Sunrise Brown at Brown University expands Earth Day into a month of activities focused on environmental justice and inclusivity.
This April, the Sunrise Brown group at Brown University is organizing a series of events as part of “Reclaim Earth Month,” an initiative that extends Earth Day celebrations into a month-long programming effort aimed at promoting environmental justice. This effort includes a diverse range of activities designed to engage various student groups, as reported by The Brown Daily Herald.
Originally, Sunrise Brown had planned a week of Earth Day events in the previous spring, which was ultimately canceled to support an encampment on the Main Green advocating for the university’s divestment from Israel. The shift to a month of activities comes with the intent to prioritize inclusivity and a broader understanding of environmental issues.
Emma Blankstein, a co-hub coordinator with Sunrise Brown, noted in an email to The Herald that Earth Day has drifted from its original focus on nature conservation and environmental issues, primarily influenced by corporate involvement that often obscures real environmental justice concerns. She emphasized that past Earth Day efforts on college campuses were predominantly led by white students, prompting Sunrise Brown to seek greater inclusivity and involvement from marginalized groups to expand the narrative around environmental futures.
Charlotte Calkins, also a co-hub coordinator, expressed that the initiative aims to broaden participation in environmental justice to include communities that may not have previously viewed the issue as relevant to their own work.
Last Tuesday, the organization collaborated with Stonewall House to host an event concerning the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ students in the context of environmental justice. Finn Tronnes, the communications co-lead for Sunrise, stated that partnerships with various student groups allow the initiative to link environmental justice themes with popular student interests in music and art, aiming to foster engagement through familiar channels.
Upcoming events include a workshop to repair old clothing hosted in collaboration with the Brown Design Workshop, an open mic night to support the Providence Student Union, and a screen printing event in partnership with Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere. To encourage attendance, Sunrise Brown has implemented a raffle system where participants earn tickets for each event they attend, creating incentives for greater involvement.
As a culmination of the month’s activities, Sunrise plans to release a zine focused on environmental justice. Tronnes mentioned that the zine will comprise material previously published in campus publications, but will be reframed to align with the group’s mission. This culminatory zine will be created during a zine folding night with Sol, the Latine student newspaper at Brown.
Through these diverse efforts, Sunrise Brown aims to enhance awareness and participation in environmental justice discussions among the broader student body.
Source: Noah Wire Services
