blackwater photo exhibit by zhang ’23 opens 4/21 @ the coe

 Longarm Octopus (larval), Macrotritopus defilippi, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines, December 2019. Photo by Lily Zhang ’23.

Music and environmental studies major Lily Zhang ‘23 is the winner of the 2023 Elizabeth Verveer Tishler Keyboard Competition here at Wesleyan. When she’s not playing the piano, Lily enjoys scuba diving and freediving and is an enthusiastic amateur blackwater photographer. The opening reception for her COE photo exhibit, A Blackwater Dive, will take place at the College of the Environment, 284 High Street, on Friday, April 21, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm.

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zitner ’23 presents “the garden festival”

The environmental studies (ENVS) linked major requires a senior capstone project (thesis, essay, performance, etc) on an environmental topic. English and environmental studies major Talia Zitner’s senior capstone project is The Garden Festival, an event that aims to make sustainability more accessible and exciting to the Wesleyan community, through a number of sustainable vendors, featured student organizations, and musical performances curated by The Shed Collective. The event will take place on Friday, April 21 from 3 to 10 pm in the backyard of Russell House. Learn more about Talia, and the event, below!

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pearl’s ocean filibuster explores human-ocean relationship

Katie Pearl watches a photo shoot for Ocean Filibuster, which will open at Wes on May 4.

Ocean Filibuster, a performance developed by Assistant Professor of Theater Katie Pearl, co-artistic director of the Obie-winning company PearlDamour, explores the complex relationship between humans and the ocean and centers around the debate between two fictional rivals, Mr. Majority and the Ocean, as they launch into a battle which will determine whether or not the Ocean will be abolished. The project draws together the work of scientists and creatives to generate a dynamic story which illuminates the urgency of our current environmental crisis. The Wesleyan performance of Ocean Filibuster will take place May 4-6 at the CFA.

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dancing with, and learning from, trees

Marcela Oteiza, associate professor of environmental studies and dance and chair of theater, has been involved with the Justice Dance Performance Project (JDPP) since 2011. Her latest collaboration with the group, In the Presence of Trees, is a four-part site-specific outdoor dance-theater performance series following the changing of the seasons while celebrating the wisdom and value of trees, especially in the urban forest. 

The series, which began in summer 2022 with a performance in Bushnell Park, in Hartford, CT, will come full circle on May 7, when the troupe returns to Bushnell Park to perform In the Presence of Trees: Spring, the fourth and final event of the series. Like previous series performances, the event will be free and open to the public.

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bryant terry provides food for thought

The COE hosted a sold-out Evening with Bryant Terry on March 29. Photos by Ken Wu ’23.

On Wednesday, March 29, the College of the Environment hosted “An Evening With Bryant Terry,” inviting members of the community to a cooking demo, dinner, Q&A, and book signing with Terry, a vegan chef, activist, author, and community-builder. The sold-out event was executed by Bon Appétit staff, headed by Michael Strumpf.

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ct food justice gathering

Versión en Español a Continuación

Dear CT Food Justice Gathering participants,

We are very excited to welcome you to Wesleyan on April 29th for the CT Food Justice Gathering! It will be a great chance to learn from important food justice leaders and organizers across the state.

A few important details:

  • The event will begin at Fayerweather – Beckham Hall (45 Wyllys Ave. Middletown, CT 06457). We will also be in this room for the panel discussion in the afternoon.
  • The workshops will be at Boger Hall (41 Wyllys Ave. Middletown, CT 06457). This building is a 2-minute walk from Beckham Hall.
  • All buildings are wheelchair accessible.
  • Parking is available in the parking lots across the street and next to Beckham Hall (Lot E). You can also use street parking.
  • There will be coffee, tea and pastries in the morning. We are also providing lunch.
  • After the gathering, from 4-4:30pm, we are offering a tour of Long Lane Farm (243 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06457). Long Lane Farm is approximately a 20-minute walk or 5-minute drive from Beckham Hall. 
  • Reminder: If you plan to attend the BLOC Organizer Training with the Katal Center, please fill out this separate registration form: https://forms.gle/nnAGRTGwn2MTNu3r7/

Overview of the day:
10:00 am – Welcome
10:45 am – Workshops (descriptions below)

