRING UP, ONE OF THEM THAT IS VERY RELEVANT FOR THE LATINO POPULATION IS THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT.
THAT'S THE BASE LAW THAT CAN, HAS BEEN USED FOR DECADES BY COMMUNITIES TO BRING AS A LEGAL RESOURCE AND CHALLENGE OF SO MUCH POLLUTION AND DEGRADATION.
THERE IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY IMPACTS THAT AFFECTS MANY OF OUR POPULATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE SO MANY, SO MUCH PROBLEM IN TERMS OF (INDISCERNIBLE) POLLUTION, ETÂ CETERA, AND THE COMMUNITIES HAVE USED THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
AND SO WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HOW, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY HE'S TRYING TO WEAKEN THIS BASE LAW.
I MEAN, I COULD GO ON AND ON ON HOW IT'S AFFECTING THE LATINO POPULATION, PEEP OF COLOR ALL OVER, ME FROM PUERTOÂ RICO AFTER HURRICANE MARIA, IT WAS DEVASTATING FOR THE ISLAND IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS AND WE BASICALLY JUST GOT A, YOU KNOW, JUST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TURNED THEIR BACK TO US.
SO, THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, ENDLESS ISSUES THAT I COULD GO ON AND ON.
THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION, I HAVE NOT ANSWERED WHAT WAS IT.
>> HOW CAN YOUNG LATINOS GET INVOLVED IN THE ENVIRONMENT SPECIFICALLY.
>> RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I CAN SPEAK POLITICS HERE.
I WOULD SAY IN TERMS OF GETTING INVOLVED, THERE IS SO MUCH ON THE COMING ELECTION.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST RELEVANT AT LEAST IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, THE MOST RELEVANT, YOU KNOW, ELECTIONS IN YOUR LIFETIME AND I WOULD SAY IN MODERN
[00:40:03]
HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY.GETTING INVOLVED TO VOTE AND TO ORGANIZE OTHERS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, US, WE HAVE A WHOLE INITIATIVE ON SIERRA CLUB INDEPENDENT ACTION.ORG AND CONSTANTLY EVERY WEEK DIFFERENT LIVE STREAMS, DIFFERENT WRITING, YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY WE HAD OUR WRITING LETTER PARTY VIA ZOOM.
AND TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED, OF COURSE, WE HAD PLEDGED TO MAKE OUR BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN OUR HISTORY IN THIS ELECTION AT COVID 19 HAS PUT A LOT OF OBSTACLE TO MOBILIZE SO MANY PEOPLE BUT WE'RE FINDING WAYS TO DO IT AND YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S INSPIRING HOW THE YOUNGER GENERATION IS TEACHING THE OLDER ONE.
IT'S WEIRD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OFTEN YOU THINK THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SO, YOU KNOW, RADICAL AND LATER ON THEY WILL MATURE.
NOW THEY'RE TEACHING, THE NONSENSE IS COMING FROM THE OLDER GENERATION INVOLVED IN THIS BRAINWASHING OF NEWS AND NOT LISTENING TO SCIENCE.
I GET A LOT OF HOPE FROM THE NEW GENERATION COMING UP THAT THEIR VISION IS CLEAR, AND THEY KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW TO GET US THERE AND SHOWING US WAYS TO GET THERE.
SO IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOWÂ BECAUSE YOU KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BEÂ MORE THAN HALF OF POPULATION PARTICIPATED ON IT.
HOWEVER WE ONLY GOT 48, 40Â PERCENT OF THE LATINX TURNED OUT IN THE MIDTERM ELECTION.
WE HAVE 7Â MILLION ELIGIBLE LATINX VOTERSÂ >> VERY GOOD.
IN TERMS OF MYSELF, YOU'RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.
I'M PASS GNAT ABOUT MANY THINGS AND ONE OF THEM IS VOTING.
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET OFF EARLY AND YOU HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK AN ENTRY POINT AS STATED FOR YOUNG LATINOS AND ANYONE THAT WANTS TO WORK ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS CERTAINLY THROUGH THE SIERRA CLUB.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
IT'S AN INSPIRATION TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU INVOLVED AND ACTIVE AND TEACHING US THE WAY ALSO.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S AN INSPIRATION FOR ME TO PARTICIPATE IN, YOU KNOW, WITH SO MANY OVER 100 PARTICIPANTS IN THIS FORUM.
SO YEAH, WE DIDN'T GET TO TOUCH ON SO MANY THINGS.
