Programs
Current Programs of the C4S
Other Community Outreach
The C4S regularly assists individuals and organizations looking for insights and resources related to their sustainability journey. For example, C4S staff performed research on local green roof projects, including information on building location, the type of system, and the size of the roof for a West Michigan resident. This research is now available online. More recently, the Center offered the University of Washington guidance and feedback on the establishment of an electronics recycling and leasing program in spring 2007. Another pertinent illustration of our community outreach is the C4S event calendar and presentations at local high schools and colleges, such as Forest Hills Northern and Cornerstone University.
Learning Partnerships
C4S has partnered with a number of organizations to help sponsor events that provide insight and enthusiasm for sustainable business practices. In 2007, it helped sponsor Vijay Vaitheeswaran, award-winning correspondent for The Economist and author of Power to the People in conjunction with the Greater Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce’s energy forum and the World Affairs Council’s Great Decisions Lecture series focusing on climate change. During 2006, C4S joined with Local First to host Michael Shuman, author of The Small-Mart Revolution. The Center is also joining efforts with the Right Place and the Sustainable Research Group to develop and host a Sustainable Manufacturing User Group that will be launched mid-2007.
Social Responsibility Committee of the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
C4S is assisting the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum through its service on this group’s Social Responsibility Committee. C4S Executive Director Dr. Deb Steketee is working with student interns and the committee to develop a guide to best practices in social responsibility being utilized by area businesses.
www.wmsbf.org
Sustainable Business for Non-Profits
As a part of our outreach activities, C4S aims to help guide businesses and non-profit organizations along their journey toward sustainability. As our Sustainable Business for Non-profits Intern, senior sustainable business student Liz Ivkovich developed an Environmental Management System for Pilgrim Manor, a Grand Rapids retirement community. Upon completion of the pilot program, we expect to expand our "Sustainable Business for Non-Profits" Program by offering teams of faculty-directed Aquinas students as a "mini-consulting firm" to tackle specific sustainability challenges within organizations.
Aquinas Baseline Inventory
As part of the Aquinas Sustainability initiative, the Center for Sustainability is currently performing a full inventory of Aquinas processes, practices, and curricula in the areas of social, environmental, and financial capital. The inventory tasks have also been built into class assignments and student internships. The inventory is a multi-functional activity we expect to identify areas of opportunity and “low hanging fruit,” and provide insight and measurement to guide the success of future sustainability programs. Sustainable Business students have contributed to the inventory’s development and completion through course-work as well as the efforts of Sustainability Initiative intern Ben VanGessel.
Aquinas College Sustainability Initiative
The Center serves as a central node for the networked activities of the Aquinas Campus Sustainability Initiative. Three standing sustainability committees, as well as a joint committee, were created in fall 2006 by the three college governing bodies. The result is a collaborative sustainability effort by staff, faculty, and students. All Aquinas members are encouraged to submit campus redesign ideas to make the college an even better place to work and learn. The Center provides support to develop these sustainability initiative proposals. Upon submission of a proposal, ideas are further developed with help from the corresponding sustainability committee and other interested parties, including teams of Sustainable Business students. The sustainability suggestion is then sent to AQ’s Provost for assessment and potential implementation.
www.aquinas.edu/sustainability
Students Striving for Sustainability Club
Along with Sustainable Business professor Dr. Matthew Tueth, Jessica Onan(Program Director for the Center) serves as a co-advisor for Aquinas’ Student Striving for Sustainability Club which has joined C4S in hosting several sustainability-related events. The 30-member student organization represents an avenue for Sustainable Business students to take a proactive role in the business, social and environmental progress of the Aquinas College campus. The club also furthers students’ understanding and application of sustainability theory through discussions, conferences, fieldtrips, projects, and other activities.
Urban Organic Waste Management System
Aquinas College is participating in a small-scale pilot project aimed at testing the feasibility of an urban organic waste management system in the City of Grand Rapids. The project brings together 10 area businesses, NGOs, and governmental organizations. Aquinas College performed an extensive food waste audit in 2006 to better understand the College’s waste stream. If the pilot project is successful, the partnership will help develop a full-scale urban organic waste composting facility in an eco-industrial park located within Grand Rapids. C4S Program Director Jessica Onan serves on the project’s steering committee.
