The United Nations estimated that 30 percent of the food produced worldwide is wasted. That's like getting ready to eat three crispy, delicious Belgian waffles and tossing one straight in the trash.

The United Nations estimated that 30 percent of the food produced worldwide is wasted. That's like getting ready to eat three crispy, delicious Belgian waffles and tossing one straight in the trash. When we waste food, we are wasting all the resources and labor that went into producing, transporting, refrigerating, and packaging that food. In the landfill, food also produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Join Lesly Baesens, Food Waste Recovery Program Administrator for the City and County of Denver -and Belgian native- in saving the waffle. Lesly will teach you practical tips on reducing food waste at home, which will not only lower your carbon footprint but also save you time in the kitchen and money in your food budget. Lesly is deeply passionate about sustainability and believes even small individual changes can result in major collective impact. As the Food Waste Recovery Program Administrator for the City of Denver’s Department of Public Health & Environment, Lesly works with residents, city staff, food banks and pantries to ensure that food never ends up in landfills but is instead eaten, redistributed or composted. When the COVID pandemic hit, Lesly applied this ‘no food waste’ philosophy to tackling the immediate hunger needs of Denverites affected by the economic shut down by connecting emergency food providers with supplies and food to keep them operating in the face of increased demand. Lesly has made appearances on Denver ABC7 and on Denver 8 TV, and was featured on PBS Newshour “Waste Not, Want Not” series. She has also participated in the Green Team Academy podcast and was a speaker at Mayor Michael Hancock’s Sustainable Denver Summit and at ICLEI’s Resilient Cities Global Forum, Germany. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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We have known about the threats represented by climate change for decades. We called it global warming. Did you know that we release CO2 to our atmosphere by mining and burning fossil fuels? Since

We have known about the threats represented by climate change for decades. We called it global warming. Did you know that we release CO2 to our atmosphere by mining and burning fossil fuels? Since the atmosphere is less and less permeable, the greenhouse effect arises and it warms up the atmosphere of Earth. Average yearly temperature is increasing, icebergs are melting, climate is changing. Various ecosystems are collapsing. Despite of protectors´ efforts, society does not realize the seriousness of this situation. Where did we make a mistake? Why did we wake up only now? Contemporary climate activism can bring hope for our planet. We have to find courage and make radical system changes. It is not only about saving the planet anymore, it is about saving human kind. The way young people act has awakened hope. Jakub Hrbáň is one of Slovak coordinators in students´ climate movement “Fridays For Future”. He joined the climate strike in March 2019, after the beginning of preparations for the first Slovak strike within the worldwide students´ climate strike. He finished high school in 2017. He decided that university has to wait and instead he entered a ten-month community program YIP (Youth Initiative Program) in Sweden. He learned about challenges which humanity is facing right now. He worked in a team with the mayor of Bratislava, Matúš Vallo. Now he leads a project called Miznúca Domovina (Disappearing Homeland), through which they try to spread information about climate crisis among the public. In his work he merches ecology, education and passion. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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This month, Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration reported a quarter of a million Californians experiencing homelessness requested help in 2020—numbers that skyrocketed from previous estimates

This month, Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration reported a quarter of a million Californians experiencing homelessness requested help in 2020—numbers that skyrocketed from previous estimates in some Bay Area counties. The Golden State is lauded for its job opportunities and diverse population, but it’s also the state with some of the highest housing and transportation costs in the nation. Now, Californians are demanding change, and a cross-sectional group of affordable housing and homelessness advocates created Roadmap Home 2030, a definitive plan to end homelessness and create affordable homes for all over the next 10 years. Housing California, the California Housing Partnership, and dozens of experts and advocates identified 57 policy solutions to create affordable homes, protect low-income renters, end homelessness and ensure racial equity. With their detailed plan of creative solutions, coupled with dedicated leadership, this ambitious group believes a better California is doable. The wealth gap and a shortage of affordable homes in the state prohibits Californians from building healthy and fulfilling lives. With considerable energy and influence, this coalition of housing advocates are seeking to make bold, structural change to create an equitable future where everyone has a safe place to live. Join our expert panel for a conversation about equity, change and the fight to dramatically shift the landscape on affordable housing and homelessness in the Golden State. About the Speakers Ruby Bolaria-Shifrin is director of housing affordability for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). As part of CZI’s commitment to ensuring access to safe, stable and affordable housing, she works with community leaders, advocates, researchers, policymakers and investors to help more people find housing that meets their needs. As one of San Francisco’s voices in Sacramento, Assemblymember David Chiu is an outspoken advocate for housing reform and equity. He currently chairs the California State Assembly’s Committee on Housing and Community Development. With more than 20 years of leadership and work in the field, Tomiquia Moss brings expertise in the issues of housing, public policy and community development. She is the founder and chief executive of All Home, a Bay Area-focused nonprofit. Prior to All Home, Tomiquia served as chief of staff for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and as executive director for the HOPE SF initiative under the late San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, Executive Director, Los Angeles Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LA LISC) NOTES TUE, APR 27 / 3:00 PM PDT SPEAKERS Ruby Bolaria-Shifrin Director of Housing Affordability, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative David Chiu California State Assemblymember, 17th District Zella Knight Resident Leader, Residents United Network Tomiquia Moss Founder and Chief Executive, All Home Molly Solomon Reporter for Housing Affordability, KQED Public Media—Moderator -www.commonwealthclub.org/covid19support -Subscribe for more Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/commonwealthclub -Upcoming events: https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events -Become a Member: https://www.commonwealthclub.org/membership -Donate Now: https://support.commonwealthclub.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298 -Watch & Listen https://www.commonwealthclub.org/watch-listen -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecommonwealthclub/ -Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cwclub/ -Twitter https://twitter.com/cwclub

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