FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. COC-08-058
December 5, 2007
College Participates in Global Warming Conference Next month College of the Canyons will join more than 1,000 colleges, universities and K-12 institutions across the country to take part in a national symposia and interdisciplinary discussion about possible solutions for the global warming crisis. Expected to include millions of students, educators and environmentally-minded citizens, simultaneously meeting at various locations across the country, the nationwide Focus the Nation: Global Warming Solutions for America conference will take place locally Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 on the College of the Canyons campus. Focus the Nation is a national movement initiated by Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., designed to focus growing concerns about the country's global warming problems and create a serious, sustained and truly national discussion about clean energy solutions. On the day of the event, each Focus the Nation conference location will invite local, state and federal politicians to participate in those discussions, with hopes of directly linking students and citizens with political leaders to bring about environmental policy change. "In support of the Focus the Nation movement, the intent of the College of the Canyons conference will be to focus on the concerns surrounding global warming," said Dr. Jia-Yi Cheng-Levine, chair of the college's Sustainable Development Committee. "We hope to generate more national discussion about possible solutions by looking at the historical roots of the problem and examining the role of education in providing those solutions." With that goal in mind, Focus the Nation organizers at COC have divided the conference into three themed segments: Historical Roots of Environmental Problems, The Role of Education in Building a Sustainable Future and Practical Solutions: Tips We Can All Do. Also included at the conference will be environmentally themed breakout discussion groups, student presentations and an assortment of invited speakers, including COC President-Superintendent Dianne Van Hook and Marsha McLean, mayor of Santa Clarita. As a culmination of the day's events, a fourth segment entitled "The Beginning of a New Era: Policies and Solutions," will offer a wrap-up of the day's main ideas and a chance to voice the endorsement of future environmental policy. "Educators, activists, policymakers and concerned citizens of our community will all have the opportunity to participate in panel discussions and workshops meant to address the most pressing issues regarding the environment and the potential to move toward a more sustainable and vibrant future," said Michael Joslin, COC dean of student services and co-chair of the event. The Focus the Nation Conference is being presented by the College of the Canyons Sustainable Development Committee and sponsored by Telesis Community Credit Union, the city of Santa Clarita, SCV Chamber of Commerce, REC Solar, Shaw Contract Group, EmergenStore, Seldner Environmental Services, Castaic Lake Water Agency, Nature's Path Foods, Clif Bar, Joint Juice and the COC Biology Department, Student Development office and Associated Student Government. However event organizers are still in need of an event title sponsor, additional panel presenters, community volunteers to work the event and both monetary and in kind donations to help offset event costs. For more about the Jan. 31 Focus the Nation: Global Warming Solutions for America conference, or information on how to become an event sponsor or volunteer, contact event co-chairs Michael Joslin at (661) 362-3260 or Amy Foote at (661) 362-3574. To register to attend the Focus the Nation conference at COC, or to learn more about the College of the Canyons Sustainable Development Committee's upcoming events, contact Dr. Jia-Yi Cheng-Levine at (661) 362-5806 or sdc@canyons.edu, or visit www.cocsdc.org. | 
