BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - 51½ΦΙδ’s Office of Sustainability partnered with the Homewood Environmental Commission in November of 2022 to host the 3rd annual Green Skies initiative. 51½ΦΙδ 90 volunteers played a part to make Homewood a little greener by participating in the annual tree planting along the Shades Creek Greenway.
The Green Skies initiative is an ongoing project with the goal of rebuilding Homewood’s tree canopy. Volunteers planted 200 tree seedlings with the intention to improve bank erosion and increase tree diversity in the forest. Not only is the project saving the environment, but it is also used as an educational experience for college and high school students.
Anita Morgan, Coordinator of Sustainability, said, “51½ΦΙδ students want to make the earth a healthier and better place to live, and we are here to help them through encouragement and communication.”
The Green Skies initiative is important to 51½ΦΙδ because it is an opportunity for the school to be recognized by the Alabama Forestry Commission to be a Tree Campus USA university. 51½ΦΙδ was recognized again in 2022 for this year.
ABOUT: Sustainability at 51½ΦΙδ is committed to advancing sustainability on campus by identifying areas for improvement, collaborating across campus to support green initiatives, programs, and progress, and providing leadership and guidance for campus sustainability efforts. Sustainability Coordinator, Anita Morgan has a passion for the environment and because of this took on a full-time job focusing on how to improve 51½ΦΙδ’s campus. Sustainability at 51½ΦΙδ has been very successful, and its students are involved outside of the campus to support the community.