I KNOW THE AGENDA AND MANY OTHER PARTICIPANTS, PLEASE GET INVOLVED.
WE HAVE, I FORGOT TO SAY, WE HAVE THEÂ WE HAVE OUR ARTICLES ARE BILINGUAL.
I MUST SAY TO THE, TO ALL THE STUDENTS LISTENING TO US IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, I THINK EARLIER ON YOU ASK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE LATINO WHAT MESSAGE WE COULD HAVE, BUT YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY, I MEAN, I'M GETTING INVOLVE, GIVING BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITIES, BUT ALSO DON'T BE APOLOGETIC FROM YOUR BACKGROUND WHERE YOU COME FROM.
A LOT OF US, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT I BILINGUAL OR SPEAK OTHER LANGUAGES, THAT IN ITSELF ALREADY SETS YOU UP WAY MORE THAN MOST OF THE POP LATINO CONSERVATION I GOES IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURES WE'RE COMING FROM ONLY ENRICHES US AND MAKES US SMARTER AND MORE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR SOCIETY AND OUR ECONOMY.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION WITH US.
>> SO JOHN, ONE OF OUR DALLAS COLLEGE SUSTAINABLE GOAL IS TO DEVELOP ADDITIONS FOR THE BUILDING STANDARDS THAT WILLÂ NET ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS.
HOW HAVE YOU SEEN CONTRACTORS CHANGE THEIR APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY.
ARE THEY PROVIDING OPTIONS TO CLIENTS? SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH US.
>> YOU KNOW, CONTRACTORS ARE SERVICE INDUSTRY, RIGHT.
[00:45:05]
SO, I THINK ESPECIALLY IN THE DALLAS AREA, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE HOW MUCH DALLAS HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF SOME OF THESE CHANGES AND HOW WE SYSTEMIZE SOME OF THE GREEN BUILDING CHANGES THAT MAYBE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE AS LARGE AS US WE'RE ON THE FOREFRONT OF.CONTRACTORS WILL DO WHAT THE CLIENT ASKS.
FOR INSTANCE IF YOU GO TO DALLAS COLLEGE BUILDING AND THE PLAN SAID FIVE WINDOWS, YOU DON'T GO AND SEE SIX WINDOWS BECAUSE THERE WAS AN EXTRA ON THE TRUCK.
CUSTOMER WANTED FIVE WINDOWS, THAT'S WHAT THE CONTRACTOR DOES.
WHAT DRIVES THE INDUSTRY IS THE CUSTOMER AND THE CODES.
IF YOU THINK FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW THE DALLAS AREA HAS DONE A GREAT JOB? MAKING IT PART OF THE CODES THAT WE ALL HAVE TO LIVE WITH.
THAT ALSO EQUALIZES THAT WHETHER IT'S A SMALL INEXPENSIVE STARTER HOME OR A SMALL BUSINESS OR A BIG ONE THAT WE'RE ALL TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THESE SUSTAINABILITY GREEN BUILDING CODES.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE'RE HERE IN DALLAS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE ARCHITECT GROUP WHO WORKED AT THE CITY OF DALLAS WAS ON THE FOREFRONT.
NATIONALLY SHE WAS ON THE FOREFRONT AND WORKS AT THE CITY, SO SHE GOT A LOT OF THOSE THINGS IN PLACE.
I THINK IN MANY WAYS WE'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME BUT AS CONTRACTORS, WE LIVE BY THE CODE AND CUSTOMERS.
AS THEY GET THE SKILLS, THE CONTRACTORS ARE EDUCATING THEIR CLIENTS.
WHEN YOU THINK OF SUSTAINABILITY YOU HAVE TO THINK OF IT IN THE FORM OF DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND THE OVERALL USE.
WE'RE SAVING A LOT OF ENERGY, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE REALLY IMPACTED THE ENVIRONMENT AND HARVESTING THOSE MATERIALS TO DO THAT.
OR WE BUILD THE BUILDING WELL, BUT WORKERS ARE PRACTICING POOR HABIT.
YOU I GIVE THE EXAMPLE WHEN LEED BUILDINGS STARTED GETTING CERTIFIED, THEY LOOKED GREAT AND WE FOLLOWED THE PLANS AND THE WORKERS WOULD GO IN THE BACK AND CLEAN THE PAINT BRUSHES IN THE BACKYARD.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE SUSTAINABILITY IS A WHOLE LIST TICK POINT OF VIEW.
