Calendar
Join the Parks and Natural Areas (PNA) Roundtable on Monday, March 9, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at H-GAC Conference Room A, Second Floor.
Attendees will learn about the Nature and Eclectic Outdoors’ Healthy Outdoor Communities initiative and Exploration Green, an award-winning parks and natural areas project in the region. They’ll also discuss the time and date for the spring field trip.
The PNA Roundtable meets the second Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November and is open to anyone interested in participating.
Integrating Water Management on the Texas Gulf Coast:
Moving Forward with a One Water Approach
Join Gulf Coast Water Conservation Symposium on Wednesday, October 28 – Thursday, October 29, 2020, for this two-day, virtual program. Each day’s programming will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Integrating Water Management on the Texas Gulf Coast:
Moving Forward with a One Water Approach
Join Gulf Coast Water Conservation Symposium on Wednesday, October 28 – Thursday, October 29, 2020, for this two-day, virtual program. Each day’s programming will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group will hold its annual public meeting via an interactive webinar on November 5, 2020. The webinar is open to everyone; Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group encourage your attendance and participation.
During this meeting, Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group will present updates on the Open Ocean Restoration Area’s restoration and monitoring and adaptive management activities. Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group will also provide an opportunity for questions and answers after the updates are presented.
The Texas Trustee Implementation Group for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill will hold its 2020 annual public meeting on November 4, 2020, via an online video presentation. The presentation will include updates on the Texas Trustee Implementation Group’s current restoration planning efforts and several ongoing restoration projects and will describe future planning efforts.
The video presentation may be viewed at any time on November 4, 2020, from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. and can be viewed as an unlimited number of times.
The public will have the opportunity to view the video, and provide comments related to the presentation topics during the same date and times through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s public comment portal under the heading “Texas TIG Annual Meeting Video Presentation.â€

Carrin Patman

Rosabeth Moss Kanter

Ellen Cohen
The event will feature a discussion with Harvard Business School Professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter, led by METRO Chair Carrin Patman. Kanter was named one of the “50 most influential business thinkers in the world,” according to Thinkers50, the global ranking of management thinkers. She will speak about her latest book, “Think Outside the Building: How Advanced Leaders Can Change the World One Smart Innovation at a Time.”
Center for Houston’s Future will also present the Vaughan Award to Ellen Cohen, a community leader who served as a Houston City Council member and Texas state representative.
Texas Trustees Holding Annual Public Meeting December 1
The Texas Trustee Implementation Group will hold its annual public meeting via a webinar on December 1, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. CT. During the meeting, They will present an update on Texas Restoration Area plans, projects, and activities. They will provide opportunities for attendees to submit questions as part of the webinar registration process, and during the Webinar via chat. The webinar is open to everyone, and they encourage your attendance and participation.
This free virtual event is brought to you by the Texas Water Resources Institute for those who will partake in the agency panel for program updates and a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension panel discussing continued engagement with stakeholders in response to COVID-19.

Experience forest bathing, led by a certified guide, followed by practice of the Christian spiritual discipline of the Earth Examen. Forest bathing, a practice that originated in Japan, involves taking in, in all of one’s senses, the forest atmosphere. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest. Forest bathing has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood and focus, enhance creativity, and lead to an increased sense of calm and altruistic behavior, in addition to other benefits such as boosting the immune system and lowering blood pressure. As Christians, we understand that God is present in God’s creation, and after our guided forest bath, we’ll spend some time considering the Earth Examen as we reflect both on our time spent forest bathing and on our relationship with all creation. This activity is for a small group and space is limited. Please register at www.eventbrite.com at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forest-bathing-earth-examen-tickets-291848535827. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.
This Plant-Based Burger Bar/Potluck kicks off a week long awareness campaign for animal rights and veganism. We are featuring Animal activist/author Ed Winters, Musical guest Strands of Compassion, and a sermon by D. Scott Cooper.
We hope to find likeminded community members whose beliefs resonate with that of First UU of Houston as well as informing our own community to the Environmental, Health, and Ethical importance of transitioning to a plant-based, vegan lifestyle.
Please join us for some free food, and conversation.