Pando Days '22 - Pando Populus

Pando Days ’22 connected Southland colleges and universities to LA County’s sustainability plan by inspiring innovative and practical solutions to the challenges we face. Read more about the Pando Days program series, launched in 2019.

In the 2022 season, Pando Days focused on the neighborhood.

Whose neighborhood? Yours! The area surrounding the campus — as close as the quad or up to a five-mile radius or more. We’re brought the goals of the LA County sustainability plan into your own backyard!

We selected challenges that we think will inspire imaginative solutions and bring change on a local, community level.

Habitat:
Yours. The built environment. The birds’. Animals wandering onto freeways… The home we all share.

Climate & Water:
Weather comes to mind. But there’s sun, wind and air. Rain, water… the essential life currents we depend on.

Spirit:
The arts. Dance. Mindfulness. Faith. And so much more. Creativity that enriches our lives.

Health:
Whole health systems and living. Food, parks, recreation and more.

Communications:
Talk. Media. Journalism. Outreach and learning.

Learn more about the Pando Days program series.

And look at the impact we’re having!

See Pando Days ’22 projects

New film on Pando Days ’22 by Oscar-nominated Lyn Goldfarb (12 min.)

Watch the new film by Oscar-nominee Lyn Goldfarb, We Are Pando, which premiered at the Pando Days ’22 season finale and awards event. The documentary short film is based on interviews with 49 students drawn from 15 participating Pando Days ’22 colleges and universities.

How it works

Our season begins every year in the spring with outreach to fifty-some colleges, universities, and professional schools throughout the Southland.

Instructors from across departments and disciplines apply for the opportunity to enroll their fall-term courses, studios, or labs in the Pando Days program.

We provide a full curricular framework and a broad range of resources, including a Pando Fellowship opportunity for course instructors and honoraria. The program is provided free of charge.

See Overview deck below for a full description of the program, timeline, and events. College and university instructors, see Instructor’s deck for additional information on curricular resources. Pando Days Subscribing Members, see Sponsor’s deck for information on how you can get involved advising and mentoring school teams.

How It Works: Overview

How It Works: Instructors

How It Works: Sponsors

Participating schools

Pando Days ’22 events

Pando Days ’22 launched with a virtual event in late April, following notification to more than 50 Southland colleges and universities soliciting their participation.

After the launch, legendary designer John Bielenberg teamed up with Brandt Williams to lead a Pando Blitz! It was a day of design thinking. A virtual THINKNADO!

The Blitz included all-school sessions and individual team workshops designed to help college and university teams jumpstart ideas for the fall quarter/semester.

Salon events took place across LA County from Santa Monica to Northridge, from the heart of LA to its western side. Students engaged in small group discussions focusing on philosophical thinking regarding sustainability.

College and university projects premiered in early December, with school presentations organized according to the season’s four topic categories. The Pando Days ’22 Finale event was held on April 16, 2023 at Dabney Hall Gardens and Lounge, Caltech.

Pando Days Launch
April 27, 2022, Zoom

Pando Days Blitz
Sep 10, 2022, Zoom

Salon events
Nov 7-11, 2022

Premieres
Dec 6, 7, 9 2022, Zoom

Season Awards
April 16, 2:00-5:00, Caltech

Advisory team

Pando Days ’22 is produced in consultation with Gary Gero, Key Advisor and former Chief Sustainability Officer for Los Angeles County.

Host committee: Paul Koretz, Los Angeles City Councilmember, 5th District; Sheila Kuehl, Los Angeles County Supervisor, 3rd District, Peter Laugharn, President, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Advisory: Taskforce Chair Heidrun Mumper-Drumm (ArtCenter College of Design); Robyn Eason (City of West Hollywood); Dean Kubani (City of Santa Monica, ret.); Maribeth Larkin (Sisters of Social Service); Pablo La Roche (Cal Poly Pomona); Luis Navarro (Langan Engineering); Marcela Oliva (LA Trade Tech College); John Onderdonk (Caltech); Andy Shrader (City of Los Angeles); Cassie Rauser (UCLA), and Mark Spears (Disney, ret.).

Pando Days Team: Eugene Shirley, Pando Days executive producer and President, Pando Populus. Katherine Miller, mentoring/advisory team. Lyn Goldfarb, creative producer. Doug Chang, series producer. Alexi Caracotsios, research and writing. Betsy Hunter, administration. Chris Lohse, education advisor. Matthew Manos, project-based learning. John Bielenberg, creative direction. Rich Binell, writing. Michael Braley, graphic design. Marc O’Brien, design strategy. Brandt Williams, Thinknado. Fundraising: Ed Bacon, Vickere Murphy, Rebecca Schmitt, and Liz Tesolin.