UOG Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps recruiting 12

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The University of Guam is recruiting for the third cohort of the Guam Green Growth Conservation Corps (G3CC).

The five-month workforce development program is looking for 12 new members.

The group will be involved in weekly modules that will help prepare them for a career in the emerging green economy.

Focus areas will include renewable energy, zero waste, watershed restoration, endangered species preservation, agriculture, aquaculture, circular economy, invasive species removal, and more.

“We are excited to begin the third season of the G3 Conservation Corps,” said Director Austin J. Shelton of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant. “This program is preparing our people to enter the growing field of green jobs and help create a sustainable future for our island at the same time.”

According to program coordinator Phillip Cruz, G3 Conservation Corps gives members in-depth and in-person exposure to sustainable disciplines and work areas.

“G3CC members will literally get their hands dirty, and their feet wet, with the various activities in conservation and sustainability across the island,” said Cruz. “Experts will mentor the cohort each week, giving them hands-on experience in the various fields.”

Along with professional development opportunities, the corps can also earn 10 continuing education units (CEU) from the University of Guam’s Global Learning and Engagement program for every 10 hours worked, up to 80 for the entire five-month program.

According to Cruz, of the 12 positions available, 10 are for Conservation Corps leaders who will receive a bi-weekly stipend of $1,300 and two are for Conservation Corps supervisors who will receive a bi-weekly stipend of $1,500.

Interested individuals can apply here with applications being accepted from Jan. 11 to Feb. 1, 2023.

January 3, 2023December 31, 2024

**G3 Conservation Corps alum helps grow native ifit trees at CIS**

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One of the plant nurseries at the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability (CIS) is filling up with native ifit seedlings thanks to the addition of Jacob Concepcion to the team.

“Our Natural Resources division hired a recent graduate of the G3 Conservation Corps, and he is doing excellent work,” said Else Demeulenaere, associate director of CIS.

Concepcion was born and raised in Guam and remembers hearing people talking about ifit trees (the territorial tree of Guam), but he had never really seen them and did not understand the deeper cultural meaning of the tree.

It wasn’t until he worked on the Guam Restoration of Watersheds (GROW) initiative planting seedlings that he came to know ifit trees.

Through his work at GROW, he learned about the G3 Conservation Corps and was accepted into the second cohort last March. Under the G3 program, he worked in the native plant nursery at Guam DoAg Forestry division where Pat Quenga taught him nursery skills, how to propagate seeds, and nurture native plants with fertilizer and love.

“I love planting ifit and am always on the lookout for seeds. Ifit trees are firm and strong like the people of Guam,” enthused Concepcion.

He collects seeds ifit from trees he knows around the island and germinates them in the CIS nursery. He now takes care of over 70 seedlings, preparing them for outplanting in the native reforestation projects in Guam.

Concepcion is truly grateful for all he learned while working with GROW, the G3 Conservation Corps, and for the opportunity to work outside with plants to help restore native plants in the island. CIS is grateful to have him and the enthusiasm and expertise he brings.

January 3, 2023December 31, 2024

Guam Green Growth raises ground on third community garden

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The Dededo Sports Complex is the site of the Guam Green Growth (G3) and Guahan Sustainable Culture’s (GSC) third community garden. The ground raising was held on November 1st with members of the community, dignitaries, and volunteers out to celebrate the occasion.

“Our organization is four-years old and to have this ground raising for our third garden shows how much support we have from the community, which is really encouraging,” said Michelle Crisostomo, co-founder and president of GSC.

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability (CIS) and Sea Grant was there in force to support and showcase the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of Zero Hunger, Good Health & Well-being, Sustainable Cities & Communities.

UOG CIS and Sea Grant Director Austin Shelton commented on the meaning of the occasion, “Having the third community garden means we are making progress toward our sustainable future. The more gardens we have the more opportunities for education and examples of food security for the island to get people involved and taking action toward reducing our reliance on imported food. These gardens benefit all of us.”

