090: Trash Academy - Communicating Consumption and Waste through Activism & Advocacy with Ron Whyte

090: Trash Academy - Communicating Consumption and Waste through Activism & Advocacy with Ron Whyte

Author: Marjorie Alexander January 15, 2022 Duration: 36:27

Trash Academy, a project of Mural Arts Philadelphia's Environmental Justice department, is an intergenerational collaboration of young people, seasoned activists, artists, non-profits, local government, and concerned citizens of diverse backgrounds. These interventions are geared to complicate and deepen people's understanding of litter, consumption, and waste and shift attitudes from passive acceptance to proactive responses to the waste stream. Collectively, they design projects that add surprising and interesting elements to the urban landscape using fun group activities and games, teach-ins, workshops, and three Trash Mobiles providing on-site art and creativity studios at neighborhood events and locales.


Today's Sponsors: 

Climate Talks is a new podcast exploring sustainability and the ways that we communicate about the climate. Catch season 1 now as host Sophia Li interviews climate optimists, investigating the steps we can take to work towards a more sustainable future. https://pod.link/1592523204


In this episode Marjorie and Ron discuss:

  • Some of the challenges with waste in Philadelphia and how Trash Academy is educating people of all ages about the true impact of waste in our communities
  • How the Trash Mobile and other activities use concepts like gamification to have a lasting impact that traditional PSAs and non-interactive signage have not been able to accomplish
  • How parents can help their children better understand the concept of trash
  • Good first steps for how to get involved in issues you care about in your own community


Resources mentioned in today's episode:

 

Connect with Trash Academy:

 

Connect with Marjorie Alexander:

Interested in sponsoring or supporting A Sustainable Mind? Visit our sponsorship page at ASustainableMind.com/sponsor!


Marjorie Alexander hosts A Sustainable Mind, a weekly conversation with people who are actively reshaping our relationship with the planet. This isn't a series of abstract lectures; it's built on the real-world experiences of environmental changemakers, from scientists and grassroots organizers to entrepreneurs and artists who put their values into practice. The discussions naturally weave through topics of science, culture, and society, reflecting the interconnected nature of sustainability itself. You’ll hear stories about the challenges and triumphs of creating change, whether that's launching an ethical business, advocating for policy, or rethinking daily consumption. The aim is to move beyond inspiration alone and into practical understanding, offering listeners a genuine sense of how action unfolds in different forms. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful, committed community where ideas are translated into tangible steps, all through the voices of those doing the work. It’s for anyone who has ever felt that curiosity about how to live and act more thoughtfully on the Earth and is looking for a grounded, human-centered place to start.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

A Sustainable Mind - environment & sustainability podcast
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