Leading Thoughts

Dear Community,

At this year’s graduation ceremony, I told the story of Levy, a local gardener I knew when I was growing up in Haiti. I hope you will indulge me in sharing an abbreviated version of that story here, as I find it to be relevant to the content of this issue.

One day, Levy set a goal to transform a dry, desolate plot of land near the local hospital where I was born. While the area had once been covered in lush forest, due to deforestation, it sat barren and desolate for many years. It was a big project, but he was up for the challenge. First, he removed some of the boulders and brought in natural fertilizer, compost, and topsoil. Next, he brought old tires and filled them with compost and topsoil, keeping the soil concentrated while still allowing plants to spread their roots deep into the ground. Slowly, in stages, the area was brought back to life, with Levy working section by section. Trees, and bushes, and eventually, beautiful flowers began to sprout.

Today, almost 25 years later, the land is thriving with lush growth, and local students have been taking advantage of the space by coming to learn about native plants and to enjoy the local butterflies, the coolness of the underbrush, and, of course, the cacao trees.

I share this story to illustrate the idea that sometimes, the challenges of our world — like climate change — can leave us feeling overwhelmed and defeated. But if we choose instead to focus on our personal circles of influence, it can energize us with a greater sense of purpose. Nature, in particular, also has the power to heal, soothe, and evoke joy.

We at CSW may not be able to halt the global effects of climate change on our own, but we can do our part by educating and equipping our students with knowledge and understanding and by reexamining our school’s practices and infrastructure to make sure we are doing our part. In this issue’s feature story: Sustainability at CSW: Past, Present, and Future (p. 16), we are proud to share just a few of the steps CSW has taken, and will continue to take, in our ambition to promote environmental sustainability and lower our carbon footprint. We also share the stories of some of the people who have been involved in these efforts and who have found inspiration and pleasure from this work.

I know, too, that we have countless alumni who have dedicated their lives to environmental sustainability efforts beyond CSW, and I look forward to hearing more of your stories and sharing them with the greater community. We are so proud of the incredible work that you do. While this is just the beginning of what I hope is a long-term, ongoing effort, I am heartened to know that just like Levy with his garden, every step we make is a positive step forward. Because, to quote my address to students, when you focus on your area(s) of influence, you never know what seeds you will plant, and how that helping hand and work will impact others.

Sincerely,

Artwork on the quad from the “Environmental Sculpture” course.