  • BLOC Organizer Training (Katal Center)
  • Collective Values for an Equitable CT Food System (CT Food System Alliance)
  • Food Justice: Native Corn and Food Sovereignty (The Semilla Collective)
  • Understanding Food Oppression (Shanelle Morris, Grow Hartford)

12:00 pm – LUNCH
1:00 pm – Sustainable CT – Community Match Funds Presentation
1:30 pm – Panel Discussion
2:30 pm – Discussions at tables, related to panel discussion
3:15 pm – Closing  
4-4:30 — Long Lane Farm Tour (243 Long Ln, Middletown, CT 06457)

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Estimados participantes de la Reunión sobre justicia alimentaria en CT,

¡Estamos muy emocionados de darle la bienvenida a Wesleyan el 29 de abril para la Reunión Reunión sobre justicia alimentaria en CT! Será una gran oportunidad para aprender de importantes líderes y organizadores de la justicia alimentaria en todo el estado.

Algunos detalles importantes:

  • El evento comenzará en Fayerweather – Beckham Hall (45 Wyllys Ave. Middletown, CT 06457). También estaremos en esta sala para el panel de discusión de la tarde.
  • Los talleres serán en Boger Hall (41 Wyllys Ave. Middletown, CT 06457). Este edificio se encuentra a 2 minutos a pie de Beckham Hall.
  • Todos los edificios son accesibles en silla de ruedas.
  • Se puede aparcar en los aparcamientos situados al otro lado de la calle y junto a Beckham Hall (Lote E). También se puede aparcar en la calle.
  • Habrá café, té y bollería por la mañana. También estamos proporcionando el almuerzo.
  • Después de la reunión, de 16:00 a 16:30, ofrecemos una visita a Long Lane Farm (243 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06457). Long Lane Farm está a unos 20 minutos a pie o 5 minutos en coche de Beckham Hall.
  • Recordatorio: Si tiene previsto asistir a la Formación de Organizadores de BLOC con el Centro Katal, rellene este formulario de inscripción aparte – https://forms.gle/nnAGRTGwn2MTNu3r7/.

Resumen del día:
10:00 am  – Bienvenido
10:45 am – Talleres

  • Formación de organizadores de BLOC (Centro Katal)
  • Valores colectivos para un sistema alimentario comunitario equitativo (CT Food System Alliance)
  • Justicia alimentaria: Maíz nativo y soberanía alimentaria (Colectivo Semilla)
  • Comprender la opresión alimentaria (Shanelle Morris, Grow Hartford)

12:00  pm – ALMUERZO
1:00 pm – CT Sostenible – Presentación de los fondos comunitarios
1:30 pm – Mesa redonda
2:30 pm – Debates en las mesas, relacionados con la mesa redonda
3:15 pm – Cerrar
4-4:30 pm – Visita a la granja de Long Lane (243 Long Ln, Middletown, CT 06457)

¡Esperamos verte pronto!

Traducido por deepl. Disculpas por cualquier error.

Workshop Descriptions: 

Collective Values for an Equitable CT Food System: This workshop is an opportunity to explore how our values show up (or don’t) in our food system. We’ll identify our shared values with the goal of developing a vision for Connecticut’s food system to end hunger, support agriculture, and repair injustices of the current food system.

Understanding Food Oppression: This workshop will discuss the many forms of food oppression that exists, how it impacts youth and the community, and what we can do to resist food oppression both individually and collectively. 

BLOC Training – Methods of Social Change: People and groups use many methods to address community, social, and political problems and advance meaningful change. By understanding these methods and practices and how they differ from one another, we can be more effective and more constructive participants and leaders in collective efforts to build powerful movements and create systemic change. 

We summarize 11 methods of social change here, approaches that are not static or mutually exclusive. These are not the only types of social change, of course; we picked these as good representative examples from which to draw key lessons.   

Social Service
Business
Community Development 
Cultural Work
Education and Research
Electoral Engagement 
Faith-Based Organizing 
Impact Litigation or Strategic Litigation
Labor Organizing 
Activism and Advocacy 
Community Organizing 

The goals of this training are to learn 11 methods and practices of social change, discuss how these methods differ from one another and how conflict shapes the methods,  and understand what makes community organizing different from other methods.

Food Justice: Native Corn and Food Sovereignty: In this workshop we will discuss the importance of native corn and its relationship with indigenous food sovereignty as it also ties to the work the Tortillería Semilla Co-op is doing here in Connecticut.