Marlon Oberiano, co-founder of GSC, was inspired to give the garden a circular design after visiting the botanical gardens in Chicago. “The concentric circle design allows for expansion with the spaces between the beds wide enough for wheelbarrows and wheelchairs to pass.” She explained that a key feature of this garden is the use of repurposed materials such as concrete blocks obtained from Pacific Soils & Engineering from their PSI testing on concrete for airport tarmacs and roads. “We use the blocks to define the garden beds. The raised beds were made by our partners at Farm to Table and give access for all people to get their hands in the soil.” said Oberiano.

Guam Clearinghouse director Stephanie Flores, summarized the event perfectly, “When we consider the community first it guides us through everything we do and all that comes from that can only be good. The pandemic has taught us if the ships stop coming, we’re in big trouble. Taking care of ourselves, taking care of the land, and taking care of each other leads to a more prosperous society.”

December 12, 2022December 31, 2024

G3 and GSC launch first-ever Guam Grower’s Calendar to kick-off 2023

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The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability (CIS), Sea Grant, Guam Green Growth (G3) initiative, and the National Science Foundation EPSCoR program officially launched two community calendars for 2023 at the G3 Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub.

More than just a tool for organizing and tracking important dates, Austin Shelton, Ph.D., director of Sea Grant and Center for Island Sustainability, said the new calendars highlight information that promotes a land and sea approach to food sustainability.

“We import over 90 percent of all the food and goods we consume, and we want to reduce that number. The tide chart calendar shows how to catch more local fish and use our abundant local resources in our pelagic areas and the deep ocean. And with the grower’s calendar, we are showing how we can cultivate our land — starting with our own backyard — help community gardens, and bring more local food to families,” Shelton said.

The Guam Grower’s Calendar (Fanha’aniyan Manåmon Guåhan) features photos of fresh local produce. It also includes the CHamoru lunar seasons, growing tips, and pest and disease management guides. The UOG team partnered with Guåhan Sustainable Culture (GSC) for the publication.

The Tide Chart Calendar features photos of some of Guam’s best rod and reel catches, which were selected from locally submitted entries from a photo call-out in August. In addition, the calendar includes information about moon phases and sustainable fishing tips. It also features local tide charts provided by the UOG Marine Laboratory.

“Our publications team and our partners have worked hard to bring amazing information to our children and our community. This is something that we have talked about — a lot of folks are looking at ways to help people grow and catch their own food. So, both calendars are definitely going to help in those areas,” said Kyle Mandapat, assistant director for communications at Sea Grant and Center for Island Sustainability.

The two calendars are the first two deliverables from a UOG Sea Grant and Center for Island Sustainability project that focuses on developing and delivering place-based educational resources in marine, environmental, and sustainability sciences. The project received funding from the Governor’s Education Assistance and Youth Empowerment Grant program.

“We are excited and appreciative about all the work that has been put into this project to be able to give locally produced materials to our students,” Sylvia Calvo, GDOE school program consultant, said at the launching.

The community can get copies of the calendars at the UOG Sea Grant office or the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub at the CHamoru Village. A digital version of the calendars can also be downloaded at uog.edu/seagrant.

November 5, 2022December 31, 2024

UOG students make waves, broaden connections at SACNAS

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More than the experience of attending a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) event outside the island, the University of Guam delegation also earned accolades, learned more about diversity and expanded their network at the National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) conference in Puerto Rico.

The Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) organized the event from October 27 through October 29. The conference drew thousands of college-levels through professional attendees from historically excluded communities throughout the states and territories.

The conference seeks to equip, empower, and energize participants for their academic and professional paths in STEM.

