Jean Creamer

I will attend the International Dinner at Heilman Dining Hall.

I will enjoy three meatless meals per day.

I will refuse receipts whenever possible. Receipts are everywhere in our lives and on campus. The majority of them contain some amount of some type of plastic. Therefore, they cannot be recycled or composted. Nothing says you HAVE to get a receipt. Often, email receipts, text receipts, or no receipt are all options.

I will explore at least one new hiking trail or nature walk in my area.

I will take a 30-minute walk outside each day.

I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning.

I will learn about sustainable seafood choices and make conscious decisions.

I will participate in the composting program on campus or compost my food scraps at home.

I will spend 60 minutes learning about environmental justice issues in Richmond.

I will shop from two women-owned businesses this week.

I will keep lights, electronics and appliances turned off when not using them.

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the Maleku people and their connection to the forest.

I will disconnect from my email when not at school or work.

I will meet one new office, dorm, or apartment neighbor each day.

I will enjoy the sunrise and sunset today.

I will learn about equity and inclusion resources on campus and in Richmond.

I will buy local produce and meats when shopping for groceries. I will purchase seasonal fruits and vegetables.

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will learn about water use in food production and eat less water intensive foods.

I will reduce food waste and save money by planning a weekly menu and only buying the ingredients I need.

I will save up to 6 gallons (23 L) of water each day by keeping my showers under 5 minutes.

I will offer to help two people who are in need each day this week.

I will spend 30 minutes learning about the United Nations’ global treaty to end plastic pollution.

I will spend 60 minutes each day outside, practicing gratitude (prayer, meditation, journaling, etc.) for Earth and the nature surrounding me.

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

I will take 60 minutes to learn how local indigenous tribes are caring for the land.

I will carry all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

I will conserve water and energy by only doing full loads of laundry in cold water.

I will replace 60 minutes each day typically spent inside (computer time, watching television, etc.) with quality time outside.

I will use the resource links and spend 60 minutes learning about the native populations that lived in my area prior to colonization and what I can do to support those that still exist.

I will spend 30 minutes learning about Costa Rica's efforts to reduce their carbon emissions through impressive commitments to emission reductions and investing in sustainable transportation.

In place of purchasing single-use water bottles, I pledge to regularly carry my reusable water bottle and utilize the many campus bottle fillers everyday.