Earth Day Spokane organizers inviting community to celebrate

Although there was some concern about switching Earth Day Spokane from Riverfront Park to downtown’s West Main Street, the move ultimately proved to be highly successful for the annual celebration. Those who questioned the move didn’t see the streets of downtown Spokane as what Earth Day was all about. However, organizers explained that “the park’s acres of fertilized, irrigation-dependent grass” weren’t exactly a fitting backdrop for the event, and that the celebration could benefit from a more urban setting since many conversations about sustainability often involve smart growth and access to food in the city. “Last year went really well,” said Jessica Anundson, Earth Day 2011 chair. “Being at places such as the Community Building, Main Market, Kizuri…it’s the perfect place to bring equity, the community and sustainability together.” It was this forethought from last year’s organizers that has set the stage for Earth Day Spokane 2011. The 41st annual event, set for Saturday, April 23, will be about recognizing our shift towards urban communities and the call to find balance between humanity’s needs and the preservation of our natural resources. “By 2050, 65 percent of humanity will be working and living in urban places. This is a pivotal moment in our environmental history and it’s time to start pushing for a larger commitment to sustainability,” said Bart Mihailovich, co-chair of the event, in describing Earth Day Spokane 2011 on its Facebook page. He, Anundson and the Earth Day Spokane committee plan to focus on bringing together many ideas to benefit everyone. “(We’re going to) really focus this year on how we can be more sustainable in our every day lives with activities for the whole family in the areas of alternative transportation, local food, conservation and energy,” said Anundson. Anundson, who has been involved with sustainable issues in Spokane for seven years, including Earth Day, is currently coordinator for Spokane Alliance, an organization that acts to shape public policy for the common good through a network of faith, education, labor and civic nonprofit institutions. Mihailovich is Spokane’s Riverkeeper and co-founder of Down to Earth, an environmental blog that eventually led to Down to Earth NW, plus co-host of a weekly KYRS radio show with DTE co-founder Paul Dillion. The community event kicks off at 11 a.m. between Division and Browne streets, on West Main Avenue, which will be blocked off from traffic so that participants can wander throughout the various information booths and food vendors, watch performances and listen to live music and speeches, and partake in the many fun educational activities for all ages. New this year will be a youth passport series where kids will earn badges for their “passport” by visiting the four themed areas. Also, in addition to speakers taking the stage in between the performances outside, there will be a “lecture series” where participants can choose to attend presentations from a list of sustainable topics. Tours of the Main Market Food Co-op and the Community Building, which has been certified LEED platinum , will again be offered. Although the fun will continue until midnight, the proposal—pending street closure approval—is to keep the street party going as well as provide indoor activities. “Things are going really well in the planning stages so far,” said Anundson. “Hopefully, we’ll get the okay to keep the party in the streets…especially if we get a repeat of the weather we had last year.”