Citizens’ Environmental Coalition Conference August 4, 2017

Keep Houston Beautiful Commissions Meeting August 17, 2017

Annually, CEC hosts a networking and learning event for the extraordinary people who work at or are interested in the work of environmental organizations in the greater Houston region. The Greater Houston Environmental Summit was held at the Community Resource Center at the United Way of Greater Houston. CEC partnered with a variety of environmental education collaboratives to offer an Environmental Education Expo for teachers and informal educators.

Keep Houston Beautiful is the city’s leading organization in beautification, litter reduction, and recycling education. For over 35 years, Keep Houston Beautiful has been reaching out to all segments of our community to educate and empower individuals to take greater responsibility for beautifying and enhancing Houston’s environment. Every year’s successes have created a cleaner and healthier city for all Houstonians.

There were keynote presentations, Small-format table talks and a Panel in conjunction with EarthShare of Texas, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Interesting discussions and ideas for collaboration:

• • The sustainability team addressed the question: “How to get civic scientists and entrepreneurs to get involved with the city?”
  • Table discussion on activism with Sherry Weesner, Scenic Houston Director of Projects. She suggested to get support from City of Houston to define specific needs. What is the plan? Why regulation exists?
  • Douglas with the ambassador program with biking expressed need for more volunteers to help maintain all the bike-ways.  I expressed the same need with KHB, we need more volunteers.  Shared way to increase volunteers would be through the P.E. credit for adventure / outdoor education – §74.71. High School Graduation Requirements.  But, this would take someone to facilitate the paperwork.  Ideas on who?
  • Houston Botanical Gardens Interim Executive Director Claudia Gee Vassar is working on funding. Since together is better, suggested KHB have a representative to help with this new city garden.
  • Donelle Williams, K-5 Science director shared HISD’s approach to environmental education and partnerships. Suggested our education committees collaborate. They continue to support the outdoor education camps for 5^th graders and wonder if KHB can share information about recycling. They meet 4:30-6:30, see schedule below.

Tuesday, Oct. 24 or Wednesday, Oct. 25	The Houston Museum of Natural Science 5555 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, TX 77030
Tuesday, Nov. 28 or Wednesday, Nov. 29	Oak Forest Elementary School 1401 W 43rd St., Houston, TX 77018
Tuesday, Jan. 30 or Wednesday, Jan. 31	The John P. McGovern Museum of Health 1515 Hermann Dr., Houston, TX 77004
Tuesday, Feb. 27 or Wednesday, Feb. 28	Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center 4400 West 18th St., Houston, TX 77092