UOG launches G3 Community Education Series at Sustainable September Finale event

Yo'åmte "Mama Lou" Mangloña conducted a workshop on medicinal plants and åmot at the Guam Green Growth Sustainable September Finale event. The event featured workshop from partners in the G3 Community Education Workshop Series.

Guahan Sustainable Culture's Michelle Crisostomo presented in the Royal Ballroom during the Guam Green Growth Sustainable September Finale event. The workshop on Composting drew community members from all over who are interested in starting their own composting waste management system at their residence or offices.

Dr. Andrea Sant of the University of Guam Center for Online Learning hosted an interactive session on the creation of online resources and classes for students on Guam at the Guam Green Growth Sustainable September Finale Event.

Learning was the mission of the day as the University of Guam (UOG) brought educational opportunities to community members who attended the Guam Green Growth (G3) Sustainable September Finale event at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort.

The finale took place after the G3 bi-annual meeting that was presided over by Co-chairs Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez. The event capped off a month of events celebrating sustainability on Guam.

The proceedings also marked the kick-off of G3’s newest initiative, the Guam Green Growth Community Education Workshop Series, that will highlight partner programs through the island and their outreach workshops on various sustainable subjects.

G3 is facilitated by the UOG Center for Island Sustainable and Sea Grant (UOG CIS&SG) and is the largest public-private partnership to secure Guam’s sustainable future.

“The University of Guam is dedicated to working closely with partners who are doing their part to further sustainability on our island and through the region,” said UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez, DBA. “The only way we are going to bring the sustainable future we all deserve is by all of us working together with shared commitment towards that same mission. This is a big responsibility that UOG takes very seriously and it was great to see that resolve in all the workshop attendees today.”

The day kicked off with a presentation by Juanita Blaz of Island Girl Power, on service-learning and its benefits for both communities and non-profit organizations. UOG CIS&SG Aquaculture Specialist David Crisostomo discussed the principles of aquaculture and aquaponics, providing attendees with insights into growing their own food sustainably. Andrea Sant Ph.D. from the University of Guam’s Center for Online Learning presented on the process of creating sustainability courses and encouraged participants to pitch their own course ideas with an interactive session.

Minerva Hermosilla attended the workshops and was happy to see the involvement of the community.

“I think on Guam, getting involved is what we do,” said Hermosilla. “We all have this mission to better our island. Just being engaged is so important for our development and people were engaged today.”

Attendees of the second session delved into sustainable fishing practices with Kevin Rivera of Reef Pursuit International, who emphasized the importance of preserving marine resources for future generations. Michelle Crisostomo and the Guahan Sustainable Culture team conducted a composting workshop, demonstrating the benefits of composting for both individuals and the environment. The CHalan Deskubre team also showcased their place-based educational products and discussed how they can be implemented in local schools.

“Today’s workshop really made me look forward to sharing even more next time,” said Rivera. “My favorite part was having an audience to express my views with on what sustainable fishing means to me. It was nice to engage with people and share my ideas.”

The final session of the day featured a traditional Chamoru medicinal plants workshop led by Yo’åmte “Mama Lou” Mangloña. UOG CIS&SG Sea turtle biologist Addie Ferguson also provided insights into sea turtle conservation efforts and their historical significance in Guam. Abby Crain from the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub facilitated a hands-on workshop on circular economy creation, encouraging participants to explore sustainable design and production methods.

“Today’s event provided a sampling of what you can expect from all the partner organizations we are working with for our Community Education Series,” said Austin Shelton Ph.D., the director for UOG CIS&SG and co-chair of the G3 Steering Committee. “We are grateful to work with effective partners to bring sustainability education out to our people around the island.”

For more information on upcoming workshops with the G3 Community Education Series partners, visit guamgreengrowth.org and follow @guamgreengrowth on Facebook and Instagram.

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