This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Sustainable Living student-organized event known as EcoFair. In the past, the weekend-long gathering has focused on environmental themes such as Sustainable Agriculture, Green Building, Renewable Energy and Green Transportation. This year, the theme turns to the human heart of the Sustainability Movement – Sustainable Communities.
Held at the MUM Argiro Student Center over the weekend of April 30 – May 2, this year’s EcoFair features nationally and internationally known speakers, a day-long “Unconference,” the EcoJam fashion show, film screenings, live music, and vendors.
The EcoFair will begin on Friday, April 30th at 8pm with a Welcome ceremony and short speech by Sustainable Living faculty member John Collins, followed by a screening of the film “The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.”
On Saturday, May 1, the following featured speakers will present in Dalby Hall:
- 10:00am Michelle Wilson of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Conservation and Recreation division, will speak on “Getting Reconnected with Iowa’s Open Spaces.”
- 11:00am Mike Nicklas, world renowned architect and specialist in sustainable design for the built environment.
- 1:30pm Diana Leafe Christian, ecovillage organizer and author of Finding Community and Creating a Life Together
2:30pm Julie Mandarino, Ph.D: a long-time TM teacher and recently-retired psychology professor at Iowa Wesleyan College, will speak on “Building a Sustainable Human Community.”
- 3:30pm Mark Lakeman, founder of the City Repair Project and the Communitecture design firm in Portland, OR and Michael Cook, graduate of the Sustainable Living program at MUM, will present on “City Repair and the Power of Placemaking: Restoring the Village Heart in the Urban Grid”
Fairfield’s favorite eco fashion show, the EcoJam, will be held in the MSAE auditorium on Saturday evening at 8pm. This year’s local and student designers will focus on recycled materials and the event will be followed by a dance party with DJ Reevo.
On Sunday, May 2, EcoFair turns into an Unconference on the topic of “Creating Sustainable Communities Where We Live.” An Unconference is a highly interactive, self-organizing event where participants choose topics under the overarching theme and organize the discussion themselves. Proposed sessions thus far include: local economic development and community currencies, placemaking, eco-villages, free and alternative education for youth and adults, neighborhood developing and local food as a mode of community building.
For more information, see the MUM EcoFair website or email.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at Everybody’s and Revelations in Fairfield.
Read more about recent graduate Michael Cook’s journey from graduatation to becoming a guest speaker at this years EcoFair.
{ 1 comment }
a great film!!!
bad that I won´t be there:(
do you know about the Transition-Town movement?? a great example for creating sustainable communities!!
best wishes
hannes
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