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It was nearly impossible to find a seat for a recent discussion on the intersection of diversity and sustainability. Mostly because there weren’t any chairs in the room.

The idea is that moving the needle on society’s most pressing issues requires on-your-feet movement: approaching and interacting with colleagues and neighbors.

Last week, ����AV’s��Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning��served as facilitator, hosting a��Grand Challenges Forum��on environmental sustainability — an issue that dovetails with the theme of this year’s��Diversity Summit.

“We’ve talked with the folks over there about how we leverage activities where people get passionate about creating change around these kinds of topics,” said Cara DiEnno, CCESL’s associate director. “CCESL can be the next springboard to help folks realize what to do with that passion. How do we take action?”

On this occasion, it began with five-minute “lightning talks.” Three experts in their respective fields drew rough sketches of environmental issues that have larger social implications.

Real estate assistant professor����introduced the audience to Denver’s����emphasizing the need for a cross-disciplinary approach and communication with communities.

Chemistry assistant professor����outlined the Catch 22 of aerosols — how some can actually reduce global warming but at the cost of public health.

Emily Silverman, who manages the��, touched on the importance of experimentation and new, collaborative engagement when approaching local problems.

Then, attendees were encouraged to mingle, converse, ask questions and brainstorm new ideas.

“Doing something good for the environment goes hand-in-hand with reducing poverty and empowering the community to take charge of their own lives,” Mueller said after his talk, emphasizing the need for a diverse set of voices to find solutions. “Siloed thinking is how we’ve made so many mistakes. That’s why I think this forum is a good first step.”