Austin Shelton, Ph.D. UOG Sea Grant and Center for Island Sustainability director, Education Workforce and Development coordinator for Guam NSF EPSCoR and SACNAS board member said the conference is the perfect place to expose students to opportunities in STEM. “This is really an important event for our students at the University of Guam. It is the largest multicultural and multidisciplinary STEM diversity conference in the nation. This year, it is the biggest that the conference has ever been. Over half of that are students and over half of them are professionals, and as important, exhibitors who are bringing in opportunities to students in the areas of graduate school or employment in agencies, in nonprofits, in nongovernmental organizations.”

According to Shelton, 51 students and faculty from UOG took advantage of these tremendous opportunities at the conference. Aside from immersing participants in STEM research and professional development sessions, the conference also encouraged engagement in and the sharing of multicultural celebrations and traditions.

Cheryl R. Sangueza, Ph.D. assistant professor of secondary education said attending the conference was a success not only for academic and research opportunities, but also because the Guam delegation left a positive footprint for the island and the university. She believes that the experience “possibly changed life trajectories for the UOG students.

“Our students were engaged in professional networking and found exciting academic and research opportunities, they met new friends and explored new places and cultures, and they were successfully immersed in a culture of scientific research. “Seeing and feeling like they belong at a STEM conference combined with connecting with graduate school and research opportunities illuminated new options and choices for many,” she said.

Sangueza is also the co-principal investigator for the National Science Foundation’s INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance Guam Hub and oversees student experience for NSF Guam EPSCoR.

More than 10 UOG students took part in the poster presentations at the conference. One of the students, Michael Fernandez, received recognition for his undergraduate poster presentation on “Host Tree and Mycorrhizal Diversity of Epiphytic Orchids Native to Guam.”

Alyssa Calalo, an NSF INCLUDES student researcher, also presented a poster on “Assessing the Use of Pre-germinated and Soaked Seed of Native Plant Species for Badland Restoration: Lab and Field Trials.”

The UOG undergraduate in biology described her SACNAS experience as inspirational. “It was eye opening meeting scientists with the same culture and values, and it made me feel seen and motivated to keep going! My presentation revolved all around using native plants important to the CHamoru culture to restore badlands that have been affected by erosion. I conducted my research project at Ugum Watersheds. My presentation was a great experience for me, and I was able to connect with people from different labs and cultures – network and share ideas on how to keep the project going!”

SACNAS fosters the success of underrepresented Americans – from college students to professionals – in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and leadership positions in science, technology engineering, and mathematics, otherwise known as STEM. It is the largest multicultural and multidisciplinary STEM diversity organization in the United States, serving more than 20,000 students and professionals.

October 27, 2022December 31, 2024

Sustainable Spotlight: Professors share their sustainable home

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A house that sits atop an elevated land in Talo’fo’fo’ attracts passers-by with its unique glass exterior. But beyond its curb appeal, the home has more to offer — it is also a model of sustainable design and function, according to its homeowners, social work professors Gerhard Schwab and Vivian Dames.

Dames said, “People sometimes refer to the house as ‘the boat house or the chapel or the church.’ It has been called many different things because of its modern design.”

Over the years, the house has been retrofitted with energy-efficient features that optimize the use of available resources in the environment. For instance, the house design uses passive ventilation to naturally cool living and workspaces.

“We have ceiling fans in every room. When we built this extension, we designed it so that in the hot afternoon sun, it doesn’t come in in any windows. So, it keeps that side of the house very cool,” Dames said.

Dames and Schwab also invested in a solar energy system that produces enough power for the home and an electric car.

“We have 40 panels out there and that is just enough to cover the household, the fridge, washer and the air conditioner plus our electric car. We have our solar panels covering our entire energy needs,” Schwab said.

The house also has a rainwater catchment system to support the non-potable requirements of the household. According to Dames, the system was designed into the house. In fact, the house has a pitched roof that catches and filters rainwater which feeds into a 2000-gallon fiberglass tank.

“We collect rainwater, and we have two tanks at the back. So, we collect the rainwater and then we pump it back in the house. When we take a shower and wash the dishes, it is all rainwater,” Schwab said.

