William R. Sinkin Eco Centro

WILLIAM R. SINKIN ECO CENTRO: CULTIVATING COMMUNITY

The William R. Sinkin Eco Centro is a community outreach center for environmental sustainability operated by San Antonio College. The Center was seed funded through a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Hispanic Serving Institutions Assisting Communities grant. Currently, Eco Centro is supported by the College, through grants and donations and from partnership efforts across the region. 

The LEED-certified, 3,000+ square foot facility serves as an example of sustainable building with a solar-photovoltaic system connected to 135 roof-mounted solar panels, a 2,700-gallon water catchment tank and five 40-gallon tanks, water-wise landscaping, four electric vehicle charging stations, a B-Cycle station, and large composting and gardening areas. Read more >>

Eco Centro Resources for Faculty, Staff, and Students 

VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS

We have free, live, virtual workshops on topics including gardening basics, composting basics, rainwater harvesting, and Ask Me Anything workshops with industry professionals on related topics. Register now at ecocentro.eventbrite.com.

COVID-19 UPDATE:

Eco Centro is currently closed. We are compiling information about food pantries, meal plans and other resources on our Facebook page and our resource directory. Please feel free to share with us as well. Read more about our response to COVID-19 in our April 2020 and May 2020 Email Newsletter.

COVID-19 Resource Directory for San Antonio

Every Day is Earth Day! 

April 22 is Earth Day, but every day is a little bit like Earth Day at San Antonio College. We're working hard to reduce waste, save energy and water and to use greener products. We're adding pollinator habitats to our campus and giving students opportunities to learn about Green Building, Natural Resources Management and Urban Agriculture. Connect with Eco Centro on Facebook or sign up for the email newsletter to find out how you can get involved!

Growing Abundance Guide

Sustainability at Home and On Campus Guide

EcoExchangeEdu

GET INVOLVED

Visit our Facebook or contact us for volunteer opportunities, garden workdays, and other events. Many are free and open to the public. We can schedule volunteer workdays for large groups.

Donate to Eco Centro

GARCIA STREET URBAN FARM

Garcia Street Urban Farm is currently under construction. Contact us for more information and sign up to volunteer.

SAC News: Urban Farm Groundbreaking

OUR MISSION

To cultivate the understanding, progress and practice of sustainability

OUR GOAL

Eco Centro strives to positively address environmental challenges by providing the information needed to adopt more environmentally sustainable practices. Through education, outreach, service and research, Eco Centro advocates for the adoption of practical sustainable practices.

Our objective is to stimulate greater community, business and household self-sufficiency while supporting entities that further the overarching cause of environmental preservation through collaborative initiatives and educational programming.

WHAT WE DO

The William R. Sinkin Eco Centro serves as a demonstration center for organic gardening, composting, sustainable building, low impact development, water conservation, native landscaping, healthy living, developing community partnerships and more. The center provides meeting space for several local organizations and hosts community based and environmentally-related events. By partnering with our local community, other environmental organizations, private industry, governmental agencies, and sustainability experts, the William R. Sinkin Eco Centro furthers its goals of education and advocacy on a local level and beyond.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

Rapid population growth, economic expansion, and excessive consumption of our natural resources necessitates a collective solution to the depletion of those resources most basic for survival and well-being. Sustainability has emerged as that solution and is of the utmost importance in making sure we have enough water, materials, and resources to lead productive, healthy, and comfortable lives.  Each of us must do our part to conserve the natural environment on which we all depend.