Campus to Community Programming

Campus to Community is a program designed to help individuals from colleges, universities, and community organizations identify opportunities for collaboration while working toward institutional and municipal climate goals. The looming climate crisis is a global problem that should be approached with solutions rooted in solidarity and fellowship, rather than siloed action plans. It is our hope that emerging and experienced professionals participating in this program depart with a broad understanding of the value of a systems-thinking approach and the tools needed to identify potential partners on campus and in the community in order to consolidate climate goals and collectively reach milestones.

Campus to Community is program partnership between Ithaca College, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, Building Bridges, and Sustainable Tompkins.

Virtual Discussion Series

The Campus to Community team offered a virtual discussion series during the 2020-2021 academic year. Brief descriptions of the workshops, as well as recordings of the presentations, are below. 

What is "Sustainability" in the Time of Anti-Racist Uprisings & a Global Pandemic?

In the face of a global pandemic and protests following recent incidents of police brutality and racial inequity, sustainability professionals are called to re-examine our approach to climate work. In this virtual participant discussion, explore the interconnections between the three current crises: coronavirus, racial inequity, and the climate emergency, as well as how we need to adjust our definition of sustainability and how we practice it. We’ll begin to identify ways campuses and communities can and need to work together to form solutions that tackle all three crises simultaneously and equitably. While entirely virtual, this discussion will be heavily participatory, with all participants asked to engage in break-out rooms and group dialogue. Campus and municipal sustainability staff are encouraged to attend and consider inviting local community partners.

Thank you to everyone who attended What is "Sustainability". A recording of the presentation can be found here.

Partnerships for Transformative Change in a Time of Mounting Crises

As we continue to grapple with our four current crises - COVID-19, systemic racism, economic disruption, and the climate emergency - we must begin reaching across silos to address our shared challenges. In this discussion, we’ll explore what it means to be in a community and how to leverage our collective power for progress across the crises. While entirely virtual, this discussion will be heavily participatory, with all participants asked to engage in break-out rooms and group dialogue. Campus and municipal sustainability staff are encouraged to attend and consider inviting local community partners.

Thank you to everyone who attended Partnerships for Transformative Change. A recording of the presentation can be found here.

Building Bridges Across Silos for Systemic Change

In the face of our four current crises - COVID-19, systemic racism, economic disruption, and the climate emergency - we must begin reaching across silos to address our shared challenges. In this discussion, we'll explore the forces that cause and contribute to institutional silos and ways to recognize them both within and between our organizations. We'll also examine some of the skills and tools essential to reaching across silos and begin building mutually beneficial, sustainable partnerships. While entirely virtual, this discussion will be heavily participatory, with all participants asked to engage in break-out rooms and group dialogue. Campus and municipal sustainability staff are encouraged to attend and consider inviting local community partners. 

Thank you to everyone who attended Building Bridges. A recording of the presentation is available here.