Events

The Sustainability Group launched its Brownbag Lunch Series with an engaging session led by Jennifer Lauren from the Center for Teaching Advancement. Jennifer brought a recently published book to share, drawing from her experience working in diverse contexts such as Colombia, Congo, and Ireland, where young people play critical roles in addressing environmental, social, and institutional challenges.

Her talk explored how sustainability efforts operate at both the multilateral and institutional levels, emphasizing accessibility, youth participation, and intergenerational dialogue. She highlighted initiatives such as youth advisory boards, climate and mental health programs, and community-based facilitation models that connect local groups with international donors.

The discussion also touched on broader issues including conflict recovery, civil discourse, and the tension between individual and collective action. Participants reflected on the duty of care institutions have toward young activists, especially those speaking out in global forums like the UN.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to a dynamic and inspiring kickoff to our Brown Bag Lunch series!

The Sustainability Group’s November Brown Bag Lunch featured Prof. Krishnendu Ray, whose talk, “Failed Infrastructures of Mobile Lives,” examined the social, economic, and emotional dimensions of migration, food, and inequality in contemporary India.

Drawing from his presentation Eating Alone: Failed Infrastructures of Commensality, Prof. Ray reflected on the vulnerabilities of India’s mobile populations, particularly migrant workers, during the COVID-19 lockdown. Through powerful imagery and real-life narratives such as The Long March and The Distraught Father, he illuminated how systemic neglect and infrastructural failures deepened precarity for millions.
Prof. Ray discussed how heat exposure, gendered labor burdens, and the uneven impacts of climate change are reshaping rural and urban livelihoods. Women, especially in India’s agricultural sector, bear increasing responsibilities as men migrate to cities for work. He emphasized the need for infrastructural investment in shaded stands, safe public spaces, affordable mass transit, and women-only train cars to promote sustainable, equitable mobility.

The conversation also explored how digitalization and industrialization have transformed the rhythms of daily life—altering commensality, or the act of eating together. Prof. Ray’s reflections challenged participants to consider how “failed infrastructures” extend beyond roads and transport, encompassing the erosion of social and emotional bonds in an increasingly fragmented world.

The Sustainability Group’s February Brown Bag Lunch welcomed Belle Mbaezue and Michelle Chen from NYU’s Future Fashion Group (FFG), who shared insights on student-led sustainability initiatives transforming fashion culture on campus. Their talk explored how creative reuse, community engagement, and education can challenge the environmental and social harms of the fast fashion industry.

Founded in 2018, the Future Fashion Group brings together students across disciplines to reimagine fashion through sustainability and equity. Belle Mbaezue, FFG President, highlighted the organization’s mission to reduce textile waste while building more inclusive systems through community-centered design. Michelle Chen discussed the role of storytelling, education, and creative practice in fostering awareness around ethical consumption and environmental justice.

The speakers introduced FFG’s major initiatives, including clothing swaps, upcycling workshops, and sustainability education programs that encourage students to rethink consumption habits. Projects such as the Swap Shop have already rehomed thousands of clothing items, diverting significant amounts of textile waste from landfills while improving access to affordable clothing for students.

The conversation also addressed the broader environmental impact of the global fashion industry, which accounts for a substantial share of carbon emissions and water consumption worldwide. By promoting repair, reuse, and informed decision-making, FFG aims to cultivate a circular fashion culture at NYU—one that prioritizes longevity, creativity, and collective responsibility over disposability.

Through student-led innovation and cross-campus collaboration, the session highlighted how local action can contribute to global sustainability goals, inspiring participants to reconsider the social and environmental life cycle of what we wear.