Photo above by Maritza González Cintrón
The first training in the second year of the GREEN-PR program was held on Saturday, January 30. Through collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Development Studies of the Metropolitan University (UMET), the training was held in the amphitheater of the UMET in San Juan. The training, titled “GREEN-PR 2.0: Creating Environmental Education Hubs,” focused in large part on the development of environmental education hubs around the island—one of the goals of the GREEN-PR program. Stewards attended from various GREEN-PR hubs in development around the Island, such as Ponce, Lajas, San Juan, Carolina, and other municipalities, to learn more about GREEN-PR core topics of Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) and Green Infrastructure (GI), and to hear about activities taking place at other hubs in the network. Former GREEN-PR mini-grant recipients also participated in the training to become more involved in the network. Mini-grant projects are also focused on SMM (recycling, composting, reducing, etc.) and/or GI.
The Architect Fernando Abruña, known as the Father of the Green Building Movement in Puerto Rico, offered an informative and technical talk about green infrastructure, including innovative construction techniques that conserve potable water, make use of rain water, and provide green spaces. The architectural designs presented save natural resources and money without sacrificing occupant comfort. After the presentation, participants took a tour to see the implementation of green infrastructure on campus and generate recommendations to enhance the installations.
The Architect Fernando Abruña, known as the Father of the Green Building Movement in Puerto Rico, offered an informative and technical talk about green infrastructure, including innovative construction techniques that conserve potable water, make use of rain water, and provide green spaces. The architectural designs presented save natural resources and money without sacrificing occupant comfort. After the presentation, participants took a tour to see the implementation of green infrastructure on campus and generate recommendations to enhance the installations.
Journalist and editor for Revista Atabey, Marielisa Ortiz Berríos, gave a talk about how to gain presence and exposure for environmental issues and initiatives in the media. Berríos explained how environmental groups can attract media exposure on their work and offered tips on effective communication techniques, news writing, and redaction of press releases. Following the formal portion of the training, groups had the opportunity to present their work and get to know each other better.
 |  |
Observing from the floor level and from high up in the roofs the green infrastructure on campus.
Ada Miranda, teacher and hub leader from Leonides Morales School in Lajas, talked about how students and teachers have been involved in their project, inserting environmental education lessons in different school topics like English, Science and Mathematics. Staff members from the Syracuse University Environmental Finance Center (SU-EFC) presented a plan for the development of the network in its second year, as well as a schedule of GREEN-PR activities and requirements for the semester. The training concluded with a visit to one of the hubs, Urban Grove, Greenhouse and Forest of Capetillo, and a stop at the mural painted by GREEN-PR volunteers in summer 2015.
Those interested can access the information presented during the training here.
RSS Feed
