| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.59 |
| Liaison | Rob Andrejewski |
| Submission Date | Feb. 15, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Richmond
IN-4: Innovation 4
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Rob
Andrejewski Director of Sustainability Office for Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Environmental Justice Think Tank
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A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Beginning in 2014, a group of faculty from Geography and the Environment and Environmental Studies, staff from the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) and the Office for Sustainability, and students began meeting to explore opportunities to increase access to experiential learning for justice and sustainability. This group congealed into the "Environmental Justice Think Tank," which seeks to expand opportunities to work on issues related to the environment, with a focus on climate, food, the James River, especially in environmental justice communities.
Since its formation, this group has reached out to sustainability- and environmentally-minded community organizations and developed relationships aimed at social change. The goal is to find engaged scholarship, service, learning, and volunteer opportunities that deepen student learning, provide a bridge for faculty to connect to the community, and allow for genuine collaboration. Often the environment is not included in issues of social change (and vice versa) and this group seeks to change that.
Currently, the Environmental Justice Think Tank comprises civic engagement staff, faculty in Environmental Studies and Geography & the Environment, staff from the Office for Sustainability, students, and a community partner. The group gathers information about RVA-based community partners working for environmental justice, has developed a web page to make that information accessible, expanded the conversation on the environment to include issues of justices, and has strengthened outreach opportunities to places such as Shalom Farms, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and the James River Association.
This group, which started to meet a need to provide ongoing opportunities to connect with partners in the community on the environment and justice, is meeting a critical need in an innovative way.
Date Revised: May 3, 2016
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A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):
Identification of and development of three new community partners
New content on CCE web site for students interested in environmental issues
Coursework tied to connecting students, faculty, and community agencies
Support of partner-identified needs, including community surveys and marketing assistance
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A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
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Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of five):
| Yes or No | |
| Curriculum | Yes |
| Research | Yes |
| Campus Engagement | --- |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Air & Climate | Yes |
| Buildings | --- |
| Dining Services | --- |
| Energy | --- |
| Grounds | --- |
| Purchasing | --- |
| Transportation | --- |
| Waste | --- |
| Water | No |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | --- |
| Diversity & Affordability | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | --- |
| Investment | --- |
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Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
Living lab; community sustainability; justice
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Filter for http://engage.richmond.edu/map.html
Formal website for initiative under review.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.