PITTSBORO - The Central Carolina Community College Sustainable Speaker Series this spring includes the programs "Building People Power for Climate and Energy Justice" and "The Haw River Is Our Home." In addition, there will be a screening of the movie, "Growing Cities."

CCCC's Students for Sustainability sponsors the series, which is free and open to the public.

Laura Lauffer, Sustainability Coordinator and Lead Instructor for CCCC's Sustainable Technologies programs, says the Students for Sustainability are engaged in what is happening in the community -- sustainability beyond the classroom.

"These topics are important to them. It is great that we have so many talented speakers who can help increase awareness about the challenges and opportunities in energy and the environment and our agricultural resources," said Lauffer.

"Building People Power for Climate and Energy Justice" will be presented at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Chatham Community Library Mary Hayes Holmes Conference Room on the CCCC Chatham County Campus in Pittsboro. NC Waste Awareness and Reduction (NC WARN) will present the program.

"The Haw River is Our Home" will be presented at 7 p.m. March 18 on the Chatham County Campus in Pittsboro. Join Joe Jacobs of the Haw River Canoe and Kayak Company and Elaine Chiosso of the Haw River Assembly as they share the story of one of Chatham County's beauties.

A film screening of "Growing Cities" will be presented at 7 p.m. April 15 on the Chatham County Campus in Pittsboro. This documentary film examines the role of urban farming in America. After the film, join a discussion with CCCC faculty and students to learn about growing your own food in any space available.

Calvin Megginson is one of the students who organized the event. "I believe that the Sustainable Speaker Series is important because it provides an avenue for the community to come and be involved and educated in sustainability," he said. "This type of two-way communication is vital for creating a feedback loop so that we stay on the cutting edge of technology and industry."

"These speakers are looking at the frontiers of these major changes - they inform and they inspire," said student Danielle DuClos. "There is so much we can do together. An informed and inspired community is a great starting point for that. Students for Sustainability and the Sustainable Speakers Series can be a bridge to sharing this knowledge with the larger community and connecting our motivation so we can unite forces to bring great and much needed transformation locally and globally."

DuClos added, "If we don't change the way we relate to the world, the world won't end - it will keep changing. What we are talking about with sustainability isn't saving the planet - it's keeping it habitable for us and for other living creatures."

For those who would like dinner before the Sustainable Speaker Series programs, the college's Natural Chef Cafe will be open from 6 to 7 p.m. on the Chatham County Campus. All dinners are $14. The Natural Chef Cafe features sustainable meals prepared by students enrolled in the CCCC Culinary Arts Continuing Education and Curriculum programs. Reservations are encouraged. For reservations, please call 919-545-8076.

CCCC offers a variety of spring sustainable program classes, as well as the Sustainable Living Series. The Series prepares members of the community to live a resource efficient lifestyle. Local experts will share their skills in green building, smart home design, and developing a vibrant local economy.

For more information on CCCC's sustainability programs, visit www.cccc.edu, call Laura Lauffer at 919-545-8032 or email llauffer@cccc.edu.