Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, but particularly during the last two months in celebration of Earth Day (April 22) and Laudato Si’ Week (May 19-26), students at ERCBNA schools have held a variety of projects, campaigns, and events aimed at bringing attention to and advocating for our ever-threatened natural world.

Iona Prep

Students at Iona Preparatory School have advocated for the environment and promoted sustainability in a number of ways. Ambassadors collected their school’s electricity and natural gas bills to calculate the school’s carbon footprint by using the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change carbon calculator. They used this data to inform their decision to work towards making their school “net-zero” by purchasing Carbon Offset Credits from the U.N.’s Carbon Offset Platform. Through a number of fundraising events around campus, the Ambassadors helped to raise both funds and awareness of the cause. In total, the Ambassadors held a video campaign and fundraised at various campus-wide events totaling nearly $1,000, which was used to purchase these carbon offset credits.

In addition to their “net-zero” campaign, Ambassadors from Iona Prep utilized their morning television announcements and screened a documentary to raise awareness of and promote more sustainable practices. Students at the lower school grew and harvested crops from their vegetable garden, which were donated to a local food pantry. The Ambassadors also advocated outside of their own school community by joining the Board of Westchester Green County USA, a local non-profit comprised of educators and students, that is working to make Westchester County, New York: Carbon Neutral by 2025, 50% Net-Zero by 2030, and 100% Net-Zero by 2045.

To learn more about the Youth Ambassadors’ efforts at Iona Prep, click here.

Tampa Catholic

All 11th grade students at Tampa Catholic viewed the documentary The True Cost in order to bring awareness to the societal, environmental, and human health impacts of the fast fashion industry. Reflective questions were addressed in class as assignments and open-forum discussions were facilitated. The challenge to consume less was presented to all, and was enhanced by discussions surrounding more sustainable consumption. The project also included the topic of fair-trade practices, and this theme was woven into the curriculum in order for students to support the advancement of human rights for marginalized producers. Chocolate bars from 3 fair trade companies were purchased for students to taste and enjoy as an alternative to familiar chocolate brands that utilize cocoa from farms that lean on child labor for their crops.

Students at Tampa Catholic also took the “Footprint Calculator” quiz to identify how they are personally affecting our planet and to identify areas of opportunity to change harmful habits that impact our earth.

Tampa Catholic students organized and facilitated neighborhood and campus clean ups in response to studying Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si” encyclical. Representatives from all grade levels helped with ecology efforts on our river front and in the surrounding Wellswood community, where our school is located. Outdoor community prayer was shared, in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, recognizing his significant impact on “Laudato Si” in and through his “Canticle of Creation”. Students read St. Francis’ text from 1224 and wrote their own prayers of contrition, petition, and thanksgiving centered on our human relationship with the earth.

Last fall, students and faculty from the Office of Mission & Ministry and the Deignan Institute for Earth and Spirit at Iona University, joined with more than 75,000 other advocates who used their collective voices to rally against the harmful effects of drilling for oil and gas. The march was held during New York City’s Climate Week, which coincided with the U.N.’s General Assembly Week, and the U.N.’s Global Climate Action Summit.

During the 2023-2024 year, students and faculty members organized an ongoing composting initiative on Iona’s campus for the first time. In partnership with Iona’s Facilities Department, student volunteers helped to collect biodegradable food scraps from Iona’s on-campus dining kitchens, and composted these scraps throughout the year. The project helped to cut down on biodegradable material being thrown in local landfills, and the compost was used by Facilities in various gardens around campus.

On Earth Day, April 22, Iona faculty, staff, and students gathered for the launch party of our recently formed Earth and Spirit GreenFaith Circle. Green Faith is an interfaith coalition for the environment that works with houses of worship, religious schools, and people of all faiths to help them become better environmental stewards. GreenFaith is building a worldwide, multi-faith climate and environmental movement, and their members create communities to transform themselves, their spiritual institutions, and society to protect the planet and create a compassionate, loving and just world. Iona’s will be the first GreenFaith Circle to be rooted at a university in the U.S.

Brother Rice Chicago

After visiting a local park earlier this year, students from Brother Rice-Chicago were inspired to make a difference after seeing widespread pollution there. Students used this year’s Earth Day as an opportunity to raise awareness of environmental needs in their local community, and encouraged others to get involved. In response to their Earth Day efforts, Brother Rice’s Advocacy Club held a park cleanup in mid-May- removing plastic pollution that had built up there over many months.

St. Thomas More

Environmental Justice is part of everyday life at St. Thomas More in Burnaby, Canada. The school has multiple clubs, including the Green Team and Blessed Edmund Rice Team, which are centered on the environment and sustainability. But another club is not only acting to support the environment, but educating their entire school community about the important role that one of our tiniest neighbors plays.

St. Thomas More’s Bee Club, led by a member of the Biology Faculty, combines classroom learning with hands on, real world activities. The club raises awareness of the important roles that bees have in our everyday lives, and gives students opportunities to harvest honey and use it to create different products.

The Bee Club will continue to promote environmental sustainability at St. Thomas More, and to encourage others to understand the important role that pollinators play in our world.