Elise Amel
"Working to impact my networks and organizations!"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 525 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO1.0advocacy actioncompleted
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UP TO23locally sourced mealsconsumed
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UP TO4.0zero-waste mealsconsumed
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UP TO1.0documentarywatched
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UP TO1.0water collection systeminstalled
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UP TO30minutesspent outdoors
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UP TO1.0public official or leadercontacted
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UP TO130minutesspent learning
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UP TO128gallons of waterhave been saved
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UP TO2.0peoplehelped
Elise's actions
Waste
community clean-up & tracking
Engage at least one family member in a collective effort to eliminate debris from the watershed. Use Debris Tracker to add data to Mississippi watershed database.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Collect Rain Water
I will create a rain garden or bioswale or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty
I will watch 1 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Support Businesses Owned by People of Color
Racial inequity is both a sustainability and justice problem. I will support businesses owned by people of color in my community whenever I shop.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Buy From a Farmers Market
I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Help Others
I will offer to help 1 person(s) who are in need each day.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Advocate for More Food Options
I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work or on campus.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Advocating for Grant Support for Higher Ed Sustainability
Write to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change, Secretary John Kerry to request dedicated funding to foster climate regenerative changes in higher education.
Waste
Advocate For More Food Packaging Options
I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus to reduce pollution in the environment and in local communities.
Food
Locally-Sourced Meals
I will source 2 meal(s) each day from local producers.
Food
Zero-Waste Cooking
I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day
Transportation
Conduct Virtual Meetings
I will not travel for meetings and will instead conduct them virtually.
Transportation
Choose a Carbon Offset
If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.
Water
5-Minute Showers
I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers.
Water
Conserve Toilet Water
I will save up to 12 gallons (45 L) of water a day by flushing only when necessary.
Simplicity
Needs Vs. Wants
I will adopt a "Needs Vs. Wants" approach and only buy things I need.
Action Track: Building Resilience
Tend a Garden
I will tend to a garden, or prepare for one, each day using sustainable gardening practices.
Health
Learn About Local Environmental Justice Concerns
I will spend 60 minutes researching environmental justice and environmental racism concerns in my region, who is affected by them, and local initiatives to address these concerns.
Water
Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants
I will prevent water runoff and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.
Participant Feed
Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.
To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?
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Elise Amel 4/24/2021 12:48 PMToday my daughter and I participated in the St. Paul community clean-up. We tracked what we picked up using the Marine Debris Tracker: 207 items, 93% of which was plastic. Most found object was cigarette butts. I highly recommend using the Marine Debris Tracker to help NOAA better understand the waste around our watershed! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Building Resilience Collect Rain WaterTrace the water that flows down the drain from your house to the largest body of water nearby. What is the route it takes?
Elise Amel 4/23/2021 4:21 PMthe water that lands around my house goes to the storm drains which flow half a mile west, directly into the Mississippi. Everything it picks up in my yard makes its way to this river and some of it may even flow all the way to the Gulf of Mexico! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONSimplicity Needs Vs. WantsHow is creativity a necessary ingredient for practicing simplicity?
Elise Amel 4/22/2021 11:02 AMIt takes thinking about everyday choices differently. Humans are biased toward functional fixedness so it not only requires creativity but also mindfulness and significant effort...so it is exhausting. Because it is difficult, people should feel really accomplished after doing this!!!! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Building Resilience Watch a Documentary about Food SovereigntyHow does food sovereignty address the complex transition from localized food systems to modern global food systems?
Elise Amel 4/21/2021 6:35 AMI'm not sure I really understand this question, however, I've been thinking a lot lately about regenerative agriculture-- in addition to creating food abundance, these methods improve biodiversity, sequester carbon, and benefit the water cycle. I suspect that this approach can radically change much of the global food systems--although not the emissions from intercontinental trade. -
Elise Amel 4/20/2021 11:36 AMThe daily check-ins are helping me stay accountable to my goals. Although I'm yearning for food variety, I'm really going after the left-overs in the fridge to keep from wasting food! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONAction Track: Building Resilience Help OthersIn your opinion, how do social inequalities diminish a strong sense of community?
Elise Amel 4/19/2021 3:24 PMPower inequalities keep us from being honest with each other. We are less likely to give and receive the important feedback we need to work together for everyone's benefit. "We all do better when we all do better" Paul Wellstone. -
Elise Amel 4/18/2021 7:42 AMWe're crushing it! Keep up the great work! -
Elise Amel 4/13/2021 9:38 AMHey Faculty and Staff Team...let's do this! We're small but strong! A great next step for each of us is to leverage our social networks to build our team.