FROM EVERYONE INVOLVE IN BUILDING, DESIGNING, EXECUTING, AND DELIVERING THAT BUILDING OR HOUSE OR ROAD OR WHATEVER IT IS, HAND IT OVER TO THE CLIENT THAT SUSTAINABILITY AND GOOD PRACTICE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT HAS FOLLOWED, AND IT IS VERY MUCH A TEAM.
I'M EXCITED TO BE WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE I'M 55.
I'LL RETIRE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BUT MOST OF YOU WILL LITERALLY WORK ABOUT 50 YEARS.
YOU WILL BE IN THE WORKING, YOU WILL HAVE AN IMPACT.
AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHANGE AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND STUFF, YEAH, IT'S GREAT TO GO OUT AND HAVE THE BIG ROAR AND LION VOICE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT SOMETIMES YOU CAN JUST BE A DROP OF WATER.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTIC OF HOW MUCH WATER IS WASTED WHERE YOU HEAR ONE LITTLE DROP IN YOUR FAUCET AND YOU LOOK AT HOW MUCH WATER THAT IS IN THE DAY, THE MONTH, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, TURN THAT INTO A POSITIVE WITH YOU.
IF YOU'RE A CONSISTENT CONSTANT DROP OF WATER, IMAGINE YOUR IMPACT AT THE END OF YOUR 50 YEARS OF WORKING.
IF YOU'RE THE BIG VOICE, BE THE BIG VOICE AND DON'T APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
IF YOU'RE NOT, BE THE DROP OF WATER THAT CONSISTENCY WILL WIN THE GAME.
THAT IS WHAT SUSTAINABILITY IS ALL ABOUT.
NOT ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT, BUT THE LONG TERM IMPACT.
AND I THINK CONTRACTORS ARE VERY MUCH PART OF THAT TEAM.
>> THOSE ARE GOOD POINTS JOHN AND GOOD ADVICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
INTERESTINGLY, SEVERAL YEARS AGO IT WAS STATED THAT BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE MEDICAL ADVANCES GOING ON, IT'S PREDICTED THAT YOUNG PEOPLE NOW MAY HAVE AN AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF 150 YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL REALLY COME ABOUT OR NOT, BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, MAN
[00:50:03]
WHAT IMPACT THEY CAN HAVE EVEN WITH A DROP BUT MORE IF THEY DO WHAT MR. CRUZ HAS DONE AND BE INVOLVED AND PUSH TO GET US THERE.WITH THAT, ORIANA, I KNOW YOU WERE BORN IN VENEZUELA.
CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT YOUR OBSERVATIONS ARE.
WELL FIRST OF ALL AS YOU SAID BEFORE SUSTAINABILITY IS EQUILIBRIUM BETWEEN ENVIRONMENT, SOCIETY, AND ECONOMY.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO SHAPE BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
LATINÂ AMERICA IS CHANGING CHALLENGES IN THIS MATTER.
SOME COUNTRIES ARE MORE FOCUSES ON ONE SPECIFIC AREA RATHER THAN COVER ALL THREE.
SOME POLITICIANSÂ SUSTAINABLE.
MAKING THEM A DEFICIT IN THE ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION AS WELL.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE US IS FOLKS ON ECONOMY WHICH IS NOT BAD BUT NOT GOOD.
NO POLICIES TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT AND RACISM AND GENDER INEQUALITIES THAT ARE HUGE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REGIONS.
AT LEAST I HAVE HOPE IN THIS COUNTRY.
I WAS GOING TO TRY TO ANSWER A TEXT THAT I GOT HAVING TO DO WITH THE FLOW OF THE WEBINAR.
I THOUGHT, ANYWAY, YOU CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE THERE A LITTLE BIT.
YOU KNOW ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO PROMOTE RENEWED TEXAS 2025 CAMPAIGN.
THAT CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGES STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PURCHASE 100Â PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY ELECTRICITY.
AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR MOVING ON TO TEXAS A AND M.
I KNOW YOU'RE IN A GREAT PROGRAM OVER THERE.
AS PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT GREEN CLUB OF CEDAR VALLEY CAMPUS, YOU HELPED TO PLAN MANY EVENTS FOR THE CLUB.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO ENSURE THE EVENTS WOULD BRING AWARENESS TO CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY.
>> AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREEN TEAM AT CEDAR VALLEY COLLEGE, OUR GOAL WAS TO TRY TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY SO THEY WOULD PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS THAT CREATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND HAVE THE ACTION TO SOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, WE FOCUSED ON CONTINUING THE EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICE AND ENGAGE INNING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OVERCOMING THE EMERGING ISSUES IN, YOU KNOW, TODAY'S SOCIETY.
