SF State’s Climate HQ organizes Earth Week festivities for April 17 – 21
The University will celebrate its work on climate change and climate justice through media, art, yoga, food and more
- By Strategic Marketing and Communications
Earth Week 2023 runs from April 17 to 21, and members of the San Francisco State University community are gearing up to celebrate. Among the festivities planned for this year are a film festival, research conferences, free sustainably sourced food and more — all centered around celebrating, supporting and saving our planet.
Though various San Francisco State organizations have celebrated Earth Week in the past, this is the first year that many of these activities will fall under the new Climate Justice Leaders Initiative (CJLI) that is part of the University’s Climate HQ, a hub that promotes and supports climate-related activities at SF State. Launched last year, CJLI’s goal is to equip the University’s diverse student body to become leaders who center their work around equity through courses, community activities and campus events. Earth Week 2023 is the initiative’s inaugural event and the first large event under Climate HQ.
“There’s a cohesion now that there never was before, and we hope to keep growing it because I’m sure there are faculty who still don’t know this is happening and who are doing stuff independently in their classrooms,” said Climate HQ Annual Events Committee Chair Erica Pulley, a lecturer in the Department of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts. “Going forward, they can start to tap into Climate HQ’s resources.”
Pulley emphasizes that these events are largely driven by students. Many of her Climate HQ partners organizing Earth Week are students. They are also collaborating with the Associated Students Environmental Resource Center and the University’s Office of Sustainability.
“What we’re trying to do is bring a little more joy to this and celebrate all of SF State’s accomplishments and efforts [in climate change and climate justice] and really focus on the students’ efforts as well,” said Astrophysics master’s student Jessica Agnos, one of the student organizers working with Pulley.
The organizers emphasize that there are more events happening on campus beyond those being organized by Climate HQ. The group plans on helping promote other events happening across campus.
Among the Climate HQ events planned for Earth Week 2023:
Monday, April 17
Flea Market hosted by Environmental Resource Center (ERC)
Noon – 4 p.m., Jack Adams Hall
Earth Week Launch Party
6 – 9 p.m., The Depot
Free food from Alicia’s Tamales and discounts from the Pub
Tuesday, April 18
Student performances and music
Noon – 3 p.m., Malcolm X Plaza
Kabob Trolley food truck on Centennial Walkway
Student-led yoga hosted by ERC
11 a.m. – noon, Mashouf Wellness Center
Navigating our Environmental Anxiety
3:30 – 5 p.m., Richard Oakes Multicultural Center (ROMC) conference room in the Cesar Chavez Student Center
Wednesday, April 19
Love to Breathe, Save the Trees
11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Malcolm X Plaza
Musical performance by Audiopharmacy
Noon – 1 p.m., Malcolm X Plaza
Climate Symposium hosted by University’s Office of Sustainability
1 – 4:30 p.m., Library 121
Topics will include local action, art and activism, food sustainability and more
Thursday, April 20
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) Day
11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Malcolm X Plaza
Tables and exhibits from Search from Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), California Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and more
Earth Week Inaugural Film Festival
4 – 7 p.m., Coppola Theatre
Student films and a screening of season one of “The North Pole” followed by a Q&A with the show’s writer and executive producer Josh Healey and actor Donte Clark
Friday, April 21
From Polarization to Integration: A new vision of health, activism & cultural evolution
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Library 121