Housatonic Community College (HCC) showed its support for the environment with an outdoor Earth Day celebration on Thursday, April 21. The annual event offered students, faculty and staff hands-on opportunities to renew their respect for the planet.

Held on the Housatonic campus courtyard in a section now called the HCC Garden Lounge, crowds gathered to receive seedlings, plant in the community garden, try their hand at woodburning, and paint planting pots.

Chef Raquel Rivera, of A Pinch of Salt in Bridgeport, held a live cooking demonstration using ingredients from HCC’s community garden, and Henry Vehslage, Communication Director for Groundwork Bridgeport, led a discussion on urban forestry.

“Attention to the health of our planet is needed now more than ever before,” said Dr. Dwayne Smith, CEO of Housatonic Community College. “Our actions have global consequences, and today’s celebration recharges our commitment to building a stronger environment for us all.”

“We want students to understand the importance of sustainability and get their hands dirty in our Earth. Earth is our only home! Today’s event is presented by STEAM at HCC thanks to our HCC Foundation, with generous funding support provided by Pitney Bowes and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company,” said Robin Avant, Dean of Academic Affairs at Housatonic.

For more information about Housatonic Community College, please visit www.Housatonic.edu