AND YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME, OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE FACULTY AND TEACHERS TO SUPPORT THE INTERDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF SUSTAINABILITY OF EDUCATION BY INCORPORATING THE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY INTO THEIR LESSON PLANS.
THE INTEGRATION OF TOPICS AND INTO THE CLASSROOM IS A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR AN ETHICAL SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICE.
SO YOU KNOW, STUDENTS ARE ASSISTED IN THEIR ASSISTING THEIR FUTURE ADDITIONS THAT PURPORTÂ AND IN OUR WORLD BY DEMONSTRATING WITH GREATER AWARENESS OF THE WORLD BEING EXHAUSTED OF ITS NATURAL RESOURCES.
YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HARD TO CATCH THE ATTENTION OF ONE STRANGER PASSING BY, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT CREATING THAT CONNECTION PERSONALLY.
AND AS TEACHERS, OR AS JUST INDIVIDUALS, WE TRY TO SAY, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO AND SAY SECT THAT TO ONE OF THE 17 GOALS OF THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL, TRY TO CONNECT THAT WITH A SUSTAINABLE PRACTICE THAT THEY CAN ADOPT EASILY INTO THEIR LIFESTYLE.
IT TAKES THAT ONE COURAGE TO REACH OUT AND SAY YOU CAN DO THIS INSTEAD THIS TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT.
LIKE JOHN WAS SAYING, THAT LITTLE DROP CAN BECOME A VERY GREAT IMPACT LATER IN LIFE IF YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO SPEAK UP AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME.
I THINK I SEE NOW WHY YOU GOT THE AWARD.
NOT JUST WORKING WITH STUDENTS BUT MAKING THIS A CAMPUS WIDE EFFORT AND
[00:55:01]
WORKING WITH STAFF AT CEDAR VALLEY TO BECOME INVOLVED IN SUSTAINABILITY WAS A SMART APPROACH.I'LL TURN THIS OVER TO MS. MOW LINA TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING INFORMATION TO THOSE JOINING US TODAY ABOUT HOW THEY CAN SUBMIT QUESTIONS IF THEY CARE TO.
IF YOU ARE ON OUR AS AN ATTENDEE, WE HAVE A Q&A OPTION IF YOU HAVE NOT TURNED IT ON.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COMMIT QUESTIONS TO US.
MARIA WILL BE MODERATING THIS PART.
I KNOW YOU MAY BE LISTENING BUT THERE IS A Q&A OPTION.
FEEL FREE TO SEND QUESTIONS AND WE'LL TRY TO ANSWER THEM IN THE NEXT 20 MINUTES.
>> CAN YOU TELL THEM HOW TO GET TO THAT FEATURE FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR.
IF YOU'RE ON WEBEX, THERE IS A LITTLE CIRCLE THAT HAS A DOT DOT DOT AND IF YOU CLICK ON THAT, IT WILL HAVE THE Q&A BOX THAT WILL POP UP AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TYPE YOUR QUESTION IN THE BOX.
>> CAN YOU SHARE WITH THE STUDENTS AND AUDIENCE WHAT JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS THAT HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN THE SUSTAIN BAIL OR GREEN BUILDINGS?
>> LET ME START WITH FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, IN TEXAS AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, REALLY, BUT ESPECIALLY IN TEXAS, HISPANICS PLAY A KEY ROLE AS BEING THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER OUT IN THE FIELD DOING THE ELECTRIC WORK OR CONCRETE OR PAINTING.
THE TRANSITION FROM WORKING IN THE FIELD AND BUILDING WITH YOUR HANDS INTO THE OFFICE HAS BEEN A SLOW PROCESS.
AND MORE OF THE FIELDS I'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, HISPANICS START AT THE LOWEST AND WORK THEIR WAY UP, BUT IN CONSTRUCTION, THAT TRANSITION HAS NOT BEEN AS ROBUST AS WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.
PART OF THAT IS THAT CONSTRUCTION YOU NEED A LOT OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TO DO CONSTRUCTION.
GO TO SCHOOL, GET DEGREES, GET MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES BECAUSE MORE THAN LIKELY THERE IS NOT A JOB TO SAY YOU'RE THE SUSTAINABLE PERSON.
YOU'RE DOING A JOB AND YOU BRING THAT ON AS AN ADDED FACTOR.
THE MORE DEGREES AND CERTIFICATIONS WE HAVE AND EXPOSURE WE HAVE, THE LEAST LIKELY YOU'RE ASKED NOT TO COME IN THE DOOR OF GROWING.
