The air quality in Harris County is influenced by multiple sources of pollution, including extensive road traffic, concrete batch plants, proximity to the largest petrochemical industrial complex in the United States, and port activities in the Houston Ship Channel. It is also important to note that environmental risks are not always uniformly distributed in urban areas like Houston, Harris County, and individuals classified with low socioeconomic status (SES) can become overburdened by environmental exposures. One pollutant of interest is particulate matter, specifically particulate matter of size 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5). PM2.5 is of particular interest because these fine particles pose the greatest risk to human health due to their small size and ability to reach multiple organs. There are long-term and short-term impacts of PM2.5 pollution on the human respiratory and cardiovascular organ systems. These short and long-term impacts may have contributed to poor outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). The COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted us all. An important public health objective is to identify key modifiable environmental factors that may contribute to the severity of the health outcomes related to this disease. Join Rachel White, MPH, PhD (c), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, as she takes a deep dive into this topic and discusses how pollution may impact our understanding of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19.  Time for interactive discussion with the speaker will be provided.  Please register for this talk on www.eventbrite.com at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/is-there-an-association-between-air-pollution-and-covid-19-mortality-tickets-330848455637. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.

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. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.

Do you love the Second Ward? Do you have some time next week to come and talk to us about why? 

Join Kam Franklin and Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC) for a week of music, fashion, connection, healing, and environmental education.

Second Ward Healing Hours are part of the Houston Inspira public health storytelling campaign.

The week-long event will feature local DJ’s, a food and arts market, and an open recording studio for community members to tell their stories. In 2023, Kam will release several new songs and a visual EP about Second Ward and environmental public health, incorporating stories and testimonials captured during the event.

Sequin Sanctuary will be selling vintage pieces from Kam’s own closet to further promote sustainable fashion, and all money made from the closet during the week will be donated to support CEC.

Do you love the Second Ward? Do you have some time next week to come and talk to us about why? 

Join Kam Franklin and Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC) for a week of music, fashion, connection, healing, and environmental education.

Second Ward Healing Hours are part of the Houston Inspira public health storytelling campaign.

The week-long event will feature local DJ’s, a food and arts market, and an open recording studio for community members to tell their stories. In 2023, Kam will release several new songs and a visual EP about Second Ward and environmental public health, incorporating stories and testimonials captured during the event.

Sequin Sanctuary will be selling vintage pieces from Kam’s own closet to further promote sustainable fashion, and all money made from the closet during the week will be donated to support CEC.

Do you love the Second Ward? Do you have some time next week to come and talk to us about why? 

Join Kam Franklin and Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC) for a week of music, fashion, connection, healing, and environmental education.

Second Ward Healing Hours are part of the Houston Inspira public health storytelling campaign.

The week-long event will feature local DJ’s, a food and arts market, and an open recording studio for community members to tell their stories. In 2023, Kam will release several new songs and a visual EP about Second Ward and environmental public health, incorporating stories and testimonials captured during the event.

Sequin Sanctuary will be selling vintage pieces from Kam’s own closet to further promote sustainable fashion, and all money made from the closet during the week will be donated to support CEC.

Do you love the Second Ward? Do you have some time next week to come and talk to us about why? 

Join Kam Franklin and Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC) for a week of music, fashion, connection, healing, and environmental education.

Second Ward Healing Hours are part of the Houston Inspira public health storytelling campaign.

The week-long event will feature local DJ’s, a food and arts market, and an open recording studio for community members to tell their stories. In 2023, Kam will release several new songs and a visual EP about Second Ward and environmental public health, incorporating stories and testimonials captured during the event.

Sequin Sanctuary will be selling vintage pieces from Kam’s own closet to further promote sustainable fashion, and all money made from the closet during the week will be donated to support CEC.

Do you love the Second Ward? Do you have some time next week to come and talk to us about why? 

Join Kam Franklin and Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC) for a week of music, fashion, connection, healing, and environmental education.

Second Ward Healing Hours are part of the Houston Inspira public health storytelling campaign.

The week-long event will feature local DJ’s, a food and arts market, and an open recording studio for community members to tell their stories. In 2023, Kam will release several new songs and a visual EP about Second Ward and environmental public health, incorporating stories and testimonials captured during the event.

Sequin Sanctuary will be selling vintage pieces from Kam’s own closet to further promote sustainable fashion, and all money made from the closet during the week will be donated to support CEC.

Whether celebrating in your home or your house of worship, people of all faith/spiritual traditions would like their occasions to be sustainable.  Sustainability is frequently defined as fulfilling the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations.  This is a simple definition, but putting it into practice for holidays and holy days may require some thought and planning.  Lisa Brenskelle will draw from her decades of work in earthkeeping ministry in both Christian and interfaith settings to explain the key aspects to consider to make your celebration sustainable.  Time for interactive discussion with the speaker will be provided.  Please register for this talk on www.eventbrite.com at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainable-celebrations-tickets-430614338077. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.

As John Muir famously wrote in 1911: “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.” This expression of oneness, which Muir observed from his time in the Sierras, has both a scientific and a spiritual basis. Muir was prescient, as the known science in 1911 had only a rudimentary understanding, by our modern standards, or how all things connect. And, although Muir was raised in very devout Christian home and considered himself a Christian, he may never have connected the spiritual aspect of this oneness with the Christian faith.  Join Lisa Brenskelle, who holds a doctoral degree in engineering and has spent decades working in earthkeeping ministry in both Christian and interfaith settings, as she highlights the oneness of all things as understood by modern science and as expressed in Christian scriptures. Attendees will gain a deeper appreciation of how everything connects to everything else, including how humanity is woven into the fabric of the universe. Time for interactive discussion with the speaker will be provided.  Please register for this talk on www.eventbrite.com at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oneness-scripture-science-tickets-430609794487. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.