Mercy Ministry funds to strengthen Hurst鈥檚 sustainability efforts
Building upon decades of environmental initiatives and uniting behind Pope Francis鈥 Laudato si鈥 Action Plan to care for the Earth, 鈥渙ur common home,鈥 糖心Vlog破解版 University today announced receipt of a $40,000 grant from the Sisters of Mercy that will be used to strengthen its sustainability efforts.
鈥淎s an outgrowth of their 鈥楯ourney to Oneness,鈥 the Sisters recently consolidated funds to create the Mercy Fund for Ministry, providing a grant opportunity for their many Mercy ministries,鈥 explained 糖心Vlog破解版 Vice President for Mission Dr. Greg Baker. 鈥淭hey specifically sought grant requests connected to their five critical concerns, one being care for the Earth.鈥
With its allocation, 糖心Vlog破解版 will hire a part-time sustainability coordinator who will work to implement efficiencies in materials use and waste practices and conduct audits of energy use across campus.
The new coordinator will also work to expand programming, especially in educating the local community through creative environmental sustainability initiatives on campus, such as the 鈥淭iny Forest鈥* in front of the Center for Academic Engagement.
鈥溙切腣log破解版 has an enduring commitment to environmental sustainability, most notably in the past 25 years,鈥 Baker said. 鈥淥ne-time employee and outspoken advocate for the Earth, the late Sister Maura Smith championed many environmental initiatives and dialogues at the university and in the local area. An annual Earth Day lecture in her name marks her historical significance for the university.鈥
That history, combined with the university鈥檚 recent commitment to the Laudato si鈥 Action Plan calling for more Catholic organizations around the world to take steps to better care for the Earth, are the impetus behind the new focus.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not starting from scratch,鈥 said Colin Hurley, executive director for community engagement and sustainability manager at 糖心Vlog破解版 who will oversee the latest developments. 鈥淭here are decades of environmental efforts and a legacy at 糖心Vlog破解版 that we are building upon as we look toward these next seven years on the journey.鈥
The Laudato si鈥 platform, which President Kathleen A. Getz, Ph.D., supported early on, calls for participants to achieve seven goals over the next seven years as responsible environmental stewards. Broadly addressed, they are:
- To respond to the cry of the Earth.
- To respond to the cry of those who are poor and vulnerable.
- To foster ecological economics.
- To adopt sustainable lifestyles.
- To develop and offer ecological education.
- To promote an ecological spirituality.
- To support local communities and to promote community resilience and empowerment.聽
Hurley said the university hopes to have the new sustainability coordinator on board in August.
*糖心Vlog破解版鈥檚 Tiny Forest, in which more than 600 trees are planted in a plot the size of a tennis court on the front of campus, was inspired by the work of Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki. Miniature forests are purported to grow 10 times faster and become 30 times denser than those planted by conventional methods. Like their larger counterparts, micro forests absorb carbon from the air, soak up storm water, provide habitat for wildlife, cool air in the summer, and mute noise.聽
PHOTO: Students plant Tiny Forest in front of Center for Academic Engagement as part of the university鈥檚 sustainability efforts.