Colleen Swain’s talk on environmental justice highlights Earth Week events

A campus talk on “Environmental Justice as a Work of Mercy,” presented by Colleen Swain ’16, ’17 (M), will headline several special events planned on campus as part of the Salve Regina community’s celebration of Earth Week.

Swain is leadership development and advocacy associate for the Mercy International Association’s Mercy Global Action project who recently participated in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland. Her presentation at Salve on Wednesday, April 24 from 6-7 p.m. in the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life, will focus on transforming global systems of oppression with justice, active compassion and global solidarity.

“Climate change and environmental degradation are pressing moral issues that compromise the future of our common home, threaten human dignity and all life, and compound the hardships of the poorest and most vulnerable members of our community,” said Salve President Jane Gerety, RSM. “The advancement of an integral ecology at Salve Regina celebrates our mission to serve as stewards of God’s creation, working as transformative agents to bring about a more harmonious, just and merciful world.”

During her visit to Salve, Swain will also host a luncheon dialogue for faculty and staff from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, where she will speak on the topic of “Call of Mercy and Care for the Earth.”

Interested faculty and staff are asked to RSVP to JoAnn Burns at joann.burns@salve.edu as space is limited.

Following is a full listing of the Earth Week offerings:

Tuesday, April 23

 Environmental film series: “The Messenger” will be screened from 6-8 p.m. in O’Hare 260. Discussion will follow, facilitated by Dr. Jameson Chace, professor of biology and biomedical sciences.

Wednesday, April 24

Sunrise beach clean-up sponsored by the Office of Community Service. Interested participants are asked to meet at 40 Steps from 6:30-7:30 a.m.

Featured speaker: Swain presents “Environmental Justice as a Work of Mercy” from 6-7 p.m. at the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life.

Thursday, April 25

Faculty/staff luncheon dialogue: Swain presents “Call of Mercy and Care for the Earth.”

Friday, April 26

Earth Week Fair: From 11 a.m. to noon in the lobby of O’Hare Academic Building, share with a full range of campus and community groups, student-faculty research initiatives, and local organizations, advancing the work of sustainability and environmental justice.

Arbor Day Tree Planting: From 1:30-2 p.m. behind McKillop Library, join organizers for an afternoon tree planting as we welcome a new beech species to our Arboretum at Salve Regina.