Earth Day 2022: A Great Success!
We know not all heroes wear capes, but these two earth day heroes sure are rocking theirs!
photo credit: www.thesaltyboob.life
First, a huge thank you is in order to all who showed up to participate in our first large in-person gathering since 2019. Seeing folks together again, enjoying the beautiful sunshine and celebrating Earth Day was a wonderful way to re-enter into events and reminded us of who we do this work for: you!
Summed up perfectly by TEC’s Events & Outreach Manager, Priscilla Calleros: “Saturday’s event had me beaming ear to ear. I experienced so many emotions. Seeing everyone come together brought me joy, love, and gratitude. Working with diverse partners brings such big differences to our community.”
If you attended our event, we would love to know: What did you enjoy? What could we have done better? Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey so we can make our event even better next year.
If you weren’t able to attend, here are some of the highlights of the day!
We filled 79 volunteer shifts, totaling 186.5 volunteer hours. We couldn’t have done it without them. Thank you volunteers!
We gained lots of useful information during our low-waste pilot with food vendors, and plan to share what we learned, and how much waste we diverted, in our next blog post. Stay tuned!
The parade through downtown kicked off the event with creative costumes, energetic drumming, and celebrity appearances (yes, the Pattie Gonia was there with equally amazing Queens D’auntie Carol and Caressa Banana)! As always, the parade was a celebration of all of the things we love about mother nature: plants, animals, water, soil, and our caring community.
During the fair, attendees learned more about the sustainability work being done throughout Central Oregon through lively discussion with community groups, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and programs! Especially popular was the electric vehicle and e-bike staging area, where folks could speak with real EV users, ask questions, and even test drive a new car!
Throughout the sunny day, performers from diverse backgrounds showcased music, dance, and art all related to the various ways culture and environmental stewardship intersect. James Edmund Greeley, Danza Libelula, Fodé Sylla, Ian Carrick and the Open Hub Singing Group, and the Eagle Thunder Singers dance group gave our ears, eyes, and hearts a treat, encouraging attendees to sing or dance along.
Overall, we think this event was a wonderful success, and we very much look forward to connecting with you all again in our various events and programs from now until next Earth Day. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on all the happenings and ways to get involved. Until then: think globally, act locally!