WE FOUND HAVING LEED BUILDINGS IS GREAT AND IT WAS EXPENSIVE, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE MONUMENTS TO GREEN.
WE WANT THE GREEN TO GO INTO ALL BUILDING ASPECTS.
THIS IS WHERE YOU PLAY A KEY ROLE.
IF YOU GET SOME EDUCATION, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT, EDUCATION AND DESIGN, EDUCATION AND THEN ADD THE SUSTAINABILITY TO IT, IT'S NO, YOUR RESUME JUST MOVED TO THE TOP.
THEN YOU ADD EXPOSURE LIKE BEING A PANELIST TODAY, BEING IN GROUPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
IF I WERE IN YOUR SHOES AT THIS TIME, I WOULD GET INVOLVED IN ASSOCIATIONS, YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW BIG YOUR VOICE WILL BE.
IF YOU LOOK AT AND MENTIONED (INDISCERNIBLE) WHO DOES NOW IS WITH THE ARCHITECT GROUP HERE, THEY'RE VERY FEW HISPANICS MY AGE IN THAT GROUP.
THE LARGEST SECTOR THEY HAVE OF PEOPLE COMING IN HAD HISPANICS.
THE BIGGEST EVENT I WENT IS FOR YOUNG DESIGNERS AND HISPANICS THAT COME IN.
HOW DO YOU MOVE YOURSELF AHEAD? GET INVOLVED AND YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT THOSE JOBS.
WE NEED ABOUT A MILLION CRAFT WORKERS THAT WORK WITH THEIR HANDS IN THE FIELD.
WE NEED ANOTHER MILLION WORKING IN THE OFFICE BEHIND.
AS ROBOTICS AND DESIGN COMES IN, NOT JUST DESIGN LIKE WHAT COLOR THE WALL IS BUT WHAT KIND OF PAINT WE'RE ON AND HOW LONG THAT LASTS AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE CHEMICAL OF THE PAINT.
WE NEED YOU IN THE OFFICES FOR THE DESIGN.
IF YOU COME WITH THE SUSTAINABLE BACKGROUND, NOT JUST THE CHAMPIONSHIP BUT THE EDUCATION BEHIND IT.
THERE ARE RIGHT NOW COURSES YOU CAN TAKE IN OUR ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS AIA THAT MAY BE A ONE-DAY COURSE, BUT ALL THESE THINGS HELP TO GET THAT EDGE.
[01:00:05]
IN THE OFFICE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A RECOGNIZED DISCIPLINE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SUSTAINABILITY AS AN ADD ON THOUGH IN BIG GC, LOSE A COME AND SOME OTHERS, THERE ARE JOBS THAT JUST SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON THAT, BUT THEY'RE COVETED.YOU WANT TO WORK YOUR WAY IN AND GIVE YOURSELF THE BEST ANGLE.
THE BIGGEST THING I ASK YOU TO DO IS EDUCATE PEOPLE THAT CONSTRUCTION IS NOT THE ONLY PERSON IN THE FIELD.
THEY PLAY A BIG ROLE, BUT THERE'S AN ARMY BEHIND THEM IN THE OFFICE THAT ACTUALLY SAYS HOW THAT BUILDING IS GOING TO LOOK AND HOW IT IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT EVERY DAY.
THERE IS A BIG JOB MARKET FOR YOU IN CONSTRUCTION, AND IT RELIES ON EDUCATION AND EXPOSURE.
>> INTERESTINGLY, JOHN, IN RELATION TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I HAVE A GRANDSON IN LAW THAT GRADUATED IN 2017 WITH A BACHELORÂS IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.
THAT'S A RELATIVELY NEW FIELD.
IT COULD BE OLD IN TERMS OF DEGREES, BUT FROM MY KNOWLEDGE OF IT, IT'S RELATIVELY NEW.
I ASKED WHY DID YOU PURSUE THIS DEGREE.
IT REALLY PREPARED HIM WELL FINANCIALLY TOO.
THE FIRST YEAR THEY MARRIED, THEY BUILT A HOUSE.
THAT TELLS ME THEY MUST BE DOING WELL FINANCIALLY.
MY DAD HAD ME WORK CONSTRUCTION WITH HIM ONE SUMMER AND I NOTICED THE GUYS WERE TELLING US WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT HAD A PRETTY CUSHY JOB IN COMPARISON.
I LIKED CONSTRUCTION BUT I DON'T LIKE THIS PART, SO I ASKED WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND NOW HE HAS HIS DEGREE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT.
