Texas A&M University
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

Texas A&M and its many planning partners began working on the US Department of Education International Education Week back in 2005. Over the next 2 years, the events of International Education Week have expanded to the first Brazos Valley Worldfest on November 17, 2007. The Brazos Valley Worldfest celebrates international awareness by offering cultural displays, demonstrations, international cuisine, performances, children's crafts, educational competitions and many other activities, such as promoting sustainability through tables by the Office of Sustainability and Utilities and Management. This event is free and open to the public. The Office of Sustainability and Utilities and Energy Management partner with the Brazos Valley Earth Day Committee to host Brazos Valley Earth Day, which is a free event open to the public that features: live music, environmental/sustainability education displays, and demonstrations. Every year Texas A&M holds the Big Event. The Big Event is the largest, one-day, student-run service project in the nation where students of Texas A&M University come together to say "Thank You" to the residents of Bryan and College Station. For the past 28 years Aggie students have participated in this annual event to show their appreciation to the surrounding community by completing service projects such as yard work, window washing, and painting for community members. Although The Big Event has become the largest one-day, student-run service project in the nation, our message and our mission remains the same – to simply say “Thank You”.