Steans Center collaborates for sustainability

The Irwin W. Steans Center started a collaboration with the Institute for Cultural Affairs-USA (ICA) in a sustainable development project.

Some DePaul students are already involved with the first phase of the project, which focuses on identifying and documenting sustainable green initiatives already existing in the city.

ICA's three-year sustainability project is an effort to involve all of Chicago's 77 neighborhoods in green initiatives.

The goal of the project is to unite the communities in a collective effort toward sustainability.

According to the ICA website, though many organizations, foundations, companies, and government agencies have programs and resources to assist local sustainability efforts, many communities are unaware of these opportunities or unfamiliar with ways to access them.

Mike Edwards, an environmental ethics professor at DePaul, sparked the ICA's partnership with the university for this project. Edwards had previously been involved with the organization and brought it to the attention of the Steans Center.

DePaul will participate in the service-learning aspect of the project. Edwards will teach two courses focused on sustainability: an environmental ethics course and Discover Chicago: Poverty Amidst Plenty. Students in these classes will learn about and participate in sustainable development projects in seven of Chicago's neighborhoods.

Edwards' Discover Chicago class this quarter is involved with ICA, identifying and documenting sustainability initiatives around the city.

A graduate class taught by Danny Mittleman is also currently involved with phase one. This class has been developing a social networking program to connect the communities involved with sustainability initiatives.

"As an educational opportunity, we want to engage students in significant action," said Terry Bergdall, executive director of ICA.

The Steans Center had its first meeting with ICA two weeks ago to discuss this project and the possibility of other future projects and collaborations.

"The reaction so far has been positive," Edwards said.

The staff at the Steans Center is excited to be working with ICA and developing potential projects to connect Chicago's communities.

"They've got international initiatives. They've got local initiatives. I think that there's a lot of potential in terms of what our partnership is, but we're just kind of starting out with them," said Associate Director of the Steans Center, Marisol Morales about ICA.

The ICA's mission is "releasing the capacity for positive social change and sustainable futures."

The service center located in Uptown also has a motto: "Uptown: Where Diversity Brings Success." The ICA's vision, particularly for the sustainable development project, seems to be a pretty good fit for the Steans Center.

"Its focus on diversity is really in line with the type of work we're doing," Morales said.

Bergdall believes the partnership is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

"[The partnership is] beneficial to the students, beneficial to the universities, and beneficial to what we're doing with the environmental sustainability project," he said.

Students may volunteer or get involved with internships ICA is currently developing for summer 2012.