Whether you are a newcomer to the environmental movement or have been doing the work for years, navigating our new virtual world is hard. UCLA students, seniors and freshmen alike, are struggling to stay connected and make new friends. I find myself mass signing up for email lists and mass unsubscribing in a continued cycle of wanting to stay engaged without being constantly bombarded by emails I never open. If you're feeling the same, you're in the right place. Here are some low stress ways to stay checked into sustainability and open yourself up to new people and opportunities.
Try out a few clubs
If you have the time to attend an extra Zoom meeting, there is no better way to find out who you mesh with than to talk with them. UCLA has over 30 registered student organizations in the environmental space and each has its own mission and vibe. From Coastalong, a bike powered eco-friendly music and sustainability festival, to DIG, the campus garden coalition, there is truly something for everyone. Don’t worry about going once and never going back or joining an org “too late” into the year. Most sustainability organizations don’t have application processes or fees and accept all years and majors.
Join UNRAVEL’s new SLACK community
A sustainable clothing club on campus, UNRAVEL recently made the switch from GroupMe to SLACK to help spark connection and communication. You can join channels like book club, career, environmental justice, film-tv, and even virtual coffee where you’re matched with someone new every two weeks and have the opportunity to chat about anything. Join here.
Find a few good email lists and join them, might we suggest ours?
We send one email a week advertising our weekly general meeting and GroupMe community. We also advertise other opportunities including internships, workshops, panels, and sustainable jeopardy nights hosted by student organizations, UCLA Sustainability, and organizations around the country. Every email comes with an environmental joke of the day and the occasional meme. Shoot us an email at e3ucla@gmail.com or visit the Contact Us page to join.
Follow a few accounts on Instagram
If you’re present on social media, there is a strong environmental community on Instagram. Most student sustainability organizations have accounts, and you can follow all of our campaigns on there. Some of our other favorites are UNRAVEL, ERA (Ecological Restoration Association), ECC (Environmentalists of Color Collective), and REA (Renewable Energy Association). You can also follow UCLA’s Office of Sustainability, UCLA’s official zero waste team, and USAC’s Office of Sustainability.
Written by Emily Davis, E3's 2020-2021 Co-President.