Community Sustainability Partnership
Aquinas College is a founding partner of the Community Sustainability Partnership (CSP), a network of businesses, community members, and city administrators to facilitate the sharing of information, combination of strengths, and to take advantage of opportunities. The Center for Sustainability’s web site provides hosting services for the CSP web site and maintains a community calendar of sustainability-related events made available to CSP partners and endorsers. Aquinas President Dr. C. Edward Balog serves as AQ’s representative on the CSP Leadership Council and Center for Sustainability Executive Director Dr. Deb Steketee serves as AQ’s representative on the CSP Planning Group.
www.grpartners.org
Virtual Communications
The C4S has developed its website as a community resource for individuals and organizations. Covering topics such as sustainable business, green buildings, energy use, government, and sustainability education, the site provides valuable information for a variety of audiences. Content continues to be refined and updated, and we are always open to suggestions or ideas to better serve you. To educate the internal community and promote active participation in campus greening, the C4S developed the Aquinas (AQ) Sustainability Initiative web site in late 2006. In addition to a public track summarizing sustainability at the college, the initiative site provides AQ staff, faculty, and students with a virtual trading post for office supplies and furniture, and opportunity to comment on and submit sustainability proposals, and other pertinent resources.
Past Programs of the C4S
Focus the Nation 2008
All across the U.S., schools, churches, civic organizations, and businesses organized a national teach-in on global climate change solutions called Focus the Nation. A variety of events for Focus the Nation were planned, including a green fair, a local lunch, showing of the 2% solution web cast, and lots of informal education. The week of activities culminated on January 31st, 2008 with a political roundtable discussion at Calvin College.
www.focusthenation.org
Community Recycling Day
In association with Comprenew Environmental, the Center for Sustainability at Aquinas College hosted a free Community Recycling Day on October 17th, 2007. All Aquinas employees, students, and neighbors were encouraged to drop-off unwanted electronics- anything with a battery or cord. Office paper, junk mail, phone books, news paper, and cardboard were also accepted. We receive a great response for this event, collecting a total of 5,221 pounds of waste in a 4 hour period! Information about Comprenew: Comprenew, a not-for-profit, is an electronics recycling company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. All electronics that can be fixed, are repaired and sold in their store. Other materials are stripped into component parts and sold/given to local suppliers for reuse. Comprenew also operates an on-site Enviro-Academy for inner-city students.
Emerging Green Builders Competition
Sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Emerging Green Builders (EGB) Competition is an annual design competition for students and young professionals. Specifically, competition winners from local USGBC Chapters continue to the National competition each Fall. Jessica Onan, Program Director at the Center for Sustainability, served on the EGB Committee for the West Michigan Chapter competition (2007/08). The competition featured Brookside Elementary, part of the Grand Rapids Public School district. For more information on the Emerging Green Builders Competition, please visit the web site below.
www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=116
Live Sustainably…the Choice is Yours
In celebration of Earth Day 2007, the Center for Sustainability organized a 100% Organic, Local dinner at Aquinas College. The April 23rd celebration featured the meal, the local band ‘Kinsfolk,’ and booths with information on sustainable agriculture from local organizations. The Earth Day celebration was held in the Wege Student Center’s cafeteria for Aquinas students and community members.
Sustainable Business Sherpa Series
C4S offers a Sustainable Business Sherpa Series, a three-part series providing an introduction to sustainable business, insights into social capital and practical approaches toward incorporating value-producing sustainability practices into organizations. The series, which is planned to be offered on a continuing basis, will feature faculty experts such as Dr. Matt Tueth, Chairperson of the Sustainable Business Department at Aquinas, Dr. Deb Steketee, Executive Director of the Center for Sustainability, as well as sustainability advocates such as Bill Stough, CEO of Sustainable Research Group. The intended audience of the Sherpa Series is regional business professionals from small- and medium-sized organizations seeking knowledge on the fundamentals of sustainable business.
www.centerforsustainability.org/sherpa.php
“You are what you eat”
Aquinas College, in partnership with food service provider Chartwells, carefully examined the sustainable integrity and source of the food served on campus during the 2006/07 academic year. The college’s head chef was a member of the Farmer-Chef Collaborative, a group of West Michigan-area farmers and chefs working to increase local, organic food purchasing. Aquinas' began using Van Eerden Foodservice Company, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan for food distribution and local, organic mixed greens were served daily in the cafeteria's salad bar. Aquinas recently switched foodservice providers to Creative Dining Services ending the involvement of Aquinas with the Collaborative. However, the new company has a series of their own sustainability initiatives, such as a local turkey program. Creative Dining Services also uses Van Eerden for obtaining local produce.
Funded by the Steelcase Foundation of Grand Rapids, Michigan
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courtesy of Bigfoto
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