Engaged Ecology

How Can I Get Involved?

Take Action

The Engaged Ecology Initiative offer multiple avenues for individuals, from ordinary citizens to academic and community leaders, to take action to support our goals for a more inclusive and relational world. Here are a few:

Community Outreach

1. Educational Outreach: Participate in community outreach programs created by the Engaged Ecology Initiative that are aimed at increasing environmental awareness.
2. Skill-sharing Workshops: Offer to host or support workshops that provide communities with the tools necessary to adopt sustainable practices.
3. Engage in Dialogue: Facilitate or partake in community discussions aimed at fostering a culture of coexistence and responsible stewardship.
4. Volunteer: Participate in community outreach programs to help spread environmental awareness or to facilitate workshops on sustainable practices.
5. Local Partnerships: Collaborate with local businesses or organizations to find mutual opportunities for community enrichment and environmental responsibility.
6. Social Media Engagement: Share and promote the Initiative’s work through various social media channels can help raise public awareness.

Advocacy

1. Policy Advocacy: Actively lobby for socio-ecological justice and sustainability.
2. Public Events: Attend public events hosted by the Initiative to offer moral support and contribute to a sense of community and shared purpose.
3. Networking: Introduce the Initiative to potential supporters, donors, or volunteers who may want to get involved but are unaware of the Initiative’s work.
4. Personal Responsibility: Work toward adopting a lifestyle that aligns with the Initiative’s objectives of sustainability and environmental stewardship.
5. Community Mobilization: Help your community mobilize to undertake sustainability projects such as local clean-up drives, tree planting events, or educational talks on environmental issues. Use social media platforms to share and disseminate the Initiative’s message.
6. Local Government Engagement: Attend town hall meetings to advocate for environmental issues and to push for local policies that align with sustainability and ecological well-being.

Education

1. Attend Workshops/Lectures: The Initiative likely offers educational events that are open to the public. Attending these can equip you with the knowledge to become an advocate for environmental well-being.
2. Mentorship: Experienced professionals and academics can guide interested members of the community as well as undergraduate and graduate students in their research  and community outreach programs.
3. Guest Lectures and Workshops: Subject matter experts could contribute by giving talks or leading workshops that align with the Initiative’s educational objectives.
4. Workshop Development: Those with a background in environmental ethics and bio-cultural conservation can assist in developing transformative educational materials.
5. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Academics from various backgrounds can contribute to interdisciplinary studies, thereby enriching the scope and impact of the research.
6. International Partnerships: Those with international connections can facilitate meaningful research exchanges for community leaders, educators, and students to gain a global perspective on environmental issues.

Educational Resources

Here are some suggested resources and links to information that supports the goals of the Engaged Ecology Initiative:

• Academic Resources:

  • Texas State University:
    • Philosophy Program (Undergraduate and graduate programs)
    • Biology Program (Undergraduate and graduate programs)
    • Sustainability Program (Undergraduate and graduate programs)
    • Environmental Leadership Certificate (in development – target date: Fall of 2024)
    • Meadow Center for Water and the Environment
  • University of North Texas:
    • Philosophy Program (Undergraduate and graduate programs)
    • Biology Program (Undergraduate and graduate programs)
    • Environmental Science Program (Undergraduate and graduate programs)
    • Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program

  General Information:

  • University Alliance for Sustainability: https://www.iau-hesd.net/organizations/2901-university-alliance-sustainability.html
  • Bioneers: https://bioneers.org
  • Biomimicry Institute: https://biomimicry.org
  • Center for Ecoliteracy: https://www.ecoliteracy.org
  • Global Ecovillage Network: https://ecovillage.org
  • Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN): https://www.postlandfill.org
  • SustainUS: https://sustainus.org

  Local Texas Organizations:

  • Native Prairies Association of Texas: http://texasprairie.org/
  • Hill Country Alliance – https://hillcountryalliance.org/
  • Hill Country Conservancy – https://hillcountryconservancy.org/
  • Indigenous Cultures Institute: http://www.indigenouscultures.org/
  • San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance: https://smgreenbelt.org/
  • Hays County Master Naturalists: https://www.beautifulhayscounty.org
  • Texas Master Naturalist programs in Hill Country: https://txmn.org/hillcountry/
  • Hill Country Land Trust: https://hillcountrylandtrust.org/

  Texas State Parks and Natural Areas:

  • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sites:  https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/
  • Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Balcones_Canyonlands/
  • Government Canyon State Natural Area: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/government-canyon
  • Colorado Bend State Park: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/colorado-bend

The Engaged Life

An engaged life is characterized by the following principles: