Without a trace

`If you’re trying to find some inspiration about how to live with a lower environmental impact or just trying to feel a bit less cynical about the world, come out to Envirolution’s showing and panel discussion of No Impact Man on May 23-24.

“It’s a really awesome movie. It’s really inspiring,” said Lisa Godenick, AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and development coordinator of Envirolution. “Sometimes it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the things going on in the world and feeling like everything is going to hell, and we’re destroying our planet, destroying all these resources, but it’s inspiring to watch someone’s experience trying to live a more sustainable life.”

No Impact Man is a documentary that follows the journey of Colin Beavan, his wife, Michelle Conlin, their 2-year-old daughter and their 4-year-old dog through a year of living off the grid and trying to create as low of an environmental impact as possible in New York City.

The event will take place at Goodluck Macbeth Theatre Company at 7 p.m. both nights. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per person and include the showing, popcorn and panel discussion. Other refreshments can also be purchased.

Godenick helped plan this event and said it is a fun and educational event for anyone interested in learning more about sustainability.

“The main goal of this showing is to educate the Reno community about how they can live their lives with a lesser impact on the environment, whether that be by riding your bike, buying local food or not buying things that come in plastic,” Godenick said. “It can also help people to be conscious of every choice they make because every choice we make is a choice to either help the planet or hurt it.”

Godenick said she is especially excited for the panel discussion following the movie, which will feature community members from the Reno Plastic Bag Ban and the Be the Change Project. At least one member from each group will be present for the discussion each night.

“That’s my favorite part, and that’s why people should come to this as opposed to watching it on Netflix at home by themselves,” Godenick said. “We have some really awesome speakers. They’re going to be talking about how they, in Reno, are trying to live with less of an impact.”

The panel discussion will feature community members from the Reno Plastic Bag Ban, Lisa Schmidt, and the Be the Change Project, Katy and Kyle Chandler-Isacksen. Schmidt and her boyfriend try to accumulate as little as trash as possible and are “slowly but surely cutting plastic from their lives.” The Chandler-Isacksens are trying to live off the grid with their family. Both couples will be speaking about their experiences. Anyone will be allowed to ask questions and talk during the discussion.

This showing is also a fundraiser for Envirolution. The funds raised will go to educational programs hosted by the organization, like their summer camp, the Three Spheres Leadership Academy, and an upcoming program for next school year called Project ReCharge. In this program, they will be working with schools to evaluate what’s working inefficiently in their buildings and how to decrease their energy bills.

At the event, there will also be a raffle each night, with prizes including Patagonia jackets valued at $200 each, which Godenick said is “another great incentive to come watch.”