Welcome UIW students!
Earth Month at UIW is designed to build up to Earth Day, raising awareness among students and faculty by encouraging them to take action. Earth Day originated in 1970, riding the crest of the wave of student protests and the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s to becoming the single largest protest in American history. Since then, the emergent environmental justice movement has advocated for the protection of environmental degradation for all people regardless of gender, class, race, nationality or ability. The message is clear that environmental justice is social justice and racial justice. Earth Day has since become a global phenomenon that annually inspires millions of people around the world. The impetus behind such an event as Earth Day is to spread the message that every day is Earth Day.
2023 Calendar of Events
Tuesday, April 11
The Service Learning and Engaged Scholarship Showcase
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Posters on display in the Mezzanine by the Student Engagement Center Ballroom.
9 - 11:55 a.m. Presentations in SEC 2040 (and virtually via Zoom Meeting ID: 975 3776 3904 Passcode: service)
- Keynotes: Dr. Laura Cannon, Associate Professor of History, and Social Justice and Peace Concentration Chair, led student researchers Jude Drouillard, Oliver Soliz, and Andrew Perkins in research in the Incarnate Word Sisters Archives. This was a grant program Humanities Research for the Public Good, a part of the Council of Independent Colleges “Connecting Independent Colleges with Their Communities through Undergraduate Research.” Donna Guerra, Archivist, Dr. Arturo Chavez, and Sister Martha Ann Kirk, Th.D., were also part of the grant team.
- Sister Mary Lou Rodriguez, CCVI, conversation on Earth Justice.
- Dr. Ben Miele, Sustainability Studies Coordinator, will introduce Engineering students Jorge Arreola, Julian Garcia, and Desiray Rodriguez and their faculty mentors Daniel Potter and Okan Çağlayan, Ph.D. These students will share on their capstone “Project Helios: Development of an Off-Grid Solar Powered Outdoor Workspace” which will soon be ready for students to use.
- Food Deserts and Grocery Accessibility: Time for Community Empowerment through Urban Farming - Dr. Leslie Martinez, Psychology, and students
Dine with the Angels
Noon - 1 p.m. in the Bonilla Science Hall, Room 318
Guatemala Solidarity Dinner and ongoing education on the “Little Angels of Mary.” In a fertile area, 69% of the indigenous children are still malnourished. Former UIW students have started a nonprofit to improve nutrition and literacy.
See the “Little Angels” and UIW students seeking to help them.
Register to learn more and/or participate in the dinner.
Tuesday, April 18
William Mulcahy Award for Ecological Stewardship Ceremony
4:15 p.m. in the Watson Auditorium of the Mabee Library
Join us as we recognize the recipients of the William Mulcahy Awards for Ecological Stewardship. UIW receives its award for being certified as a Green Business by the City of San Antonio.
Email Dr Benjamin Miele to learn more.
Lecture by UIW alumnus, Josh Rangel
4:30 p.m. in the Watson Auditorium of the Mabee Library
A graduate of UIW, Josh Rangel is the first Latino owner of a wind-turbine production and installation business in Texas. He graduated with a degree from HEBSBA, and his work would be of great interest to UIW students in a variety of disciplines.
This is during "American Clean Power Week" leading up to Earth Day.
Email Dr Benjamin Miele to learn more.
Student Sustainability Showcase
5 p.m. at Confluence Park, 310 W. Mitchell Street, San Antonio, TX
Student sustainability projects from K-12 schools in the San Antonio region will present their innovative work at the 5th Annual Student Sustainability Showcase, hosted by EcoRise and the National Wildlife Federation. This year, UIW student Brigitte Babin worked closely with peers and students at Advanced Learning Academy to apply for an EcoRise Sustainability Grant. The students were awarded the grant in March, and will present their work on April 18.
Questions: Call Elizabeth (EcoRise) (281) 216-2116 or Karen (NWF) (210) 557-6795
Wednesday, April 19
9th Annual UIW Earth Fair
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the West Gate Circle
The UIW Earth Fair is a chance explore and support practices, organizations and local businesses that raise awareness for environmental and ecological stewardship. Held at the UIW West Gate Circle we will also host educational booths from participating departments.
Earth Month Opening Tribute: Sacred Fantasy Spoken Word
Noon at the West Gate Circle
Enjoy an opening tribute to Earth Month with a soul -filled integrity spoken word poem from freeform creator with a heart of gold and a quill of steel, Sacred Fantasy.
Native American leader Gary Perez, Keynotes the Interfaith Care of Creation Gathering with Baha’I, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist Friends
12:15 p.m. at the West Gate Circle
Our Catholic leader, Pope Francis has emphasized how important care of creation is. This year UIW has had series of events with people of diverse faiths considering care of the creation.
The Nutrition and Health Behavior class led by Dr. Heather Frazier will share a taste of traditional Native Americans foods and some information on traditional food practices.
Gary Perez, a Native American Leader and former Headwaters at Incarnate Word Board member, will share wisdom from indigenous people near the Headwaters at Incarnate Word where indigenous peoples have been for over 12,000 years.
Register for the event. Serve building bridges between faiths and cultures for the good of the earth
Wednesday April,19 - Friday April, 21
UTRGV Food Summit 2023
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will be hosting a hybrid food summit from Wednesday April 19 through Friday April 21.
There will be panels including academics, city and county officials, institutional decision-makers, and community thought-leaders.
Email Mackenzie Feldman to learn more.