Co-organized by faculty and staff at North Hennepin Community College (NHCC), Bemidji State University (BSU) and the University of Minnesota (UMN), with students, community partners and participants.

This workshop is for faculty, administrators, staff and student activists of all disciplines, as well as community organizers and city officials and planners, who wish to interconnect and integrate sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion into their campus, curriculum and departments, with particular goals of:

• Increasing diversity, equity, access and inclusion in organizations, programming and culture
• Connecting diversity and sustainability offices and initiatives on campus;
• Creating community partnerships and collaborations;
• Creating space for diverse voices in organizations
• Closing the opportunity gap for students of color and indigenous students;
• Standing in solidarity with students and community members; and
• Experiencing new ways to look at sustainability and diversity, including through arts, music, traditional practices and community work

Through an intensive, lively and fun three days of presentations, exercises, discussions, reflection and planning, participants will become familiar with approaches to recognize the interconnections of sustainability, diversity and equity. Participants will also experience a range of workshop strategies, be exposed to diverse perspectives and dialogue with colleagues, artists, performers and educators from other disciplines and campuses as they gain skills in incorporating sustainability, diversity and inclusion in their syllabi, lesson plans and campus projects. Participants will also learn about community engagement projects that have created successful collaborations between higher education, K-12, tribal nations and city government.

The workshop will create space for discussion of how sustainability intersects with #blacklivesmatter, police reform, immigrant student rights, Pipeline 3 and indigenous sovereignty, city government, planning and visioning, as well as other topics brought forward by participants. The workshop will include a field trip to the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment and American Indian Medicine Gardens where we will learn about land reclamation, sovereignty and healing, and presentations from local community partners MN350 and Cities United. Space and time will be devoted to discussion and reflection on place and on different ways of knowing and acting in the world.

General Information

Workshop Dates: The event will last three days from June 12-14, 2019. The program starts at 10 a.m. on the 12^th and will end at 2 p.m. on the 14^th. All participants are asked to be present for the duration of the event.
Location: North Hennepin Community College, 7411 85th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Registration Fee: $395 (AASHE members), $495 (AASHE non-members), $175 (Student members), $195 (Student non-members) – Includes programming and meals (starting with lunch on June 12; breakfast, lunch and dinner on June 13, breakfast and lunch on June 14)
Registration policies: deadlines and policies are available
Lodging: participants will book their own lodging. Suggested accommodations are available
Registration Deadline: June 10 2019, noon Eastern Time

Participant Engagement:

This workshop is designed for attendees to participate fully throughout the three days in exercises, discussions, personal reflection and planning so that they come away from the workshop with an understanding of potential next steps they can take on their own campuses. The format will include opportunities for participants to bring forward topics from their own experiences to inform the discussion and gain insight from the perspectives of the presenters as well as fellow participants.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will leave the workshop with:

1. A clear understanding of the connections between Diversity, Sustainability, Equity and Inclusion
2. How to increase representation and engagement of people of color and indigenous people in this work
3. Knowledge and understanding of language and terms related to the interconnections of the work
4. Understanding the importance of Coloring Sustainability
5. A plan to execute on their own campus
6. Ideas for funding
7. The importance of building connections with student and community leaders
8. Knowledge of working examples of successful partnerships between Higher Education, K-12, tribal nations, community organizations and city and county government
9. Sample curriculum, diversity plans, affirmative action plans, diversity and sustainability models
10. How to develop a support system and network of like-minded peers

Organizers & Facilitators

• Erika Bailey Johnson, Sustainability Director at Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College
• Beth Mercer-Taylor, Sustainability Education Coordinator, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• Ana Munro, Instructor of Creative Writing and Community Organizing, North Hennepin Community College
• Gerry Huerth, elder from Lac Courte Oreilles Indian Reservation in Northern Wisconsin and faculty member at North Hennepin Community College
• Robert Rivera, Director of Family and Community Engagement for Robbinsdale School District
• Antonio Smith, Community Liaison, Cities United and My Brother’s Keeper (MBK)

FAQ:

How will I get there?
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is the closest airport.

Where do I stay?
Participants will book their own lodging. Suggested accommodations are available here.

If I’ve attended a “Sustainability, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” conference workshop at AASHE on this content in the past will I get something new out of this one?
Yes, definitely. This workshop meets you where you are and supports you to go deeper into your own professional and personal development. There will be new content, as well as more opportunities to learn from your fellow participants.

Any questions about the workshop?
Please contact Daita Serghi, daita.serghi@aashe.org