Paola Villegas

Access to affordable, nutritious food is a food justice issue. I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work, on campus and/or in the spaces I frequent.

If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.

I will begin, or continue, on the journey of forgiving myself and/or other(s). I may do this through journaling, meditation, prayer, and/or talking with a licensed healthcare professional.

I will spend at least 60 minutes learning about water and air quality issues in my area, how they are impacting human and environmental health, and how I can help.

I will spend 60 minutes researching toxic chemicals found in cleaning supplies and personal care products and remove them from my home.

I will get my Core Four Biometrics tests (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and BMI).

I will make an appointment for my annual physical.

I will spend 60 minutes learning about food apartheid and find out how I can advocate for healthy and fresh food in my region.

Both systemic and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.

I will spend 60 minutes researching environmental justice and environmental racism concerns in my region, who is affected by them, and local initiatives to address these concerns.

I will plant an herb garden in my home, workplace, or dorm room.

I will try a new method of food preparation, such as canning, pickling, or baking bread.

I will sign up for a local CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture).

I will purchase produce and meat from a local farmers market or food co-op.

I will watch 3 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.

I will visit my nearest farm to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those around the world who produce my food in order to make better choices when I shop.

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

I will find out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in recycling dumpsters or my curbside bin.

I will spend at least 60 minute(s) touring (virtually or in person) a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about our local waste and waste recovery streams.

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

I will spend 60 minutes learning about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

Historically, marginalized and low-income communities live closer to landfills, contributing to a multitude of health problems. I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate. I will keep 5 container(s) out of the landfill each day.

If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our waterways. I will keep 5 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill and ocean each day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

I will avoid sending 5 disposable cup(s) to the landfill each day by using a reusable mug.

I will keep 4 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream by using a reusable water bottle.