The 2026 Institute for Sustainability Summit will feature a diverse lineup of experts scheduled to discuss environmental solutions, community resilience, and sustainable agriculture. The event includes presentations on the Great Salt Lake, the development of community resilience hubs, and the role of urban farming in social empowerment.
Indigenous Perspectives on Sustainability
Darren Parry, the former Chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, is scheduled to present two sessions on March 19. At 11:30 a.m. in Room 404, Parry will lead a session titled "Engaging Faith Communities for Environmental Solutions: A Great Salt Lake Case Study." His second presentation, "Relational Resilience: The Foundation of Authentic Resilience in a Time of Transformation," is set for 2:50 p.m. in the Ballrooms.
Parry is an instructor in the Environmental Humanities department at the University of Utah and an author of "The Bear River Massacre, A Shoshone History." He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education from both the University of Utah and Weber State University. In 2024, Parry was awarded an Honorary PhD in Education from Utah State University. Beyond his academic and lecturing roles, he serves on the Board of Directors for both PBS Utah and Utah Humanities.
Advancing Community Resilience Hubs
Baja, the Executive Director of the Resilience Hub Collaborative, will lead two sessions focused on community-based adaptation. At 8:30 a.m. on March 19, she will present in the Ballrooms on the topic "For Community, By Community, In Community: Resilience Hubs as the Foundation for Thriving." On March 20 at 8:30 a.m., she will return to discuss "The 'How To' of Resilience Hubs."
Baja is a specialist in regenerative systems, biomimicry, and adaptation, and she holds a Master of Science and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan, as well as a Master's in Biomimicry from ASU. As the originator of the Resilience Hub concept, she has spent 14 years developing these systems throughout North America and internationally. In 2016, the Obama Administration recognized her as a Champion of Change for her work regarding equity and climate. Additionally, she serves as the co-Executive Director of Embodied Ecosystem (e2).
Sustainable Agriculture and Social Reform
Karl Ebeling, the Executive Director of Eden Streets, is scheduled to present on March 19 at 1:45 p.m. in Room 320. His presentation, titled "Farming that Relaunches Lives and Builds Community," explores the intersection of sustainable agriculture and social empowerment.
Ebeling, known as "Farmer Karl," founded Eden Streets in 2020 following a 33-year career in the corporate sector. His current initiative, Grow Ogden, operates as an urban farm that provides job training through a transitional-employment program designed for vulnerable individuals. In 2021, Ebeling collaborated with women facing homelessness at the Green Phoenix Farm at Wasatch Community Gardens. Ebeling and his wife, Rita, also operate Faircrest Farms, which produces organic vegetables for the local food community. His organization's charter, The Declaration of Common Ground, seeks to unify community-based farming efforts to address global social challenges.
