Drawing Inspiration from my Community

Chris Adam: A Source of Vigour in Sustainability


Image: Chris Adam, Facebook

Meet Chris Adam

I met Chris Adam while studying in the Community Recreation and Leadership Training (C.R.L.T.) program at Dawson College. I was awestruck when I had the opportunity to have him as a teacher. His knowledge of and passion for living organisms and systems allowed me to reconnect with Nature in a way that I hadn't since childhood. That was something I held on to. It was my introduction to a greater awareness of the meaning and importance of sustainability.

Chris Adam, who has a Masters of Education in College Teaching, is more than an educator of group leadership and environmental learning; he truly sets the stage for positive connections to develop, whether between and amongst people or with Nature. To do so, he relates and connects to students on a level of mentorship and humanity. Those very qualities have allowed for the opportunity to meet with him this Monday evening.

Image: Chris Adam, Dawson College
As I sat by the artificial fireplace at Tim Hortons, anxiously waiting for Chris Adam to arrive, I couldn't help but feel honoured that he would take time out of his busy schedule to meet with me. He currently the Coordinator of the Sustainability Office at Dawson College. (Find out more about Chris Adam influential role regarding sustainability at Dawson College HERE!) Chris is also the founder and Executive Director of Earthvalues Institute, a non-profit organization, whose mission is to "teach and model a new way of living, focused on sustainable development and leadership for change. In educating, the goal is to improve the connection between society and Nature through an interdisciplinary and experiential approach" (earthvalues.org).

In fact, I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for sharing his time, thoughts, and a cup of joe with me.

Our meeting was informal in nature, which led to an invigorating and organic conversation about reframing the way sustainability is presented, the projects he is involved in through Sustainable Dawson, and sustainability in pedagogy.

Reframing Our Language

Sustainability is academic sounding can be alienating. It sounds like it requires work and allocation of resources. Chris suggested a reframing sustainability by presenting it as the endeavour to provide "well-being for all". He related the idea to his experience approaching individuals in order to gain their favour and participation in a project. Indeed, stating that the goal was "well-being for all" elicited far fewer eye rolls than "sustainability" may have in the same context. We discussed how academia, which undoubtedly has an important role in researching the matter, has dulled people's sensitivity to the term sustainability, as the general population has heard much about it, but may have witnessed or heard about far fewer results. Explaining what it is has stripped sustainability of feeling and of the holistic approach that it inherently requires. The conclusion of this part of our conversation was that, ultimately, we need to talk about it less and do more (personal communication, December 3, 2018).
Organization Chart of Well-Being for All within Living Campus Frame
Image: Permission of use by Sustainable Dawson


His Work

And this is why I selected Chris Adam as a source of vigour. He talks and teaches about sustainability and/or well-being for all, and he acts on it. He has been part of Sustainable Dawson since it's inception as a pilot project. The Peace Garden is not only a memorial to commemorate loss experienced by the community on September 13, 2006, but it is also a part of Dawson's Living Campus initiative, which ties back to the notion of well-being for all. The Insect Hotel and the Bee Hives on the roof, the Monarch sanctuary, these are only a few of the initiatives that Chris has spearheaded through Sustainable Dawson. [Note to my teacher readers: If you're looking for inspiration, this is a good place to start! ]

Chris Adam surrounded by students and staff members, Insect Hotel
Image: Permission of use by Sustainable Dawson

Chris believes that Sustainable Happiness is the direction that sustainability is heading. (personal communication, December 3, 2018). Dr. Catherine O'Brien defines Sustainable Happiness as "happiness that contributes to individual, community or global well-being and does not exploit other people, the environment, or future generations" (https://sustainablehappiness.world). In fact, Sustainable Happiness is a certification that Dawson College is currently offering.

The Strategic Plan
Image: Permission of use by Sustainable Dawson

The Sustainability Strategic Plan at Dawson College forcibly involves every department of the college. The image presented above is a visual representation of those dynamics. Through their efforts, Chris and the Sustainability Office are hoping that Dawson will receive an acknowledgement of Gold standard on the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) within three years, a feat unheard of as the college began from nothing. (Chris Adam, personal communication, December 3, 2018).



Sustainability in Pedagogy

Youtube video of Touch-Me-Not seed pods 

I remain fascinated by the Touch-Me-Not seed pods that explode at the slightest touch. These pods are found on a plant that I would have categorized as a weed and dismissed before I attended the Environmental Learning Experience course Chris Adam taught. I communicated to Chris that I agree with Emma Marris who argues that the definition of Nature used is "purist" in her TED talk Nature is Everywhere - We Just Need to Learn to See It. If I had not had an introduction to this plant, I might have dismissed it as a nuisance growing on the side of the road. This is why educators need to re-conceptualize the way they teach about Nature. We need to step away from the textbook and take a more wholistic approach. This allows for students to make connections and have positive experiences interacting with Nature.

Parting Words of Wisdom

Chris left me with some words of wisdom. He advised that I remember why I am doing what I am doing and to leave the academic language to situations that require it. He suggested that Nature should be seen as a theme that can run through the curriculum rather than a discipline to be studied in isolation. (Chris Adam, personal communication, December 3, 2018). 

Well-being for all is a concept that everyone can relate to, including my special needs students. They may not understand the underlying concepts of ecology and sustainability, but they know how it feels to grow and eat their own vegetables. They feel pride in caring for their plants; they care about the plants getting the water and nutrients they needs; they care that the beautiful flower is going to become a butternut squash. Sure, they were a little disappointed that a squirrel snacked on some of their butternut squash, but they also learned that they weren't the only ones using that parcel of land. They may have felt a sense of disappointment, but it was accompanied by a sense of accomplishment and a connection to Nature. 

References

CitraBenZoet. (2010, September 22). Spotted touch-me-not seed pod exploding [Video file]. 

          Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubJ6JQd5pzE

Dawson College. (2018). Sustainable Dawson.  Retrieved from 

          https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/

Marris, E. (2016, August 19). Nature is everywhere - We just need to learn to see it [Video file]. 

          Retrieved from https://youtu.be/hilcwt88o94

O'Brien, C. (2016). Sustainable happiness and well-being definition. Retrieved 

          from https://sustainablehappiness.world

Sustainable Dawson. (2018). Dawson College: Living campus project - A reconnection of people, 

         community and Nature [Images]. 

Additional Resources

If you're interested in finding out more about Sustainable Happiness and Well-Being:

O'Brien, C. (2016). Education for sustainable happiness and well-being. New York: Routledge. 

Chris Adam also mentioned that there will be a Living School Symposium at Concordia University on April 23, 2018. Keep an eye out for information!


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