Judson University
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

A faculty member and some staff members served on the City of Elgin's Sustainability Citizen Working Groups which met regularly to craft a sustainability plan for the City. Judson has also provided letters of support for the City's efforts to obtain grants for organic garden projects that will benefit the local school district and offered to partner in those projects should the grants be awarded. Judson has also participated in the City's sustainability-themed events including Green Town, the Sustainable Governance Conference, and others, providing financial support and speakers. Professor Cathy Headley partners with the City of Elgin and the Salvation Army to offer Senior Circuit, a health, exercise, and nutrition program for area seniors. On December 3, 2011, Judson University hosted the first Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (S.T.E.M.) Conference. The event was created by one of Judson's Education professors, Professor Christine Starzynski, to encourage middle- and high-school age Latinas to continue pursuing an education and to consider possible future careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math. Professor Starzynski has also worked with the No Excuses University Program to encourage college attendance among low-income populations.