Speaker will connect social justice and sustainability to individual actions that can foster change

Pandora Thomas will speak at the College of Saint Benedict about connecting social justice and sustainability to individual actions.

Thomas' talk, "We are the Ones!" is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, in room 204A, Gorecki Center, CSB. She is the featured speaker of Sustainability Week at CSB Sept. 28-Oct. 2.

Her speech is free and open to the public.

Thomas believes colleges and universities play a major role in shaping our future leaders to ensure a future for themselves and the generations to come by cultivating a perspective to consider economic viability, environmental responsibility and social justice in equal measure in decision-making. 

Her message is to connect social justice and sustainability to individual actions that can grab hold and foster change.

A credentialed multiple subjects teacher, Thomas works extensively to educate a broad range of audiences on the importance of making the choice to live sustainably for all people regardless of ethnicity or income bracket. She is the co-founder of Earthseed Consulting, LLC, a holistic firm whose work deepens the impacts of environmental advocacy in the lives of diverse communities.  She has worked with a variety of communities and corporations, including Toyota and San Quentin State Prison.

Thomas studied at Columbia University and Tufts University, as well as Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, Esalen Institute and The Regenerative Design Institute. She is a certified green building professional and has presented at Tedx in Denver. Thomas created and taught curriculum to pre-k through adult international audiences linking global affairs, women and youth empowerment, racial justice and sustainability. 

The event is sponsored by CSB Residential Life, CSB Campus Ministries, CSB Office of the President, CSB Office of Sustainability, SJU Outdoor University, CSB/SJU Environmental Studies Department, CSB/SJU Libraries, CSB/SJU Peace Studies Department and CSB/SJU Intercultural and International Student Services.