In March, I flew to Baltimore for four days for the Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference! It was a new experience, as the only other place I’d ever been to in Eastern US is New York City and it’s given me some new things to think about moving forward.
I had a layover in Chicago for about two hours. A few minutes in, and I already knew that the city was all business!
Arrived in Baltimore, got settled at the hotel and met up with on of my fellow Vancouverites/UBC Alum! He’s attending Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and we did a little exploring and ate some local specialties (seafood, lobster)! Baltimore is so much older than Vancouver and with so much history! For example, the Hopkins Medical/Public Health campuses were built in the poorer districts so that the students would learn to connect with their patients and show empathy to those who need care the most. At least, that’s what they tell me!
The conference itself was a blast, I met fellow campus leaders all over the US – there is truly a culture and community around creating meaningful sustainable changes. The highlight was talking literally, for hours, about Canada-US issues and food security, initiatives we all want to do on campus – it’s amazing how a single topic can bind so many people. Sometimes I feel in our generation, we’re all bounded by similar values when it comes to sustainability; and it’s usually reflected in all other parts of our lives as well.
Above all, I gained a lot of perspective.
[Majority of the room raises a hand in agreeance to the world being “in a bad place] Do you know how we got here? Shouldn’t we be sure how we got here to be sure that we’re really doing something to reverse it? – Lappé
The theme at this conference was about Sharing. One of keynote speakers was Frances Moore Lappé – who spoke strongly and passionately about food security and community, the eco-mind and empowerment. Focusing on scarcity drives people apart – and the core it is not true. We live in a world of abundance, but we lack connection and meaning. To share is to empower, to involve and to be accountable to ones around you.
And I agree with all these points – how much lighter do you feel when you live in a world of possibility? How much are you more willing to try something new, join a club, attend a concert or join a sports team if it is someone you care about that asks? You are held accountable to that first leap; your support strengthens your connection with others. I think there is something profoundly important and amazing about inviting others into a community. Through story-telling and sharing your experiences. Because you hold all the power, you choose to share, you can make a difference. It reminds me of a quote from Marianne Williamson:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?”
Who are you not to be?
Another epiphany I gained at this conference was a deep pride and appreciation for our initiatives at UBC and in Vancouver. We are so so so lucky to have so many people working towards a truly economically, environmentally and socially sustainable future. We are so lucky that our municipal government and university administration have supported these initiatives. We are so lucky that we are supported with the resources needed (money, power, the ability to reach into the unknown). Recycling, composting, learning with life, urban farming, emphasis on community building, organics, seasonal, local food practices – we’re leading north america on sustainability initiatives. Any topic that I encountered at the conference, I came to realize, was already being thought about in some form right here on our campus.
However, one improvement I do see lacking at UBC/Vancouver from the conference is the imperative to build a social norm, culture or community to drive social change. And by this, I mean that we certainly have it, but we don’t share or discuss it. Knowledge of how many students and staff and community members are working together to create a more beautiful campus – that is so powerful. It can incite pride, spirit, discussion – it can draw people into a community. It can create a culture. Community building is never easy; I’m not trying to oversimplify. But I think we must recognize that at the end of the day, we have so much opportunity as individuals to make a difference. Right now. In this moment.
That’s something we should never forget. That’s a feeling we should always hold onto.