IT'S NOT JUST THOSE OUT CONSTRUCTING THE BUILDING BUT WHOLE TEAMS BEHIND THEM DOING, BEFORE THEY GET TO CONSTRUCT, DOING THE WORK NEEDED FOR THAT.
SOÂ >> LET ME ADD THIS DIANA JUST BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE.
THERE IS THIS SHOW ON NETFLIX.
THEY'RE GIVING OLD ENGLISH MANSION AND MAKING IT NEW.
IN THE FIRST EPISODE, THERE IS A YOUNG LADY WHO JUST GRADUATED COLLEGE AND SHE'S THE INTERN.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROJECT, THE SENIOR PERSON HAD TO MOVE ON AND MOVED ON TO ANOTHER PROJECT IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.
BUT THAT INTERN WAS NOW MANAGING THE WHOLE TEAM.
SHE WENT TO COLLEGE, DID HER INTERNSHIP, AND THEN BECAME THE MANAGER.
YOU HAD ALL THESE PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE IN ELECTRICITY AND FURNITURE AND BUILDING AND MOVING, BUT SHE HAD ALL THE EDUCATION ON HOW TO MOVE STUFF WITHOUT DAMAGING IT.
WHAT KIND OF CHEMICALS DO YOU USE THAT ARE GOING TO LAST, WHAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT.
SOME OF THESE IF YOU'RE CHANGING THE ENVIRONMENT THE STUFF WILL DETERIORATE.
AS YOUNG AS THE PERSON WAS, THEY HAD THE EDUCATION, SHE WAS MANAGING THIS TEAM OF PEOPLE WITH 15, 20, 30 YEARSÂ WORTH OF EXPERIENCE.
IT'S A CUSHY JOB BUT IMPACTFUL BECAUSE YOU CAN SAY BECAUSE OF MY INFLUENCE THIS BUILDING IS 20Â PERCENT MORE EFFICIENT.
BECAUSE OF MY INFLUENCE THAT BUILDING IS NOW EASY TO MAINTAIN OVER ITS LIFESPAN.
THAT IS THE POWER YOU HAVE TODAY AND THOSE ARE THE JOB I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE.
THEY PAY WELL AND WE MAY NOT ALWAYS NEED, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE USED TO, LIKE HAVING A CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY.
WE MAY GET TO THE POINT EVERYBODY IS USING A BORROW SYSTEM.
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A BUILDING TO LIVE IN.
YOU NEED HOSPITALS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
REMEMBER, WHEN THINGS WERE SHUT DOWN FOR COVID CONSTRUCTION IS ONE OF THE JOBS THAT SAID IT WAS NEEDED AND WE STAYED OPEN.
I'M APPRECIATIVE TO THAT BECAUSE IT'S ALLOWED ME TO CONTINUE WORKING.
GOOD PAY, HIGH IMPACT AND LONG TERM JOB SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH.
SHE'S GOT QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME IN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE QUESTIONS CAN BE ADDRESSED AND ANSWERED.
>> YES WE HAVE A TOTAL OF NINE FINE PARTICIPANTS IN AND OUT.
I WITH ANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALEJANDRO THAT GAVE US IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND
[01:05:03]
WANTS US TO CONTACT THE SUSTAINABILITY TEAM.CAME ON AND (INDISCERNIBLE) WANTS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AT (INDISCERNIBLE) WHICH IS REALLY COOL.
WHY SHOULD RACIAL IDENTITY BE A FACTOR IN (INDISCERNIBLE) ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE.
I WANT TO THROW THAT AT THE PANEL.
>> I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE.
SO, YOU KNOW, USE COVID AS AN EXAMPLE.
HISPANICS TEST HIGH FOR COVID, AND WHAT THEY FOUND OUT IS ONE OF THE KEY INDICATORS IS BECAUSE OUR LIVING PATTERNS AND HOW WE LIVE MIRRORS HOW ITALIANS LIVE.
GOT A LOT OF POSITIVE AND IN THIS CASE IT'S A NEGATIVE.
THERE VERY MUCH IS A CORRELATION BY CULTURE, RIGHT AND UNFORTUNATELY IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE IS A REASON WHY WE HAVEN'T MADE THE TRANSITION OF HISPANICS INTO THE OFFICE.
DON'T FOOL YOURSELF TO THINK HISPANICS ARE NOT SMART OR HAVE NOT GOTTEN EDUCATION OR ACCESS.
