RU Hosts Symposium Focused on Local Sustainability Efforts

While environmental sustainability is a global problem, many of its solutions are being developed locally.

It’s a phenomenon that Alicia Douglas, director of community relations and outreach, and her partners in the community sought to highlight at the Rockhurst University Neighborhood Environmental Symposium Friday. Leaders from the Kansas City community gathered in Arrupe Hall to hear a series of “Ted Talk: style presentations on issues surrounding sustainability, including the intersections of climate and race, as well as the solutions developed around building greener neighborhoods and communities here in Kansas City.

Speakers included two current Rockhurst University students, seniors Katia Rubio and Chelsea Sims, and two alumni, Mary Silwance, ’88, and Jeff Hughley, EMBA ’22. Hughley, a senior advisor for community outreach in the Environmental Protection Agency’s four-state Region 7 (which includes Missouri) hosted a dinner discussion about ongoing efforts to protect our natural environment and enhance the sustainability and livability of the places we call home.

Douglas said by focusing in on what’s happening locally, she hoped the symposium would spark conversations and new ideas that could have a ripple effect.

“The idea behind this is really to center the voices of community, particularly community leaders of color, who have come up with creative solutions to address of sustainability and environmental issues affecting their and neighborhoods,” she said.

Co-sponsored My Region Wins!, the Rockhurst University Sustainability Committee, the Center for Neighborhoods at the University of Missouri Kansas City and RU Green, the symposium was also a reflection of Rockhurst’s Jesuit identity, especially the call to “care for our common home” and Pope Francis’ 2015 letter “Laudato Si.” according to the Rev. Stephen Hess, S.J., vice president of mission and ministry.

“I think many of you have heard this, we say we are in the city for good,” he said. “What we mean is that we are part of Kansas City and Kansas City is part of us, so doing this like this symposium is very much part of our mission.”

For presenter Chelsea Sims, a senior nursing major, the subject of sustainability also connected to her future career.

“The reason I care and the reason I think we should all care is because Earth care is health care,” she said.