Acts of joy and persistence at Climate Week’s EarthFest

Climate Week blog posts were written by students from the University of Michigan. They have not been edited by the U-M Communications team.

Nearly fifty organizations set up camp at EarthFest on the Diag midday on Wednesday, October 2nd. Uniting these groups together was the message and promotion of environmental justice and sustainability. Other common themes were noticed throughout this event. From a bicycling club to a nature center to the U-M Custodial and Grounds Services, joy and persistence governed how each group navigated through their mission of sustainability. It was evident in their animated faces and bright smiles, talking to U-M students, staff, and faculty as well as some high school students visiting EarthFest while on a class field trip.

To many of us, environmental justice and sustainability does not seem extreme. We may light up when speaking about finding a hidden cove in Nichols Arboretum with the sweetest smells of pine. Or when telling friends about a new consignment store in the area. Or even when inviting community members to a local protest to object to a new policy or budget put forth by state representatives. To be conscious of our effect on the Earth seems second nature. But to some, fighting for our parks service, renewable energy, or clean water is not a priority. So how do we get people to understand that the Earth is worth fighting for?

It was apparent at EarthFest, that the organizers and tablers were not only there to promote sustainability but to bring excitement and joy to the cause. Maybe that–joy–is it.

The question for group members at EarthFest was simple: “What excites you about your organization and how it promotes environmental justice and sustainability?” Across groups and diverse people, similar responses were documented. From Detroit Sustainability Clinic, a partner with the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), research associate Lyric Patterson says, “I’m excited to analyze 25 years of Detroit-based capstones…to summarize key challenges…to see what our capacity is and how we can improve to better support the local experts and organizations.” Like Patterson’s emphasis on improvement, student Nicholas Shiland had this to say about the Wolverines on Wheels (WoW) bike club: “It’s an easy way to get people on bikes. We help people get around without using a car, repair their bikes, or recycle their bikes.”

Everyone wanted to do better. However that had to happen. Through excitement and persistence.

Heather King who works with Student Life Sustainability, shared why they were at EarthFest presenting their recent project: JoyMapping. King says, “In the face of climate anxiety, we are hoping to promote a more resilient community through spreading experiences of joy on and around campus.” At the Student Life Sustainability table, participants were able to share how they felt about climate change by writing some thoughts on a sticky note and placing it on a poster board for others to see. The responses were mainly unpleasant emotions, like anxiety, sadness, or anger. What are we to do about that? Instead of lingering in the stress of climate change, we should instead spread joy just as King suggests. JoyMapping is a project that aims “to provide proof of positivity, promote future joyful experiences, and address climate anxiety”. The project does this by compiling onto an online ArcGIS map submissions from U-M students and community members that includes a pinpoint of a location on or near U-M campus, a reason it brought joy, a description on this joy, and an optional photo or audio file to help describe the experience.

Once again, we are reminded through joy that we can and we will do whatever is necessary to take action against climate change and to advance environmental justice and sustainability.

Though this was only the first ever Climate Week U-M has organized, the participation and persistence of all made it seem like the week full of environmental justice themed events had been around for decades.