Green Mountain College
IN-25: Innovation B

Seventeen Green Mountain College students and four faculty members spent 2016’s fall semester studying the social, economic and environmental dynamics affecting the north country region in Vermont and the adjacent Adirondack region of New York. The students participated in the 12-credit fall block course, “Envisioning a Sustainable and Resilient North Country.”The block course is a GMC innovation combining perspectives from different academic disciplines—the course was co-taught by Philip Ackerman-Leist (sustainable agriculture and food systems), Prof. Laird Christensen (resilient and sustainable communities), Prof. Teresa Coker (environmental education) and Prof. William Throop (philosophy and environmental studies). Students met with farmers, foresters, landowners, business owners, policy makers, and educators to develop strategies to increase resiliency — to foster communities that can adapt to environmental, economic, or social disruptions without losing their capacity to function and coherent identity. The most impactful product of this course was the 24 infographic artworks illustrating people advancing sustainable practices throughout the North Country. The information artworks were created by students with the help of Douglas Gayeton, a multimedia producer, filmmaker and writer who created Project Localize, an educational program that helps students promote sustainable progress in their communities. Green Mountain College i the first higher education institution to incorporate the work Douglas Gayeton and Project Localaize into coursework. The information artworks will be used to share a presentations and conferences across the region including the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont’s Winter Conference and the North Country Climate Conference in April. Additional innovations produced by this class included a website with resources for engaging others in difficult conversations about refugee resettlement and a digital story map documenting schools and education organizations contributing to the sustainability and resiliency of the region These unique products developed to advance sustainability and build resilience contribute towards realizing multiple principles outlined in the Earth Charter including principles: 3. Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful and 7. Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being.