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This content was published: January 29, 2017. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.

GPSEN Sustainability Symposium chance to show off PCC’s green efforts to region

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Serena Dressel, a volunteer coordinator with Portland State University's Student Sustainability Center, listens to Briar Schoon's overview of the PCC green programs.

Serena Dressel, a volunteer coordinator with Portland State University’s Student Sustainability Center, listens to Briar Schoon’s overview of the PCC green programs.

More than 100 regional leaders convened at Portland Community College’s Sylvania Campus in Southwest Portland for the first-ever Greater Portland Sustainability Education Network (GPSEN) Sustainability Symposium on Friday, Jan. 27. Co-sponsored by PCC and the Port of Portland, GPSEN’s symposium focused on academic and community research about sustainability issues in the Portland region through presentations, workshops, displays, awards and networking.

It was also an opportunity for PCC to shine. In a midday workshop, PCC Sustainability Manager Briar Schoon highlighted the college’s campus sustainability efforts across the district, including the learning gardens and recycling program, and how they all connect to the community. Throughout the day, the symposium featured workshops and panelists from PCC, PSU, City Repair, SERA Architects and the EPA, to name a few. The keynote speaker was Hatch Innovation founder and Executive Director Amy Pearl.

  • Heather Spalding speaks to the GPSEN attendees. She is the coordinator of PSU's Student Sustainability Center.
  • Serena Dressel, a volunteer coordinator with Portland State University's Student Sustainability Center, listens to PCC's Briar Schoon's overview of the college's green programs.

About James Hill

James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »