Composting 101
Wednesday, September 23
Does the idea of composting intimidate or disgust you? Fear not! Let Turn teach you the basics of how to create your own compost at home using organic waste from inside and outside your urban space. You will get an overview of soil biology, compost methodologies and techniques, and tips on usage and application in your home landscape.
Presenter:
Lauren Clarke is the founder and CEO of Turn (turncompost.com). Lauren has degrees in violin performance from the University of North Texas, strategic communications from Columbia University and culinary arts from El Centro College. She has a broad background in marketing and strategy, doing work for large and small companies. Lauren is a certified Master Gardener with Texas A&M AgriLife (class of 2013) and a certified composting specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife. She is educated as a compost facility operator with the U.S. Composting Council, and she is also a Certified Culinarian with the American Culinary Federation. She is supremely grateful for her husband, two children, backyard chickens and edible yard.
Transcript and video coming soon!
Natural Pest Management: From Squirrels to Squash Vine Borers
Tuesday, September 15
Have you ever planted a garden, watched it bloom, then discovered it half-eaten and withering on the vine? Dr. Kara Casy and Darciea Houston are back for a second webinar by popular demand. Join us as they share tips for managing pests in the garden, preventing disease and creating a holistically healthy garden that will thrive instead of merely survive.
Presenters:
Dr. Kara Casy is the director of urban agriculture and renewable resources at Dallas College El Centro Campus. Darciea Houston is a holistic health and wellness professional.
Transcript and video coming soon!
Finishing the Race: Sustainability for the Self
Wednesday, September 9
We are learning to care for our environment by recycling and managing our resources; we encourage others to follow. But what are you doing for your own sustainability? Each day we are faced with stress, negativity and problems that are too big for us to solve alone. Come learn ways we can increase our personal sustainability by using nature, self-care and available resources to increase our ability to finish the race in the best position possible.
Presenter:
Karen Cuttill has worked at Dallas College Richland Campus since 2005, helping students overcome challenges so they are successful in their educational goals.
She is highly engaged on her home campus as well as actively involved in promoting mental health and wellness across Dallas College. She is often asked to speak on stress management, positivity and mental well-being. She is passionate about the benefits of community college, building sustainable communities and the environment.
Transcript and video coming soon!
How To Talk To the "Other Side"
Wednesday, July 29
Presenter: Kevin Wilhelm, author of a new book by the same name
America is as divided as ever, and with each “side" becoming more entrenched in their own views, nothing is getting done. Sustainability business consultant and author Kevin Wilhelm has developed a much-needed toolkit that provides both hope and practical strategies for finding common ground and win-win solutions for people who deeply disagree with you. His book will equip Americans to address our nation's largest public health, economic and environmental challenges.
Watch the How To Talk To the "Other Side" webinar video
Oh the Veggies You'll Grow! What To Plant Now in Dallas
Tuesday, July 14
Presenters: Dr. Kara Casy, Director of Urban Agriculture at El Cento and Darciea Houston, nutrition and wellness consultant.
Looking to improve your health while growing fruits and vegetables? We can show you how to garden in your window, on your porch or balcony, or in your back yard.
Join us for tips on growing your own healthy fruits and vegetables at home, on a budget! Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned gardener, with a little inspiration you'll be well on your way to improving your health, while saving money.
Review the Q&A forum on What to Grow Now
Managing for Sustainability
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
by Dr. Gemmy Allen, Dallas College faculty member
Organizations are powerful entities. Though they have the potential to harm in the pursuit of profit, they have just as much potential to do good. This good is referred to as corporate social responsibility (CSR) or sustainability. McKinsey & Company defines sustainability as "the management of environmental, social and governance issues." Thus, a company's CSR efforts are measured by three pillars of sustainability: environmental, sociocultural and economic.
Sustainable practices are defined as those that:
- at minimum do not harm people or the planet and at best create value for stakeholders and
- focus on improving environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance in the areas in which the company or brand has a material environmental or social impact (such as in their operations, value chain or customers). Harvard Business Review excludes companies with a traditional CSR program that supports employee volunteering in the community — this does not by itself qualify as sustainability.
Although many organizations are embracing sustainability efforts to one degree or another, getting employees to back these efforts has presented more of a challenge.
How can employees be motivated to choose to improve sustainability performance?
About Dr. Gemmy Allen
Gemmy S. Allen is a faculty member and coordinator of the Management and Business Administration program at Dallas College North Lake Campus. Her bachelor's and master's degrees are in business administration, and her Doctor of Education degree is in leadership (Ed.D.) from Lamar University. Her awards include being named Outstanding Mountain View College Faculty Member and receiving the Golden Oak Award, Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce; the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence in Teaching Award at Mountain View College and North Lake College; the award for Mountain View College Innovator of the Year; and member of Innovation of the Year at North Lake College, Cedar Valley College, LeCroy Center and District Office.
She is the co-author of the textbook "Management: Meeting and Exceeding Customer Expectations," now in its 11th edition. In addition, she has co-authored several discipline-specific, internet-related books and has developed several online classes.
Watch the Managing for Sustainability webinar video.
View the transcript for the Managing for Sustainability video. (DOC - 75KB)
Invasion of the Ecosystem Snatchers!
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
by Brie Day, Dallas College biology professor
What can you do to protect our native species and habitats? Join us as we learn why the invasion of exotic species in the United States such as Asian Tiger mosquitos, garlic mustard, cowbirds, Zebra mussels and European starlings is one of the greatest threats to ecosystem biodiversity and sustainability. We'll also explore how human activities help exotic species. This free webinar is part of the Sustainable U Lunch and Learn series produced by Dallas College and EarthX.
About Brie Day
Brie Day has a passion for projects that help our environment and educate students and the community about science and sustainability. Brie has taught full time at the community college level for more than 18 years, teaching more than 28 courses in the environmental and biological sciences. She currently teaches in the areas of general and environmental biology at the Eastfield campus in Mesquite, where her curriculum focuses on project-based, hands-on education, both in the lab and in the field at Samuell Farm.
Brie recently won the Eastfield College "Excellence in Teaching – Piper Professor Faculty of the Year" award. Throughout her career in higher education, Brie has worked to build K-12, university and industry partnerships for educational initiatives in the biological and environmental sciences.
Brie's education includes the completion of three years toward a doctorate (achieving ABD status) in environmental and natural resources science: evolutionary molecular genetics of salmonids from Washington State University, Vancouver. She also holds a master's degree in biological sciences: conservation biology/invasion ecology from Illinois State University and a bachelor's degree in biological sciences: ecology/evolutionary biology/behavior from the University of Maryland at College Park.
View the Invasion of the Ecosystem Snatchers webinar.
Print the Invasion of the Ecosystem Snatchers handout transcript.
Foodscaping: Grow Your Own Food in Your Front Yard
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Free webinar by Dr. Kara Casy, Dallas College
Learn how to grow fresh fruits and vegetables in your front yard (or back yard) through our first Lunch and Learn webinar. See several examples of how to switch out coleus for kale and begonias for beets in any space you have available while achieving a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing design and abiding by city codes. Please visit the registration link below to participate in this event.
View the Foodscaping webinar.
View the Foodscaping webinar handout (DOC - 2.75MB).