Spokane’s Earth Day promotes stewardship of earth
Serving as 2011 coordinator for Earth Day in Spokane is a natural outgrowth of Jessica Anundson’s commitment to preserving the environment and the stewardship of the earth emphasis at her church, Unity Church of Spokane.
Earth Day activities run from 11 a.m. to midnight, Saturday, April 23—the day after the official Earth Day, April 22. Main St. in downtown Spokane will be closed between Browne and Division.
There will be music, plus booths set up in pods on five themes: 1) alternative transportation, 2) energy and conservation, 3) sustainable communities, 4) local foods and 5) active stewardship.
“Sustainable Communities” will include booths by nonprofits, the holistic and faith communities, and “Local Foods” will include a farmers’ market near the parking lot of Main Market Co-op.
“Active Stewardship” will offer children’s activities—the Procession of the Species, drumming and making backpack buttons to help children remember that Earth Day is every day. From 8 to 11 p.m., there will be live music for dancing in the street.
Jessica helped with Earth Day 2010, creating costumes for children in the Procession of the Species and educating the community about energy efficiency with Sustainable Works.
After graduating in 2006 from Evergreen State College in Olympia with a concentration in public policy and sustainability, she worked for several environmental nonprofits in Western Washington before returning to Spokane in 2009 to organize with the Spokane Alliance’s Sustainable Works program. Impressed with its model of bringing together churches, nonprofits and unions, Jessica is using a similar model with a diverse group of community members to plan the Earth Day event to help make Spokane a sustainable, earth-friendly city.
Running and rock climbing at Dishman Hills Natural Area during her childhood in Spokane Valley, she has dedicated her life to preserving the Earth for future generations to enjoy.
“We need to care for the planet for the next generations,” she said, frustrated that “people destroy the earth” not thinking of the next generation. She is grateful to work with people who are investing their time and energy for Earth Day.
For information, call 847-9503 or visit www.earthdayspokane.org.
Other Earth Day events in the region include:
• Spokane Valley’s Spring Celebration begins at 3 p.m., Friday, April 15, at Discovery Playground, 2426 N. Discovery Pl., with a tree planting ceremony.
• The Lands Council’s 16th Annual Dinner Auction is at 5 p.m., Saturday, April 16, at the Double Tree Hotel - 838-4912.
• An Inland Northwest Land Trust film, “Vanishing of the Bees,” is 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, at the Magic Lantern, 25 W. Main.
• Eastern Washington University’s Earth Day Fair is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, April 22 at 526 Fifth St. in Cheney - 359-2245.
• Lewiston’s Sixth Annual Earth Day Celebration is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, April 21, in downtown Lewiston - 208-746-1187.
• The Palouse Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI) will hold its Silver Anniversary Celebration Dinner Auction from 6 to 10 p.m., Friday, April 22, at the Eastside Marketplace Event Center in Moscow - 208-882-1444.
• The PCEI’s Paradise Creek Stream Clean-Up is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 23, at the PCEI Campus, 1040 Rodeo Dr. Its Paradise Creek Project Maintenance is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday at the University of Idaho in Moscow.
• The third annual LIFE 2 Earth Day Community Fair, “Think Local First,” is noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 23, at the Lions’ Club Park on Highway 2 in Leavenworth - varnbeachreserve.org.
• The Idaho Conservation League has planned an Earth Day celebration on “Earth Day Every Day” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 22 at the Coeur d’Alene Library - 208-869-1730.
• Sandpoint’s Earth Day celebration is 4 to 8 p.m., Friday April. 22, at the Sandpoint Events Center at Pine and Euclid. There will be information on the environmental movement from Earth Day founder and author Doug Scott, booths by local conservation groups, an Empty Bowls opportunity to donate to the food bank, arts and crafts, and demonstrations - 208-265-9565.
• The Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce has organized its second annual Earth Day Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 23, at Memorial Hall at the Boundary County Fairgrounds - 208-290-2720.
Copyright © April 2011 - The Fig Tree