15 YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED THIS JOB, I WENT TO A CONSTRUCTION FIRM.
THERE WERE TWO RESTROOMS AND TWO REFRIGERATORS.
ONE SAID INSIDE WORKERS ONE SAID OUTSIDE.
OH, BECAUSE THE WORKERS COME IN MESSY AND THEY TRACK MUD AND STUFF.
MY THING WAS, OKAY, I'M LOOKING AT THE OFFICE.
INSIDE PEOPLE LOOK ONE WAY, WORKERS COME IN, THEY LOOK ANOTHER WAY.
SO THEY PUT MUD INSIDE THE REFRIGERATOR? NO THEY HAVE IT ON THEIR BOOTS SO WHY TWO REFRIGERATORS? THOSE SUBTLE TEAS OF HAVING SOMEBODY ASK, THE GUY WAS TALKING TO, HE WAS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY.
IT WAS FAMILY OWNED BUT HE CAME IN AS PRESIDENT.
HE CHANGED THAT THAT DAY AND WITHIN THREE YEARS, THEY GOT RID OF THE WHOLE INSIDE OUTSIDE RESTROOM THING.
IF YOU GO VISIT THE COMPANY TODAY, THEY'RE A PROFITABLE COMPANY THAT HAVE NUMEROUS AWARDS BECAUSE THEY DEALT WITH THE ISSUE THAT WAS THERE THAT ALL THEY DID WAS LABEL IT.
I'M GOING TO BE FRANK WITH YOU, IT WAS WHITE AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE INVENTING THAT IS THERE AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
I'LL TELL YOU LIKE RAMON SAID, I GO TO GROUPS NATIONALLY THAT I'M INVOLVED WITH AND PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND I'M LITERALLY THE ONLY NON-WHITE MALE IN THE GROUP.
THE ONLY TIME I SEEN AN AFRICAN AMERICAN GUY, I WAS HAPPY TO HAVE DIVERSITY AND HE HAD A BRIEFCASE WITH ONE OF THOSE THINGS THEY TIE ON THE WRITES.
RACE SHOULDN'T HAVE IT, BUT IT DOES.
I THINK THIS IS SYSTEMIC RACISM Y'ALL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE ORGANIZATIONS TO SEE IF THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE BREAKING THAT OR TYING IT IN.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR MIRIAM.
SHE'S ASKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO AT HOME TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE AND I THINK THE TYPE OF ACTIVITIES THAT MIRIAM LED AT THE GREEN CLUB COULD HELP WITH THAT QUESTION.
I'LL ASK THE PANELISTS TO BE SHORT SO WE CAN FINISH ON TIME.
>> I MEAN, AS FAR AS WHAT SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES YOU CAN DO AT HOME, IT CAN BE WHAT YOU EAT FOR A SNACK.
I WAS GOING TO TAP ON THIS LATER.
OUR FIRST EVENT LAST FALL, INSTEAD OF SAYING CHIPS OR HAVING PIZZA, I THOUGHT OF THE IDEA, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE OF YOU KNOW LIKE CUT UP FRUIT WITH LIME AND TAJIN.
WE CALL IS (INDISCERNIBLE) THAT'S VERY HEALTHY SNACK TO EAT NOW ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S HOT.
OR EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THAT ROUTE, JUST COOKING YOUR OWN FOOD, THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE ACTIVITY WE DID.
WE REUSED PIZZA BOXES AND MADE SOLAR OVENS, HEATED UP OUR PIZZAS, MADE SOME MORES, HAD HOT CHOCOLATE.
[01:10:02]
THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO CHANGE LITTLE HABITS YOU HAVE AND CHANGE THEM INTO SOMETHING SUSTAINABLE.WE DID GARDENS, SCRUBS FOR DECEMBER GIFTS.
YOU CAN GOOGLE IT REAL QUICK AND THINK OF WAYS TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AND HELP YOU HELP YOUR BODY, YOUR FAMILY, HELP YOUR COMMUNITY.
ORIANA, YOU BEEN GETTING QUESTIONS FROM PROFESSOR MURALI -- BIOLOGY AND HOW THESE LESSON PLANS CAN BE ENHANCED WITH SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES THAT YOU HAVE.
AND ACTUALLY PROFESSOR FROM BROOKHAVEN WANTS TO SEE HOW SHE CAN RELATE TO SUSTAINABILITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS.
IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THAT QUESTION FROM PROFESSOR.
