Michigan City sustainability commission readies April Earth Month Extravaganza with beach cleanup and seed swap

Angie Janz Davis, a guest organizer, updated the Michigan City Sustainability Commission on plans for the Earth Month Extravaganza scheduled during April, saying organizers had contacted 40 organizations and secured 15 confirmations so far.

“We have yeses from 15, no's from only 1, and maybes from 5,” Angie Janz Davis said, and outlined participating groups that include Barker Middle School, Green Burial, Humane Indiana Wildlife, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, La Porte County 4‑H, the La Porte County Park Department, La Porte County Recycling, the Michigan City Tree Board (which will provide free trees), Potawatomi Audubon, Save the Dunes and Walker Street Community Garden. She described a beach cleanup likely to begin near 10 a.m. and the main event running from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The organizer described planned activities beyond tabling — including a seed swap and the possibility of a children’s sporting‑equipment swap — and asked the commission to assist later in the process with volunteers, tablecloths and door greeters. Commission members offered to contact partner groups (for example, the Plastic Reduction Alliance) and to add logos for partner groups to promotional flyers.

Commission discussion addressed logistics: past events represented about 25 organizations with ample space in the senior center for perimeter and round tables, and commissioners emphasized volunteer recruitment and coordination with local school groups for student service hours. The commission agreed to assist as the date approaches and to circulate promotional materials through social channels and printed flyers.

Next steps: the organizer will post a Facebook ‘save the date’ and follow up with the commission as volunteer and table needs firm up. The commission did not take a formal vote on the event during the meeting.