Coalition for Environmental Activists

Carissa Shoemaker ’14 and Stephanie Porter ’14 organized "A More Sustainable Grinnell" this December. It's aim, they said, was to bring “order, cooperation, and cohesion to the environmental groups on campus” through a discussion of current sustainability practices on campus, as well as institutional and individual goals.

The conference also marked the beginning of the Coalition of Environmental Activists, an organization that seeks to provide a space where groups and interested individuals can come together to support each other and leverage resources to make the College a leader in sustainability."

Faculty attendees included:

• Jon Andelson ’70, anthropology, director of the Center for Prairie Studies
• Doug Caulkins, anthropology
• Liz Queathem, biology, co-chair of the Sustainability Planning Committee

Staff attendees included:

• Chris Bair ’97, campus sustainability coordinator and co-chair of the Sustainability Planning Committee
• Rob Cabelli, associate chaplain and rabbi
• Sue Kolbe, biology, Poweshiek CARES
• Angela Winburn, dean's office, local farmer
• Elizabeth Hill, manager of the Conard Environmental Research Center

The official and unofficial student groups represented included:

• Advancing Animal Compassion Together
• Busy Beekeeping Club
• EcoHouse (a project house)
• Food for Thought
• Food Recovery Network
• Freegan Coop
• Grinnell Local Foods Coop
• IOWATER
• One Struggle
• Oxfam America Club
• Student Environmental Committee
• Student Garden
• Student Outdoor Workforce
• Vegan Coop
• Zero Waste Campaign

Other groups included the Social Entrepreneurs of Grinnell—a local nonprofit microfinance group founded by students—and Imagine Grinnell, which works to improve options for environmentally responsible living.

Snacks were provided potluck-style by participating groups.

The coalition seeks to provide a space where groups can come together to support each other and leverage resources to make the College a leader in sustainability.