>> BASICALLY RIGHT NOW SINCE WE'RE ONLINE, WE CAN ADDRESS ONLINE ACTIVITIES AND AS MIRIAM SAID ALSO BE SUSTAINABLE AT HOME OR AT MAKE OUR LIFE MORE SUSTAINABLE.
EAT HEALTHY, GROWING FOOD AT HOME WHICH IS PRETTY POSSIBLE EVEN IF YOU LIVE IN APARTMENT YOU CAN GROW BASIL OR MINT, ANY OTHER TYPE OF VEGETABLE.
YOU SAID THAT IF IT'S GOOD OR WE CAN FOCUS GREEN LIVING WORK CONSERVATION URBAN AGRICULTURE IN OUR CAMPUS, I MAY SAY IT'S BETTER TO INCLUDE ALL OF THEM BECAUSE IF WE SECTION AND SECTION ALL THE ACDS, WE CAN (INDISCERNIBLE) MAYBE IT COULD BE, I CAN SAY IT'S EASIER TO DO (INDISCERNIBLE) BROOKHAVEN HAS HUGE GARDEN, WE HAVE THE GARDEN AND THE WETLANDS.
IT COULD BE GREAT IDEA TO GROW OUR OWN FOOD FOR THE FOOD PANTRY.
HOWEVER WE CAN STAY IMPLEMENTING WATER CONSERVATION AND DOING CURRENT CLEAN LIVING THERE.
>> I HAVE CAROL FROM BOSTON ALL THE WAY FROM BOSTON SAYING SHE'S A CAUCASIAN WOMAN INTERESTED IN INCORPORATING EVENT THAT'S ARE ATTRACTIVE TO OTHER DIVERSE CULTURES AND RACES.
I'M GOING TO ANSWER THAT ONE BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MIRIAM DID.
HER, I THINK HER EVENT WAS CALLED NO SIESTA COME FIESTA.
IT WASÂ THAT ARE TYPICAL MEXICAN HERE IN TEXAS WE HAVE A LOT OF TEX-MEX.
THAT WAS A WAY OF EXPOSING THEM.
WE WORK WITH TEXAS A AND M AND HER NAME IS KELLYÂ I'M, OKAY, KELLY AND BEN, I CAN SEND THAT TO YOU.
THEY HAVE IN ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF SUSTAINABILITY AWARENESS, THEY ALWAYS HAVE, THEY LOOK AT IT AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP OF STUDENTS.
SO THEY WILL DO SOMETHING MAYBE FROM ASIA PEOPLE THAT ARE MORE LATINO OR HISPANIC.
EUROPEAN, THEY'RE VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT.
CAROL THAT IS A RESOURCE I CAN SEND TO YOU.
I'LL PUT MY E MAIL ON THE CHAT.
I DID WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MARK TALKING ABOUT SOCIETY OF SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONS, ISSP.
IT'S ON THE QUESTIONS AND THEY HAVE INCREDIBLE RESOURCES TO EDUCATE, INFORM.
THEY'RE AN INCREDIBLE ASSOCIATION.
AND I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT JUDY WHO IS SAYING THERE IS A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOBS IN DALLAS.
I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONNECTION TO THE STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN FORMING SUSTAINABILITY AND WANT TO WORK IN SUSTAINABILITY.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS, AND I'LL CONTINUE TO ANSWER VIA CHAT.
I'LL HAND IT OVER AGAIN TO THE MODERATOR CHAIR FLORES TO DO CLOSING STATEMENTS.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK OUR PANELISTS AND DR. BOCCALANDRO.
I WANT TO THANK THE BACKGROUND SUPPORT.
THEY'RE NOT VISIBLE BUT WE HAVE SOME STUFF AND CERTAINLY TECH PEOPLE THAT HELPED TO PUT THE WEBINAR ON.
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA OR BEHIND THE SCENES.
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO JOINED US, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE INTEREST IN THE IMPORTANT AREA.
ALL THE DROPS TOGETHER CAN CAUSE A HUGE FLOOD.
[01:15:03]
WE NEED TO FLOOD IN SOME AREAS.SUSTAINABILITY IS KERNEL ONE OF THEM.
LOOK AT THE GOALS AND FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR NICHE AND MAKE YOUR MARK.
WE NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT TOGETHER.
WE HOPE YOU FOLLOW DALLAS COLLEGE IN OUR DIFFERENT SOCIAL MEDIA FORMAT.
THE TEAM IS ALWAYS PUTTING OUT INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALSO THE WEBSITE.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SIGN UP TO THE ACCOUNTS AND LET'S CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND ITS MANY FACET.
ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU AND LET'S TAKE ACTION.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.