On Earth Day, Richard Conlin and Bill Deitrich will speak at WWU

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin will speak on “Sustainability and Community” as part of Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment speaker series at 3 p.m., Friday, April 22 at WWU’s Communications Facility Room 125.

The presentation is free and open to the public. Bill Deitrich, WWU assistant professor of Environmental Studies, will also speak about his new book, “The History of Huxley College,” before Conlin presents.

Conlin will discuss how Seattle sees sustainability as a community goal and how it is working to get there. In 1994, Seattle adopted its comprehensive plan, “Towards a Sustainable Seattle,” and since then has advanced a series of environmental initiatives, from zero waste to a habitat protection plan for its watershed. Reshaping transportation and land use, building community and neighborhood organizations, supporting local food, and adopting goals of zero waste and carbon neutrality are current priorities.

Conlin was first elected to the Seattle City Council in November 1997, and has been reelected three times. In addition to serving as president, Conlin currently chairs the Regional Development and Sustainability Committee and currently serves on the Board of YES! and the Antioch University Seattle Board of Trustees.

The Huxley College of the Environment speaker series is held to bring together interested members of the WWU and Bellingham communities. Speakers address topics of contemporary environmental concern in the region and the world.

For more information contact Patrick Buckley, Western Washington University associate professor of Environmental Studies, (360) 650-4773 or patrick.buckley@wwu.edu.