City College News

The MCTC Sustainability Fair is an annual event hosted by two MCTC student groups: Three-Legged Frog, and Sisters for Social Justice.

"It's all about raising awareness and encouraging conversations among like-minded people," said Jessica Braun, a 25-year-old MCTC math major and president of Three-Legged Frog.

It appears that it is doing just that, organizers report that with the event in its fifth year, it's as big as it's ever been, it terms of attendance by both students and vendors.

Braun thinks that around the country community awareness of environmental issues is rising.

"We're (students) reflecting the change in social perceptions on environmental issues," Braun said.

Some of the attractions at the event were vendors, working at tables and distributing free products and information relating to the theme of sustainability.

In all, 13 organizations including four MCTC student groups were represented at the fair. HERB club, Student Union, Sisters for Social Justice, and the Three-Legged Frog environmental club were present.

There was also free organic pizza from Galactic Pizza in uptown and free fair trade coffee from Peace Coffee, which also had an informational table set up and presented at the event.

There were many presenters as well who spoke at length about topics related to sustainability. Among them was MCTC women's studies instructor Carol Hogard.

A self-described environmental activist and political lobbyist, Hogard spoke to an audience of students, faculty and community members briefly about some of the less-commonly-known reasons to say "no" to nuclear energy.

One of the reasons being the fossil fuel costs associated with producing nuclear fuel rods, not mentioned by proponents of nuclear energy. As well as taxpayer costs associated with nuclear energy that make it less cost effective than alternatives such as wind energy.

Hogard was just one of many experts in her respective field who came to speak at the event, In addition to representatives from the Alaska Wilderness League, Peace Coffee, and others.

Many of the groups who came to the event have connections to MCTC. 18-year-old MCTC transfer student Fredrick Williams was representing Full Cycle, a non-profit bicycle shop that also provides internships and free bikes for homeless youth.

We're just here "getting our name out." Williams said. He also said that he would be happy to come back next year. One of the things Williams liked best at the fair was the Transit for Global Communities.

Warren Jacobson, a Transit for Global Communities volunteer said that his organization does transit advocacy for busing, biking and walking. "I've had a really good time," Jacobson said of the fair, "I get a lot of energy from the students here."

One of the students in attendance was current Hamline University student Corrine Bruning, MCTC alumnae and former president of Three-Legged Frog, Bruning knew about the event and came to support it because of her ongoing connection to Three-Legged Frog. Bruning won a door prize, a pass for a year to all Minnesota State Parks. She said she has seen an increase in the size of the club as well as the yearly event.

"As long as it (the event) touched one person" it's been worthwhile, Bruning said. Current Three-Legged Frog treasurer Lena Hristova told me she signed up to become a member of Three-Legged Frog at last year's Sustainability Fair.

"I'm very excited," Hristova said about this year's fair, "it's been a lot of fun and I've learned things myself too." Faculty advisor for Three-Legged Frog and MCTC biology instructor Cathy Geist has been with the club since its beginnings from the Race to Save the Planet program, and has been there for every sustainability fair.

"It's inspiring and amazing for me to see the youth in the sustainability fair from year to year," Geist said. She also said that this has definitely been the biggest of the five fairs.

29-year-old Herbalism student Katie Feig, who also works in the Learning Center was in attendance.

"I'm glad they're doing it," Feig said, "because people in general need to increase their awareness about sustainability issues."

"If you take all the actions to become environmental you're one person," president Braun said. "If you educate you become more than that."

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