Northwestern University
EN-9: Community Partnerships

Northwestern has a close relationship with the City of Evanston and sustainNU works with the City's sustainability staff to support sustainability efforts in the community. Northwestern participated in the 2016 Evanston Green Living Festival, hosting a booth and interactive display where community members could learn about energy efficiency. In addition, the University partners with the City of Evanston to host an annual park clean-up day. In addition, Northwestern works with the City of Evanston and the nonprofit group Rebuilding Together to serve community members in need. In 2016, Northwestern staff volunteers repaired and improved the homes of two low-income senior citizens in Evanston. The improvements included installing a wheelchair ramp, repairing doors and windows, and rebuilding a fence. (https://rebuildingtogethernsc.org/)

ANSER (the Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research Center), founded in 2007, is a joint research effort between Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory (located in Chicago) that works "to revolutionize our understanding of molecules, materials and methods necessary to create dramatically more efficient technologies for solar fuels and electricity production." Student and faculty researchers from Northwestern work alongside researchers at Argonne and other institutions to conduct research on how to make solar energy clean, cheap and efficient. The project focuses on interdisciplinary research and both the economic and technological aspects of sustainability. The local and campus communities remain informed and involved through research updates provided by the Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern, and through events including seminars and the annual ANSER Solar Energy Symposiums. (http://www.anser.northwestern.edu/about/index.html)

The City of Evanston and Northwestern have been involved in a multi-year project to boost cycling throughout the city, promoting health, accessibility, and sustainable transportation. The cycling project is one of many aimed at boosting Evanston’s liveability and sustainability. Since Fall 2014, members of Northwestern’s administration and student body have been working with officials in the City of Evanston to define the scope of the project, set goals and discuss possible implementation methods. During 2016, Northwestern worked with the City of Evanston to bring the Divvy bike sharing program to campus and the surrounding community. Stakeholders were involved throughout the process, including through surveys and public forums centered around locations of bike sharing stations and bike lanes, type of bike lanes, and other key decisions. This outreach included participation by students at Northwestern and presentations to student leaders to gather feedback. Because of this partnership, Northwestern and Evanston are both on their way to becoming more bike friendly, accessible and sustainable.

Through the Kellogg School of Management New Ventures class, students receive the opportunity to engage with communities across the world. In 2006, one student, Andrew Youn, launched the One Acre Fund, a project to help subsistence farmers in Kenya support themselves through teaching them best farming practices and allowing the farmers to purchase high-quality maize seed. In the first five years of the program, One Acre helped more than 70,000 subsistence farmers triple their harvests and double their income per acre, as well as feel empowered to continue their businesses. (http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/kwo/sum11/brandnews/networkinaction.htm)