Angels Protect Heaven and Earth: AHA’s Awareness Day 2025 Inspires Environmental Action

The Academy of the Holy Angels dedicated yesterday to a powerful day of learning, reflection, and action during its annual Awareness Day. This year’s theme, “Angels Protect Heaven AND Earth,” focused on the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Care for God’s Creation, and encouraged students to deepen their understanding of environmental justice, sustainability, and their personal role in protecting the planet.

Awareness Day opened with an inspiring keynote presentation, “Seeds of Hope: Catholic Wisdom for a Changing Climate,” led by AHA alumna Janice Savage ’94, Assistant Dean at the Columbia Climate School’s Office of Research, and Dr. Michael Puma P’26, Senior Research Scientist at Columbia’s Earth Institute. Together, they shared compelling insights on the intersection of faith, science, and environmental stewardship.

The day continued with more than 20 breakout workshops, many of which were created and led by AHA students and faculty. These sessions were designed to educate, spark meaningful dialogue, and promote tangible ways the community can live out their faith through care for the Earth.

Highlights included:

• Voices from the UN: Student Reflections on the Commission on the Status of Women, where students Victoria Perez-Vega ’26, Haeyden Brigati ’26, and Lilliana Cardamone ’25 shared experiences from their recent attendance at the United Nations’ CSW, exploring gender equality and climate policy.

• Forced to Flee: Understanding Climate Refugees and Our Role in Action, presented by students in the International Studies program, examined the global displacement caused by climate disasters.

• Empowering Change: A Student-Led Action Plan for Climate Awareness, led by students who participated in the 2024 Day of the Girl at the UN, gave attendees a chance to co-create solutions for environmental sustainability in their communities.

Other student-led workshops explored topics such as fast fashion, endangered species, veganism, sustainable gardening, and composting. The AHA Green Action Team and Eco-Schools leaders guided students through activities including carbon footprint tracking, Jeopardy-style environmental trivia, and hands-on demonstrations on waste reduction and native plant care.

Interactive sessions such as Paws of Protection, which highlighted the healing role of therapy dogs, and Nature Journaling, which invited students to engage artistically with the natural world, helped students reflect on the spiritual and emotional connections between people and the planet.

Workshops also included expert guest speakers from organizations such as the Hackensack Riverkeeper, Tenafly Nature Center, Clean Ocean Action, and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, providing students with professional insights into conservation and advocacy work.

Students were encouraged to reflect not just on environmental issues, but on how their own choices—what they eat, wear, buy, and how they care for nature—can be powerful tools in protecting God’s creation.

With passionate student leadership, dedicated faculty support, and a vibrant, mission-driven message, AHA’s 2025 Awareness Day reminded all in attendance that stewardship of the Earth is not just a responsibility—it’s a calling.