By News and Media Relations

By Karla Averanga

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – MAY 1, 2025 – The UTRGV Office For Sustainability (OFS) held its annual Earth Fest recently to showcase the environmentally sustainable efforts of the university’s people and organizations.     

The event is designed to encourage environmental stewardship and community involvement through various activities, including a Mutt Strut for pet adoptions, a sustainable cooking demonstration, a nature walk, a bird display, and a bike patrol.

The festival welcomed students, staff and the community to enhance their commitment to the planet.

Dominic Guerra, a UTRGV civil engineering major, said Earth Day isn’t just one day in April,  but serves as a year-round reminder for everyone to take care of the planet.

“We should appreciate what we already have here,” he said. “This celebration encourages us to be thankful for our planet.”

Yoko Gomez, with McAllen Parks & Recreation, said festivities like Earth Fest serve as a way to reach Valley communities and remind them of all that is available to them to help preserve the planet.

“We’re bringing awareness of sustainable events throughout the RGV, and this brings the entire community together,” she said.

GREEN ACTIVITIES

This year’s Earth Fest attendees enjoyed a variety of activities, including:

• A demonstration by Chartwell Dining Services in their Cowboy Kitchen, featuring a build-your-own poke bowl station that highlighted sustainable ingredients.
• Walking tours by guides John Brush, an urban ecologist from Quinta Mazatlán, and Allen Williams, director of Educational Habitat, Landscaping and Gardens for Region I, who explained the importance of native plants and vital ecological conservation efforts on campus.
• An informative display by Dr. Karl Berg, ornithologist in UTRGV School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences, with insightful information about the Valley's local birds.
• The Mutt Strut, sponsored by Palm Valley Animal Society and Brownsville Animal Regulation & Care Center (BARCC), which introduced furry friends to potential forever homes.

The two-day celebration took place April 23 at the Chapel Lawn on the Edinburg Campus, and April 24 at the Student Union Lawn on the Brownsville Campus.

SPREADING AWARENESS

David Vasquez, Urban Farms and Community Gardens manager at the Brownsville Wellness Coalition, said Earth Fest isn’t an annual event, it is something to celebrate every day.

“I love planting and teaching people how to reconnect with nature,” he said. “Our priority is to bring people to grow good, natural, organic food and spread the awareness of maintaining a healthy, sustainable body.”

And Nalleli Trejo, grant analyst at City of Brownsville Grants & Community Development, said the city every year is granted federal funding to help the city with tree improvements, tree planting, and the preservation of buildings and libraries.   

The festivities weren’t limited to one annually designated day in late April, though. On the weekend following Earth Fest, the UTRGV community turned out for Vaqueros Volunteer, to help beautify the Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg, and the historic Cueto building in the heart of Brownsville.

Vaqueros Volunteer is an annual event organized by UTRGV Community Engagement that takes place during National Volunteer Week.

In addition, UTRGV Theatre's production of Carmela Full of Wishes introduced the whimsical world of young Carmela, filled with hope, dreams and cultural magic. Adapted from Matt de la Peña’s beloved book, the family friendly show was open to the community at UTRGV Performing Arts Complex in Edinburg.

The combination of Earth Fest, Carmela Full of Wishes and Vaqueros Volunteer helped forge a memorable spirit of unity, sustainability and cultural enrichment for the UTRGV and Valley communities.

To learn more about Earth Fest and sustainability around campus, visit the OFS website or follow its social media channels.