Tulane University’s Earth Day Committee held its second student-led Earth Day Festival on Saturday. The event, which was free and open to the public, featured live music, free food and crafts. Local and student organizations collaborated to organize the event.
“The goal is to promote environmental awareness and educate our Tulane and local community on sustainable initiatives,” Tulane Earth Day Committee co-director and junior Jules Perez said.
Through this festival, Perez hoped to reshape the way sustainability and environmental conservation is viewed.
“We wanted to show how sustainability can be something all community members can engage in,” Perez said. “It’s something that we can celebrate and have fun with.”
Leading up to the festival, the EDC held a few small events, including a trivia night and a craft night, to promote the festival and educate the community about sustainability. Small events coordinator junior Casey Bruck said she found it rewarding to see how many people came to these nights.
“I think one of the most important things about environmental awareness is just continuing to get your peers and friends involved,” Bruck said.
The EDC began planning almost immediately after last year’s festival, with the goal of increasing local participation. Environmental organizations such as Glass Half Full and Grounds Krewe partnered with the EDC.
New Orleans businesses tabled at the festival, including secondhand shops Big Star Vintage and Buffalo Exchange, while others donated to raffle baskets.
“I really liked all the fun activities they had, especially the vintage shopping,” attendee junior Lily Linn said.
EDC co-director and junior Olivia Faul said she felt hopeful seeing the number of people and organizations willing to contribute because it highlighted the impactful work being done across New Orleans.
“Bringing together people from across the city around shared passions for the environment and sustainability is such a special opportunity,” Faul said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to help create a space where everyone can come together on the same day to celebrate that.”
The EDC is composed of several smaller committees, including marketing and merchandise, internal and external communications, food and beverage, small events and sustainability.
“I really can’t thank everyone on the Earth Day Festival team enough,” Faul said. “They have been working so hard to make this possible, and being in a room full of people who are constantly helping each other, brainstorming and building connections makes me so grateful to be part of it.”
With plans already underway for next year, the EDC is seeking new members who are passionate about sustainability and interested in playing a role in the festival’s continued growth.