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Sustainability Director
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Sustainable Solutions with Riley Demond

Compost

Green Roof Proposals for Underused Spaces

The Pledge on Food Waste

Composting via companies such as midtown recycling helping to reduce waste seen on campus.  

Example of a university using this: Zero Waste Initiative at the University of Michigan.  

  • Composts over 1,200 tons annually and has full-circle compost-to-soil initiatives.

https://ocs.umich.edu/programs/waste-reduction/composting/  

The Pledge on Food Waste

Green Roof Proposals for Underused Spaces

The Pledge on Food Waste

 In 2022, Michigan set an ambitious goal to cut food waste in half by 2030, recognizing that landfilled food is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and a significant user of land and water resources. Restaurants have made a guide for following in their footsteps. https://makefoodnotwaste.org/2024/02/20/the-2030-project-achieving-carbon-neutrality-in-michigan/  


Example: https://www.sylvantable.com/_files/ugd/3ec3f2_e26857921463413782d2a2030d2b18c8.pdf


Green Roof Proposals for Underused Spaces

Green Roof Proposals for Underused Spaces

Green Roof Proposals for Underused Spaces

 Propose green roofs on underused, flat-roof buildings such as the OC, South Foundation, or residential housing to improve insulation, manage stormwater, and create outdoor learning spaces.

  • a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane.
  • LiveRoof
  • https://www.greengridroofs.com/

Wayne State: https://sustainability.wayne.edu/programs/building/projects 

Rain Barrels

Clothing Swaps - Repair Cafe

Green Roof Proposals for Underused Spaces

 Install rain barrels to reuse rainwater and limit stormwater runoff

Reuse water for gardening, cleaning outdoor items, etc. 

https://www.crwc.org/rain-barrels 

Sustainability Pop-Ups

Clothing Swaps - Repair Cafe

Clothing Swaps - Repair Cafe

 Offer free “eco kits” at student events or outside on campus.

• Small herb garden starter (seed bombs + compostable pots)

• DIY pollinator seed packs (tied to your campus preserve species)

• Transit-friendly utensils + collapsible food containers

• Free coffee/tea in reusable cups

• Compost info + drop-off bins

• Plant/seed giveaways

Clothing Swaps - Repair Cafe

Clothing Swaps - Repair Cafe

Clothing Swaps - Repair Cafe

 Engages student orgs and reduces waste.

Michigan State had a “Student Thrift Day”

Either donate one, choose one piece of clothing: or just donations in general (similar to Trans Inclusive Clothing Drive by YDSA)

Solar panels

Cooking/baking with invasive species

Solar panels

 Install rooftop or parking-structure solar panels on underutilized buildings to  reduce campus carbon emissions, lower energy costs, and provide educational opportunities


U of M: https://utilities.fo.umich.edu/solar-power-initiatives/ 


Michigan State, largest solar carport array in North America: https://ipf.msu.edu/about/news/solar-carport-initiative-earns-national-attention  

Free-cycle

Cooking/baking with invasive species

Solar panels

a nonprofit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own Towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills


  • For building or bringing in shelves, bins for composting, chairs, etc.
  • Promote the website for posting or picking up

https://www.freecycle.org/ 

Cooking/baking with invasive species

Cooking/baking with invasive species

Cooking/baking with invasive species

Host events that teach students how to identify and safely harvest common invasive plants in Southeast Michigan (garlic mustard, honeysuckle, Japanese knotweed). 


Collaborate with students

Guided foraging walks or invasive pull days that end in a cookout or recipe showcase.

Recipes about how to use invasive plants that are in our backyards for food

Garlic mustard pesto, honeysuckle tea, Japanese knotweed crumble, etc. Example from MSU: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/foes-or-food-foraging-for-great-lakes-invasive-species-msg24-sturtevant24 

https://apriles.kitchen/2025/04/26/japanese-knotweed-crumble/ 

Student testimonials

Privacy notice

All testimonials from students are anonymous and have not been altered in anyway since the submission of them. 

What did your TA do BEST?

Please see student answers below. 

She probably was the best TA very calm, very patient, understanding and easy to reach 

She was best at leading us. 

Riley is personable and relatable. 

Very good at explaining what we’re doing and the guidelines needed for any projects we did and the Honors College in general. She was also very good at calming our nerves and any stress we have about the class. 

planning for group events

Made everyone feel welcome and help them be successful

Encouraging group bonding. 

Being active in the small group and bringing everyone together.

My TA was very organized and sent out daily reminders when things are due which was very helpful. 

What could your TA IMPROVE on?

Please see answers below submitted by students.


n/a


Nothing she’s perfect genuinely 


Nothing 


Nothing, she was amazing!


Not much, she was very kind and patient and was always willing to help. 


idk


Getting a key card to go upstairs, but I don’t think that’s her fault. Many of us don’t have key cards to get upstairs, but we were told not to wait in the lobby, so where do I go if I don’t have a card?


Nothing


Be a little strict sometimes 


Nothing I can think of.


Nothing


My TA doesn't need much improvement, she was very supportive in our projects that we had to complete and always made sure that we did wel in the class.


N/A


Riley Demond's Resume

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Riley Demond's C/V

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Spirit of Discovery Award Nomination

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