Although “Earth Day” was first recognized and celebrated on April 22, 1970, the values it represents have been part of the fabric of Chestnut Hill College since its founding and an integral part of its mission.

When the Earth Center was first opened in 2009, Mary Elizabeth Clark, SSJ, was appointed Assistant to the President for Sustainability, a position she has used to bring awareness to the myriad ways the Chestnut Hill College community can support environmental efforts that in turn support a healthy planet for us all.

Each year CHC celebrates Earth Day over the course of a week with a variety of activities centered around environmental awareness and activism. This year is no different.

Earth Week at CHC runs from April 17 – 21. Highlights of the week are: 

• Thursday, April 20 – 2 p.m.  “Before the Flood” a documentary with Leonardo DiCaprio. The actor discusses the effects of global climate change and what we can do to reduce the effects of humans on the planet.
• Friday, April 21 – Ethical recycling of electronics
  From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., bring your old cell phones, laptops and other unused electronics to the Earth Center where representatives of PAR Recycle Works will recycle them, keeping toxic waste out of landfills.
• Friday, April 21 – Campus clean-up

Join members of CHC’s Green Team, led by Andrew Conboy ’18, to give the campus a good spring cleaning. Meet at noon in SJ45 (Environmental Lab). The event lasts for two hours.

Throughout the week, Sister Mary Elizabeth will visit various classrooms to discuss Pope Francis’s appeal to all people to take action to protect our planet –  Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home.

Contact Sister Mary Elizabeth with questions about the week’s events at mclark@chc.edu. 

Brenda Lange