Taking the Next Step: From Idea to Action

Friday, March 4, 2011 at Pierce College - Ft. Steilacoom (Lakewood, WA)

• Register for the Summit (there is no cost to participate)
• Planning and Action Worksheet for Summit Participants
• Directions | Parking and Campus Map | Building Map

Schedule:

1:00-1:30 pm: Meet and greet social with refreshments (Rainier Building Upper Winter Garden)

1:30-1:50 pm: Opening Remarks (Ms. Denise Yochum, President of Pierce College–Fort Steilacoom)

2:00-3:20 pm: Breakout Sessions

• Session A: Viewing sustainability initiatives from a systems perspective can facilitate successful implementation. Systems thinking, which makes use of system dynamic models, provides a map that shows important system components and their interactions. Modeling basics will be shown in this session and you will be given the opportunity to create your own model that will help your group see how the information from the other sessions fit together. (Facilitators: Pete Kaslik–Pierce College, Laurie Shuster–Pierce College)
• Session B: Internal and external resources: How do you leverage internal and external resources for your sustainability initiative? Outcomes from Session B: 1) Identify the areas to look for minigrants or other local funds within your campus: 2) Identify possible external funding sources; 3) Brainstorm and list possible ways that partnerships with other higher education institutions can help you achieve your sustainability goal. (Facilitators: Brandon Rogers–Clover Park Technical College)
• Session C: Navigating your campus–finding the people who matter to help you achieve your sustainability initiative. Who are the key people that can assist you in your project? Outcomes from Session C: 1) Identify the individuals who have proven they can facilitate an action on campus; 2) Identify what committee(s) needs to review your proposal; 3) Identify who must give signature approval for your project. (Facilitators: Sue Habeck-Tacoma Community College; Ruth Ann Mikels-Tacoma Community College)
• Session D: Motivating and involving the local community in your sustainability initiative. How do you locate groups or individuals in the community who are doing work similar to your sustainability project and how do you sell them on your initiative? Outcomes for Session D: 1) Identify groups or individuals in the community who are doing similar sustainability initiatives; 2) Develop strategies for selling your idea to the community. (Facilitators: Jim Gawel–U. Washington Tacoma; Rachel Cardwell–U. of Puget Sound)
• Session E: Mentoring others in sustainability practices: How do you sustain your initiatives when students graduate or transfer? Outcomes for Session E: 1) Identify groups or individuals who can foster and maintain your sustainability initiative; 2) Develop strategies for changing the culture of the campus so that your sustainability initiative is maintained. (Facilitators: TBA)

3:30-5:00 pm: Regrouping at the institution level or at the team level

5:00-7:00 pm: Networking, refreshments, and electronic report out from all groups

The South Sound Sustainability Summit is sponsored by the higher education institutions of Pierce County in Washington State. These institutions include University of Washington–Tacoma, University of Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Community College, Bates Technical College, Clover Park Technical College, Pierce College–Puyallup, and Pierce College–Ft. Steilacoom. Our goal is to foster stewardship and to encourage action around sustainability issues.

For more information contact Ron May via email at rmay@pierce.ctc.edu or phone at 253-964-6736.