According to Dames, building a fully sustainable home on island takes a while. “It is important to emphasize that it is difficult on Guam to establish a fully sustainable home environment quickly because it takes time and it takes resources and very importantly, you have to have the external support of people who are experts in the field and the infrastructure. to support sustainable living.” Dames added, “What we have today is something that is the result of years of envisioning and trying things and experimenting.”

Apart from having an energy efficient home, Dames and Schwab also practice sustainable living.

Schwab said, “Guam is very difficult in terms of removing or reducing our ecological footprint. One of my goals is to work on eating more locally produced food and cutting down airline traffic and not flying as much anymore.”

He added, “For us, although the economic savings is nice, trying to live an environmentally conscious life comes out of our fundamental beliefs in a social ecology. It is a framework that comes out of our being social workers and also our faith, our Catholic social teaching about the importance of stewardship. And our responsibility to be good stewards of the gifts of creation.”

September 28, 2022December 31, 2024

Guam Green Growth and Guahan Sustainable Culture confirm newest community garden partnership

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The University of Guam-Guam Green Growth (G3) initiative will break ground on another community garden at the Dededo Sports Complex in October, following the successful launching of the project last year.

G3 collaborated with Guåhan Sustainable Culture, the Governor of Guam, and other multi-agency partners to open or facilitate the development of community gardens in villages all over the island.

Austin Shelton, UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant director mentioned the new project at the proclamation signing for Sustainable September, “Our community gardens are beacons of education and food security. Through these community gardens, we are bringing more sustainability to different parts of the island. We now have a garden in the South and another in Hagåtña, and soon, in Dededo.”

Michelle Crisostomo, GSC president and co-founder said that the new garden would make a great addition to the village, “It would be really great to showcase the same things (at the Dededo community garden) that we featured in Hagåtña…It would be another great place where the families can go, where they can also learn about growing their own food and another place where people can live an active lifestyle.”

G3 launched its first community garden in the heart of Hagåtña in August 2021. GSC co-founder and vice president Marlyn Oberiano designed the 1,400 sq.ft. garden while the G3 Conservation Corps, AmeriCorps GSC members, and Pacific Federal Management Inc. built the raised garden beds.

GSC and the AmeriCorps GSC team continues to manage the site and host volunteer days for community groups and organizations. Later, G3 partnered with AmeriCorps to open another garden in January 2022 in the southern part of Guam, this time, at the Jeremy Newby Community Center in Talo’fo’fo’. 

The community garden addresses several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG #2: Zero Hunger, SDG #3: Good Health and Wellbeing, and SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

September 28, 2022December 31, 2024

Corporate responsibility workshop leads social lesson at Innovation Hub

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The Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub played host to a Corporate Social Responsibility workshop featuring Ericka Anderson, co-founder of the Guam Human Rights Initiative.

According to Anderson, social legitimacy and capital are both key measures of a group’s standing in their community.

“A company exists because society allows it to exist,” explained Anderson. “Social legitimacy is the relationship you have with society, and social capital is more of a manifestation effect.”

Anderson says that organizations can see their social capital levels change throughout their existence.

“You can build social capital, or you could lose social capital,” added Anderson. “You build it by having a positive impact on your society.”

The workshop was a part of an ongoing series of development and education for local businesses offered at the Innovation Hub in the CHamoru Village in partnership with the University of Guam Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Anderson also presented at the University of Guam School of Business and Public Administration.

“Corporate Social Responsibility is when corporations and organizations self-regulate themselves as citizens within the community and they aim to contribute to goals of philanthropy, activism and charity,” said Guam Green Growth Circular Economy Coordinator Myracle Mugol. “It’s when a company takes a positive role in the community, and they consider the environmental and social impact of their decisions and practices.”

Ten local businesses and organizations confirmed participation in the workshop and sent representatives who learned about local implementation of CSR strategies and practices.

For more information on upcoming workshop schedules visit www.guamgreengrowth.com.

