Samples taken for the beginning of wastewater treatment testing

It’s Halloween at the EcoCenter, and the first-year sampling and testing of effluent from the EcoCenter’s on-site wastewater treatment system has begun.  SF Water technicians are shown drawing a sample from one of the treatment tanks.

SF PUC staff hope to use their experience at the EcoCenter to compare the results with that of the larger planned on-site wastewater treatment facility to be installed in the SFPUC’s new headquarters downtown.

Living Building Challenge comes to the EcoCenter

On August 30, the Living Building Challenge hosted a 6-hour long workshop at the EcoCenter on an in-depth introduction on the philosophy and rationale of the building certification and strategies to obtain it. Attendees included the green building leaders in their community: design professionals, contractors, developers, owners, government officials and employees of public agencies. Thank you to the International Living Future Institute (parent organization of the LBC) for choosing to rent and support the EcoCenter! 

Source: Bullitt Center

LEJer featured in Exploratorium's media channel!

You MUST check out, Jasmine Dow - former LEJ youth, current LEJ Americorps/Public Ally, and future health professional in the name of environmental justice! Watch this audio slideshow that the Exploratorium created as a part of their online media series, Driven. Jasmine talks about her personal and political journey with LEJ, Heron's Head Park, and the EcoCenter... reminding us that there is no such thing as "away" and the vision for environmental justice in Bayview Hunters Point.

The Living Roof is alive!

Check out the beautiful colors exploding from the EcoCenter's living roof! The same folks who designed the Academy of Sciences' living roof - Rana Creek - designed the EcoCenter's roof. Why is the EcoCenter's living roof a little more colorful and robust that the Academy's? The roof installers, Habitat Gardens, laid irrigation lines from in the soil so that the plants are directly watered at the roots! Less water loss than a sprinkler system! In addition to using rainwater, subsurface irrigation is another way that the EcoCenter is reducing water use



LEJ staff recently conducted methane monitoring from the vents on the roof with an intern from Treadwell and Rollo, Shante Austin, who is also a former LEJ youth now studying Environmental Studies and Africana Studies at SF State University. We're excited to continue to work with Shante in this new capacity in which she's sharing with LEJ her new expertise!

Every day is People's Earth Day!

What an eventful month of April!

For LEJ's People's Earth Day, we hosted over 75 students from local schools, 8 different youth science/environmental organizations, and a variety of partners to make a successful PED full of environmental education activities and hands-on the land service. Music, food made by local caterers, hands-on activities, poppy costume, solar-powered water fountain, ZooMobile with an owl and oppossum - we had it all!


Click here for more pictures of the celebratory day!

At the EcoCenter, LEJ is rounding out its year-long series of teacher/educator trainings by collaborating with BMagic (Bayview youth nonprofit collaborative) on a training to incorporate science and the environment into youth programming on May 4 (more pics here).



LEJ's last teacher/educator trainings will occur in collaboration with the Planet Drum Foundation focusing on bioregionalism and low-impact designs (LID). See LEJ's website for more details and registration info.

CORRECTION: Welcome to the NeighborHOOD opens April 9!

Sorry for the confusion.

Welcome to the NeighborHOOD art gallery reception opens Saturday, April 9! Contact Wendy Tetsu at wendytestu@mac.com if you have any questions.

Welcome to the NeighborHOOD art gallery reception on April 9!

THE WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROJECT:
The collaboration with youth from Literacy for Environmental Justice and and community artists has culminated in the creation of an interactive installation at the EcoCenter!

The Multidisciplinary Artwork was created over the past two years and explores environmental and social justice issues facing the community of Bayview Hunters Point, as seen through the youth’s eyes. Come celebrate with the community the long awaited convergence of the art installation at the EcoCenter.

Reception
Saturday, April 9 from 12-2pm
EcoCenter at Heron's Head Park
Cargo Way and Jennings St., San Francisco, CA 94124

During the opening event:

~ View the full installation of all the artwork
~ Enjoy light refreshments
~ Partake in a youth lead docent tour of the artwork and the Ecocenter.
~ Purchase the artwork and Volume #3 of the photo documentary book about the project:

All proceeds will go to Literacy for Environmental Justice and the EcoCenter. Check out the Facebook event page for more info!