St. Louis Sustainability News - February 2018

Photo by Catherine Werner

I hope you enjoyed a nice holiday break and that your 2018 is off to a great start! In 2018, I’m planning to send these Sustainability eNews updates the first week of each month.

Climate Protection: The City has earned its second of four badges through its pledge to the Compact of Mayors. With an essential foundation provided by Washington University professors and students, the City is on track to earn two remaining badges, tied to a Climate Vulnerability Assessment that addresses anticipated impact of climate change on the people of St. Louis. We expect to receive these badges in a few months. Meanwhile, Wash U is hosting a Climate Day on February 9, Noon-5:00 p.m. I will join other speakers who will discuss ways to advance climate action. A group of Washington University students will present on their experience at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Check here for more information and to register.

Urban Ecology: The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability has many terrific partners in urban ecology. The National Park Service and National Audubon Society are holding the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Arch for the first time this month on the morning of February 17th. And the Missouri Botanical Garden's St. Louis Green Teen Alliance (GTA) coalition has already started to post Summer 2018 Green Teen jobs in sustainable farming, habitat restoration, and environmental research here. Job opportunities range from high school freshmen to young adults. Additional summer STL Youth Jobs, associated with the City’s Partners for Places grant and a new TreeTender program, should also be posted in the coming month.
 

Share Your Input, Engage & Take Advantage of These Opportunities

• Gateway Greening Garden Expansion Grants Now Available: Apply for a variety of tools to help expand your garden. Deadline is February 19; information here.
• Check out the Redesigned App for Forest Park: ForestParkMap.org. The updated app includes up-to-date information on road closures and construction projects, as well as answers to FAQs.
• Volkswagen Settlement Mitigation Fund Input: The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is requesting the public’s input on how to distribute $41 million dollars of settlement money from Volkswagen. Learn more and share your thoughts here.
• RideFinders is holding a MBG Membership Giveaway as part of its Carpool Challenge-Any commuter that registers a new carpool or adds a commuter to an existing carpool with RideFinders, between now and March 31, 2018, is eligible to win a one-year membership to the Missouri Botanical Garden. For more information, click here.
• Learn how to Build an Insect Hotel in this free Webinar on February 28, 12:00-1:00 pm. Learn how easy, inexpensive bug hotels can enhance your backyard habitat.

Attend Free Sustainability Events

• Bowood Farms class on Featured Foliage: Indoor Ferns on February 7, Noon-12:30 pm. Call 314-454-6868 to reserve your spot.
• Citizens for Modern Transit hosts “Further Unifying a Region for Growth Through Transit” on February 8 at 4:30 pm in the lower auditorium inside the BJC Learning Center.
• Seasonal work at The Zoo. The Zoo will hold a Job Fair on February 9, 9 am-noon in The Living World.
• Washington University Climate Day Panels on February 9, Noon-5:00 pm at the Women’s Building Formal Lounge. For more information and to register, click here.
• Africa World Documentary Film Festival on February 9-February 11at Missouri History Museum. This is a three day event featuring films from around the globe. 
• Public yoga and meditation space from repurposed trash and waste at a PLARN Party on February 10th and 24th at the Thomas Dunn Learning Center.
• Great Backyard Bird Count on February 17, 9:00 am-12:00 pm at the Gateway Arch Park Grounds. For more information, click here. 
• Gateway Greening Pints ‘n’ Plants: Smarty Plants -Learn about easy to grow plants that can enrich lives on February 21, 6:30-7:30 pmat Urban Chestnut in The Grove.
• I, Dred Scott, A Musical will be performed at Missouri History Museum on February 24, 2:00-4:00 pm. The musical tells the story of Dred Scott’s fight for freedom.
• Hometown Habitat: Stories of Bringing Nature Home--Film Screening and Resource Fest on March 6, 6:00-9:00 pm at Living World Building St. Louis Zoo. Register here.

As always, thank you for all that you do to advance sustainability in the City of St. Louis.

With kind regards,
Catherine L. Werner
Sustainability Director
City of St. Louis Office of the Mayor
wernerc@stlouis-mo.gov
Twitter: @GreeninSTL
www.stlouis-mo.gov/sustainability