HUSTON-TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY TO HOST EARTH DAY 2025
Wednesday Apr, 09 2025
AUSTIN, TX (April 9, 2025) – Huston-Tillotson University (HT) will once again partner with Earth Day Austin to host the annual Earth Day Austin Festival slated for Saturday, April 12, from noon until 6:00 p.m. on its East Austin campus located at 900 Chicon Street. The event is free and open to the public.
Touted as the largest sustainability event in Central Texas, the festival – this year themed “Rooted in Community” – will chronicle the history and intersectional growth of HT and East Austin, with particular emphasis on major environmental shifts and industrialization. The event is a zero-waste event, which means attendees will have many opportunities to learn how to lower their carbon footprint, conserve, recycle, and up-cycle
“We are honored to be back at the HT campus for the 55th annual event as Huston-Tillotson University celebrates its 150-year history as Austin’s first institution of higher education,” said Janie Bookout, executive director of Earth Day Austin. “Since the first Earth Day in 1970, people have come together to remember that we are connected to each other on a fragile planet in the middle of the universe. This year’s event will focus on celebrating Austin’s strong history of community leadership and the networks of mutual support that represent the heart of sustainability.”
Among the many activities planned are a discovery zone that includes an instrumental petting zoo, a planetarium, and several panel discussions that will cover topics such as environmental racism, social justice, and pathways toward a more equitable and sustainable future for East Texas. There will also be exhibits, food, music, and opportunities to connect and network with environmental professionals.
According to HT Associate Professor Amanda Masino, “This is the perfect time to celebrate the deep connections between the social justice and environmental justice movements, and use our shared history as rich grounding for growth and renewal.” And the University’s central location and interconnected indoor and outdoor spaces make it an ideal venue for the event.
