Sustainability is more than quantitative goals and carbon footprint reductions. A deeper, more holistic understanding of sustainability embraces resilience. Resilience, as defined by Second Nature, is “the ability of a system or community to survive disruption and to anticipate, adapt, and flourish in the face of change.” A carbon neutral institution will still experience the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, alongside its community; resilience seeks collaborations to strengthen a community despite the changes and challenges it experiences.
Community Impact Hub
Allegheny College’s Community Impact Hub supports efforts to build a more just, resilient, and flourishing place. Through this collaborative network, students are mentored to apply and integrate their knowledge, develop leadership skills, discern career paths and develop a commitment to engaged citizenship.
Resilience Commitment
Our Climate Commitment, in partnership with Second Nature, goes beyond addressing our carbon footprint to include a commitment to develop increased resilience. We’ve partnered with the My Meadville process to develop a resilience assessment and community action plan to improve the resilience of our home.
IDEAS Center
The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access & Social Justice (IDEAS) Center offers support and empowerment to underserved student populations as well as a gathering space to build community. IDEAS also works to expand the awareness, dialogue, and engagement of the entire community in explorations of social equity and justice. The IDEAS Center Cultural Gardens offer space for students to grow the foods important to their cultures and traditions. The Mutual Aid Closet provides a space to donate, swap, or obtain winter clothing.
Meadville Collaborations
Allegheny has long partnered with the City of Meadville and various nonprofits, businesses, and organizations to advance research, develop programs, and create public artwork. Allegheny students helped the city complete a greenhouse gas inventory; analyzed the solar potential of a local brewery and public housing, and created public artwork such as Signs & Flowers and Read Between the Signs in collaboration with PennDOT. Students also assisted with various murals throughout downtown Meadville and created the Community Garden at the MARC.
Outcomes
- More than 80% of the Department of Environmental Science and Sustainability faculty engage in community-based research
- Allegheny College has worked with hundreds of students and community partners on community engaged projects
Your Sustainable Habits Create Our Sustainable Campus:
- Cast your ballot – the Center for Political Participation provides instructions on how to register to vote in Crawford County and further details on where and how to vote.
- Participate in community movements – some examples include My Meadville, Green New Deal, Common Roots, and the Northwest Pennsylvania Investment Cooperative.