Mills College
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

Creek/Watershed, pollution prevention:

Mills College hosts the daylight of Leona Creek, flowing through the center of campus. Mills community members work to enhance the health of the ecosystem along the campus creek through environmental planning, restoration work, water quality testing, and educational programming. Realizing the importance of the greater watershed, of which this creek is part, Mills College partners with the City of Oakland, the East Bay Regional Parks, the Oakland Unified School District, and the Oakland Cesar Chavez Park community group to provide hands-on stewardship and educational opportunities. Mills College has partnered with the University of the Pacific to obtain the USC Sea grant to research the campus lake and creek. Specifically, they will study whether urban reservoirs act as sinks of contaminants, improving water quality before being discharged into the urban ocean. Mills College partners with Environmental Traveling Companions and SYRCL, the South Yuba River Citizens League, on an annual Salmon Rafting Tour of the Yuba River, creating awareness and momentum for restoration of the larger watershed.


Waste:

Mills College partners with a variety of organizations to manage the materials that circulate through the campus. Mills College participated in the StopWaste Business Partnership to implement a comprehensive recycling program, significantly increasing the diversion rate of the college. Recology has been an ongoing partner in implementing and strengthening the compost program. Civicorps Recycles and Mills College are partners in handling the recyclable materials. Mills College partners with Door to Door Storage, Good Will Industries, Urban Ore, and many other local non-profit organizations in the End of the Year Reusables Drive. Recently, Mills College has partnered with the Center for Environmental Health in order to ensure electronics used on campus, as well as their disposal, reflect the sustainability and social justice missions of the college.


Food:

Mills College has a partnership with Bon Appetit Management Corporation, the college’s food service provider, which is a leader in providing food services for a sustainable future. This partnership includes hosting TEDxFruitvale in 2011, which addressed farmworkers rights and labor movements. It also includes tours of local farms, farmers markets, cooking classes, and overall food engagement. Mills College has partnered with local food justice organizations to provide educational and collaboration opportunities, including Oakland Food Connection, People’s Grocery and Slow Food. Mills College annually partners with the Alameda County Food Bank in a food drive. The Food and Sustainability Living Learning Community partners with organizations to enhance the student experience, including an opportunity to see Salmon spawning on the Yuba River. Most residents on campus attend and support a local farmers market, through programming with the Office of Residential Life. In 2012, the Mills Athletic Department created a partnership with Farms to Grow LLC, a local non-profit focused on underserved farmers. During a day of service, Mills athletes and Farms to Grow LLC worked on enhancing school gardens at two local elementary schools.