September 28, 2022December 31, 2024

First-ever Arbor Festival to kick off Arbor Month celebration

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Department of Agriculture (DOAG) Forestry and Soil Resources Division (FRSD), with UOG Center for Island Sustainability & Sea Grant and several small businesses invites the community to join us at Jeff’s Pirates Cove on October 1, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Ridge to Reef festivities with ArborFest, a celebration of trees and all they do for our island ecosystems.

We invite the community to celebrate with us! Smokey Bear and friends will be dancing to the music of Joe & Gene.

There will be art and cultural activities, education and outreach information, a native tree maze, readings by UOG Press authors and much more!

Learn how to minimize your carbon footprint with a car show featuring Japanese mini cars. Discover how to make coconut rhino beetle traps from dead coconut trees and rope from pågo trees.

Listen to stories about a native tree and her jungle friends, and purchase arbor art from local artists.

TÅSA will explain how canoes are made, which trees are used, and the process involved. The Marianas Audubon Society will showcase bird nests and talk about the migratory birds that visit Guam every year.

The Guam Beekeepers Association will be there with a taste of Guam honey!

Join the DOAG Hunter Education Program for simulated “Shoot don’t shoot” scenarios, taste tea from DOAG Agriculture Development Services, meet DOAG DAWR’s ko’ko bird, and learn about native trees from DOAG foresters.

The Sea Grant outreach trailer will be there to showcase turtle research along with UOG Marine Lab, the UOG Center for Island Sustainability, and the UOG Community Nutrition Education Program with some tasty treats and recipes.

The UOG Western Pacific Tropical Research Center will show their Forests of Guam Video and have forest health experts there to talk about trees and invasive species.

USDA APHIS will have their demonstration pig corral and some brown tree snakes that want to get up close and personal.

Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram accounts for more Arbor Month activities: @doag.forestry @doag.dawr @doag.adsguam @doag.biosecurity.

Bring your personal water bottles to refill at available water stations.

Lunch will be available for purchase at Jeff’s. ArborFest, lunch specials for purchase include: BBQ combo ribs & chicken with red rice, or falafel wrap, or hotdog, or a 1/4lb cheddar cheeseburger all with fries!

There will be raffles and giveaways for attendees, fresh raw honey and produce for sale, seed and seedlings available.

Join us and all our amazing partners on Oct, 1st at Jeff’s Pirates Cove – Biba Arbor Month kickoff at ArborFest!

September 28, 2022December 31, 2024

UOG CIS and Guam Green Growth celebrate Sustainable September

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Joined by her Guam Green Growth Co-chair and president of the University of Guam Thomas Krise, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero proclaimed the month of September to be Sustainable September at a special proclamation signing held at Adelup.

Sustainable September featured events organized by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant along with many Guam Green Growth partner organizations.

Leon Guerrero was in full support of the proclamation as she noted the importance of leading a more sustainable life for future generations.

“I am very honored to proclaim the month of September as Sustainable September,” said Leon Guerrero. “How do we sustain our island moving forward so that our generations are protected? This proclamation provides that tool.”

Leon Guerrero also noted the importance of climate change research for further development of our island.

“Climate change is a big priority of our administration and climate change needs to be addressed,” added Leon Guerrero. “[We need to address] how it’s going to impact our future generations.”

According to Guam Green Growth Action Framework Coordinator Camarin Quitugua, the month of September is also observed by the countries of the United Nations as a month for recognizing the Sustainable Development Goals and demanding urgency to create sustainable solutions for the planet.

“Our partnerships through the Guam Green Growth initiative have led to tangible solutions including the G3 Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub established at the CHamoru Village, the G3 Community Gardens in Hagatna, Talo’fo’fo and coming soon to Dededo,” added Quitugua.

Events scheduled for the month included Tree planting events, outreach opportunities, a kick-off wave, tours, exhibits and the first ever ArborFest event to be held on October 1 at Jeff’s Pirates Cove.