Whether it’s a hole in your jeans or an accessory that needs sprucing up, there is a lot that a needle, thread, and some concentrated effort can accomplish. Although it may be seen as “old fashioned”, mending and other fiber arts are essential in extending the use of our already limited resources and being mindful of our consumption. Mending, as … Read More
Carnivals have been speckled across campus over the past few years, but have you ever attended one centered on the climate crisis? Carnival Built in H&!! brings together collective learning, sustainability initiatives, food, and joy into a space that gamifies mutual aid values. Such values include building long-term community relationships, redirecting resources and services within community, and creating a network … Read More
I tend to think of myself as someone who’s in-the-know when it comes to sustainability efforts going on across U-M, but one project I had, up until recently, not known much about is the effort to pilot returnables shelves on landfill bins. I had seen the shelves popping up in a few different locations across Central Campus and wanted to … Read More
Wondering what students from across campus did this summer to advance sustainability efforts at U-M and beyond? Check out Part 2 of our Summer Internship Spotlights below featuring the work of 6 students in support of our collective mission to transition to a more just and sustainable future. Here’s Part 1, if you missed it! Name: Pradip Shrestha Year/major at … Read More
Wondering what students from across campus did this summer to advance sustainability efforts at U-M and beyond? Check out Part 1 of our Summer Internship Spotlights below featuring the work of 6 students in support of our collective mission to transition to a more just and sustainable future. Name: Kenzie Nitz Year/major at U-M: Senior / Organizational Studies (M) & … Read More
Sitting in a corner booth of the McDonald’s, I watched as two of my male classmates picked up my backpack, unzipped the side pockets, and threw 10 of my purple pads on the black and white-checkered floor. They laughed for so long and so loudly that the other customers stared, and I sat hugging my arms to my side and … Read More
Food can really be quite magical. Throughout our lives, we might have memories of making a specific dish with a close family member, growing certain ingredients ourselves, sharing a home cooked meal with friends, or learning special recipes that have been passed down through generations. Food is something that can be cherished, enjoyed, and shared with those we love! We … Read More
“In some Native languages, the term for plants translates to ‘those who take care of us.’” Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants Izhi-Minoging Mashkikiwan, or “Place Where Medicines Grow Well,” is the Anishinaabemowin name of a healing garden inspired by the traditional Ojibwe Medicine Wheel. The garden belongs to the Cheboiganing Burt … Read More
A student-led project that recently received grant funding from the Planet Blue Student Initiative Fund aims to decrease the financial and environmental burden of menstruation by making reusable menstrual products free at the Maize and Blue Cupboard and University Health Services. The project leads were inspired to apply for this funding because the average person who menstruates will throw away … Read More
Two sustainability-focused student programs at the University of Michigan, the Student Sustainability Coalition (SSC) and the Planet Blue Student Leaders (PBSL), participated in a virtual “Shark Tank” style event called Pitching In Together in April of 2021. Over the academic year, the PBSLs piloted creative environmental behavior-change campaigns with students across campus, and at this event, SSC heard pitches from … Read More
