As we enter the first week of the second month of this year — a mouthful, I know — perhaps we can utilize the new year’s theme of self-improvement to improve our external community. 

Staying true to character, I’m recommending another Monday night at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. This time, pop in on “Visualizing the World 2020.” The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and Berkeley Arts + Design have curated a gallery of photographs, documentaries and multimedia projects that all conceptualize external perspectives of our changing world. A panel will also be hosted by a group of J-school professors and faculty members. “Visualizing the World 2020” sets aside time to think about the complications our modern environment creates — may this external mediation welcome any inspired introspection. 

If you’re moved by the featured pieces, continue on to more environmental community-building at the Environmental Community Open House on Tuesday. The Student Environmental Resource Center is opening its doors to the UC Berkeley student body — attendees can discuss environmental issues with each other as well as join change-facilitating organizations on campus. 

Continue with the sentiments of environmental allegiance you just gained with a midweek podcast. While signing off of technology is usually associated with self-improvement, try to lean into podcasts as accessible resources for simple yet effective methods to better not only yourself, but also your environment. Turn to “The Happiness Lab” for casual conversations with Yale professor Laurie Santos regarding how we seek internal satisfaction through our external actions. For a more specific plan on how to improve one’s environment and daily life, check out NPR’s “Life Kit,” in which how-to topics range from starting therapy, reading more and reducing food waste. 

On Thursday, unplug from yesterday’s podcasts and stimulate your senses with classical music by attending a special community concert held by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, or SFCM. The renowned Kronos Quartet will perform with student musicians from SFCM, the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of The Arts and the Oakland School for the Arts. With a diverse repertoire set for the evening, a breather away from campus will provide a much-deserved break of quiet contemplation. 

Returning to campus calls for returning to community development, so increase your civic participation by registering to vote alongside an individual of greatness: Waka Flocka Flame. Through the ASUC’s SUPERB organization, Flame will perform in Pauley Ballroom on Friday as part of “Votechella.” Go hard in a sweaty mass of your peers, community-building at its finest, while also helping increase voter registration and political awareness. 

If your eardrums are not shot and your body feels like it can rise after some expected moshing at Waka Flocka Flame, look skyward with TEDxBerkeley’s “Moonshot” event at Zellerbach Hall. The event promises a day filled with speakers who hope to raise enthusiasm about technological innovations and space exploration in this new decade. Feed off of the reverberating buzz these speakers will create to finish off your Saturday on a positive, awe-inspiring note.

Come Sunday, take all of this week’s work and dedicate some time to rest and relaxation. A blissful Sunday in Berkeley includes a morning spent at Baker & Commons, devouring all the lovely Oscars content The Daily Californian’s Arts & Entertainment department has compiled leading up to next Sunday’s ceremonies. If you haven’t had the time, like me, to watch all the nominees, look to this article generously written by Anagha Komaragiri, in which she provides a list of film podcasts to ensure you don’t feel left out when the gold envelopes are read. 

If the first month of 2020 brought introspection, take this second month to use your ruminations for your community — your greater good. That’s it for this week, Berkeley, but come ready for next week’s Valentine’s Day picks and ponderings.  

At a glance:

Feb. 3: “Visualizing the World 2020,” 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., BAMPFA, Berkeley

Feb. 4: Environmental Community Open House, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Student Environmental Resource Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union, UC Berkeley

Feb. 6: San Francisco Conservatory of Music community concert, 7:30 p.m., Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall, San Francisco

Feb. 7: “Votechella” with Waka Flocka Flame, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Pauley Ballroom, Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union, UC Berkeley

Feb. 8: TEDxBerkeley “Moonshot,” 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley

Feb. 9: Pre-Oscars brunch, Baker & Commons, Berkeley

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