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Back to school
The Howard School opens on new campus with health protocols in place
Local leaders honored with peace awards By JORGE MERCADO NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Three local leaders in the nonprofit sector were recognized this week for making exceptional impacts on both a local and worldwide level in their pursuits for peace. Barbara Tellefson, Thomas Tighe and David Krieger all received peace prizes during Thursday’s virtual Zoom awards ceremony hosted by the Santa Barbara United Nations Association. This is the fourth year the chapter has handed out Santa Barbara UNA Peace Prize, with this year’s theme focusing on “Celebrating Santa Barbara Stars Changing the World.” The keynote speaker on Thursday was former United Nation Ambassador from Bangladesh, Anwarul K. Chowdhury. “Peace is integral to human existence, in everything we do, in everything we say, and in every thought we have, there is a place for peace,” Mr. Chowdhury said. “We need to focus on empowering the individual, so that each one of us becomes an agent of peace and non-violence. We just have to leave our own mark on this world, as peaceful, nonviolent individuals.”
Mr. Tighe was the first to receive his award, under the category of advancing capacity in the developing world, and was introduced by 2017 UNA Peace Prize winner, Rinaldo Brutoco. Mr. Tighe runs Direct Relief, a humanitarian nonprofit that delivers emergency and medical resources to places in need. Owners of a 155,000 squarefoot warehouse in Goleta, Direct Relief estimates that it handles “3.9 million pounds of medical aid to 100 countries via 16,000 deliveries every year.” It is now one of the five largest charities in the United States, according to Mr. Brutoco, and this year will deliver $1.8 billion in medicine distribution. “It stands directly as a giant amongst international aid organizations, and even more critical for our purposes tonight, a giant in the distribution of critical medical supplies to the poorest of the poor right here in the U.S.A. It’s the only organization that’s allowed to distribute pharmaceuticals in all 50 states,” Mr. Brutoco said. Mr. Tighe was honored by Mr. Brutoco’s kind words and said one of the things he is most proud of is the work Direct Relief has done to help people of color. “What we have seen in the Please see peace on A3
Industry leaders discuss sustainable solutions COURTESY PHOTOS
Stephanie Lopez helps her students with spelling. The students wear masks all day except during lunch when they spread out outside and eat.
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Kindergarten teacher Jennifer Gonzalez started the school year on Zoom, trying to hold small kids’ attention for a couple hours each day. Then, she logged off and headed to her old classroom to remove her carefully selected decor and transfer them to her new classroom, roughly three times the size of her old digs. “The administration worked so hard all summer long to move our campus,” she said. “There’s a lot of steps to make it safe.” The Howard School in Carpinteria opened Monday at a new campus, this time located at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in indoor classrooms next to a large, outdoor field. Headmaster Joel Reed worked to secure the new location because he was eager to reopen but needed a safer space for students. “To see how happy they are, not just to go to recess but to go to class, is so refreshing,” he said. “I’m so glad we were able to open for them.” Ms. Gonzalez said she loves hearing her class giggle and can tell the students are smiling — even behind masks. “One student came up to me on the first day and said ‘Ms. Gonzalez, this is so much better than Zooming,’” she said. During Zoom classes, she could see the anxiety on the kids’ faces. They cried out of frustration and argued with their parents as they tried to adapt to technology. “For me, with teaching and education, it’s so much more than academics. It includes the social
Sharon Reed teaches her third-grade class on Thursday. The Howard School temporarily moved to a new campus so students could spread out more.
and emotional aspects and feeling safe,” she said. “Now that we’re back in a physical classroom, it really encompasses The Howard School philosophy.” Headmaster Reed also spoke about the importance of social growth. “The hard part of remote learning is that it’s only focused on academics. The other pillars of a child’s development can’t be truly nurtured in that kind of an
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environment,” he said. Some parents expressed concern initially when he announced his intent to return to classrooms, and he made sure there was an online option available. After he explained the safety precautions, though, all the parents were comfortable with inperson learning. When students enter school in the morning, they line up (six-feet apart) to get their temperatures
taken. Cubbies are outside the classroom, and they wash their hands immediately upon entering. Ms. Gonzalez is thankful she has two sinks inside her room and one outside. The new spacious room allows for ample social distancing, and she tries to get her class outside and make use of the large field on the new campus. She even has a teacher’s aide working with the class part time to Please see school on A4
By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Leaders from a variety of different industries came together to explore sustainable solutions for businesses and consumers, and their mantras when it comes to helping the environment. The virtual Sustainability Symposium held over Zoom Friday morning included leaders in shoes, cannabis farms, entertainment, food, construction, energy and financial planning. Each representative had the chance to present their solutions and provide concrete actions viewers can take to do a little more for the environment each day. Sustainable Future founder Seth Streeter acted as moderator for the symposium speakers, and said one of his and his organization’s goals is to educate the public that “strength in collaboration” is better than “community silos” when it comes to sustainability. “We have not yet come together. How can we bring the whole community together in one platform?” he said. “We’re here to go far together.” Sustainable Future created a competitive platform that allows users to log small or large sustainable actions they choose throughout the day and win points. To learn more about it, visit https://www. sustainablefuture.org/platform. General manager of Teva consumer products Anders Bergstrom discussed the importance of holding businesses accountable for what they actually do, rather than what they say they’ll do in 10 years. For example, he said Teva converted 100% of its webbing
straps on the sandals to recycled polyester, all while keeping the price the same. “Our fundamental belief is that sustainability cannot become a luxury,” Mr. Bergstrom said. “It can never become cloistered or set behind a walled garden or priced into a sector. You fundamentally limit and block your ability to make any type of impact on the planet whatsoever.” Learn more about Teva’s practices at https://www.teva. com/sustainability/. Glass House Farms chief cannabis officer Graham Farrar focused on the “interconnectedness” of sustainability across all sectors. Glass House attempts to reduce its carbon footprint by reusing runoff water, using beneficial insects over pesticides and using solar power rather than grow lights. “We like to think about things on the triple bottom line: things good for the planet, good for the business and important for the consumer,” Mr. Farrar said. “We are not on top of nature, but we are part of nature. We find ways to do more with less.” CARP Growers president Tristan Strauss echoed incorporating sustainable tenants into cannabis farming, and said that CARP Growers attempts to sustain not only its business culture, but the community as well. “All of our companies are only as sustainable as the community that supports them. It’s our responsibility as business owners and community members to ensure our returns are directed back into the local economy,” he said. “If directed properly and ethically, business Please see sustainable on A10
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