Pat Hofmeister

My goal is to help birds thrive. I chose it because during the pandemic, I have become a birder. I have learned that food, water and habitat are all necessary for the survival of birds.

I will reduce the amount of water flushed and save up to 11 gallons (41 L) of water a day or 330 gallons (1,230 L) a month by installing a toilet tank bank.

I will spend at least 10 minutes learning about the legacy of redlining and how city planning and environmental justice issues are interconnected.

I will spend at least 15 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

I will create a plan to and advocate for solar installation at my business, apartment building, or campus.

I will source 5 percent of my food from local producers each day. This could include signing up for a local CSA, buying from a farmer's market, visiting a food co-op, foraging with a local group, or growing my own ingredients.

Goal is to prevent birds from hurting themselves because of hitting windows in my house. I have become a birder and have learned that we lose hundreds of thousands of song birds due to collisions with building. I will place bird tape on windows by feeders.

Goal is to reduce the amount of electricity used by turning off television and lights when not in use. I chose this because it's something I can actually do to make a difference.

Goal is to watch a webinar to learn more about the interaction between the health of humans and animals. I chose this because of covid-19 and the desire to learn how we can attempt to prevent this type of disease in the future.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by local haulers or drop stations in my community, making sure to not contaminate recyclables with non-recyclables.

Cheap, single-use items and disposable packaging end up blowing around as litter more often in poor and BIPOC-majority neighborhoods. I will avoid buying and using 2 single-use plastics and instead replace them with durable options.

I will Practice the "5 Rs" — refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle — to reduce my waste more than I can with just recycling alone.

I will donate to nonprofits that install clean cookstoves in low-income countries.

I will use my spending power to reward companies leading in creating or purchasing green energy and incentivize others to invest more in green energy.

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

I will encourage my office to hold meetings virtually whenever possible instead of requiring travel.

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

I will spend 30 minutes researching businesses owned by women, immigrants, and Black, Indigenous, and people of color that I can support when shopping.

I will spend at least 35 minutes learning more about the barriers to women's equal participation and representation around the world.

I will connect with a local nonprofit working on issues affecting women, girls, and/or trans and nonbinary people in my community, and find out how I can get involved or become a member.

Sat., April 24th @ 9:30am - 12p **Register prior to event using link under "learn more."** This event is hosted in collaboration with the Community Improvement District of Dutchtown, Employment Connection, and several neighborhood associations. Volunteers will provide much needed litter cleanup along the streets and alleyways. Light snacks will be available and volunteers receive an Earth Day Celebration Kit. Bring a water bottle to refill! You can register in shifts for this event.

Sat., April 10th @ 9 am - 1 pm **Register prior to the event with the following link.**Hosted by A Red Circle in collaboration with Custom Foodscaping. Our first collaboration for our Environmental Justice Days Of Action. Volunteers will help build up the urban farm and plant potatoes at the North County Agricultural Education Center, which works to combat food apartheid. Light snacks will be available and volunteers receive an Earth Day Celebration Kit.