Portland State University
IN-2: Innovation 2

Social Sustainability Month (SSM) is an annual series of events that has been hosted at PSU since 2010. Students are the main organizers of SSM, and the initiative receives departmental support from the Sustainability Leadership Center, Womens Resource Center, Campus Recreation, and the Cultural Centers. The goal of SSM is to build sustainable community that includes everyone. Connections are made between the ecological, environmental justice, economic, political, human rights, and cultural dimensions of sustainability. SSM explores ways to dismantle positions of power and privilege within the sustainability movement. Philosophies and frameworks of sustainability have existed for thousands of years previous to the current movement. What are some of the alternative, lesser known, or marginalized perspectives that guide a sustainable lifestyle or culture outside of the dominant paradigm? What role has colonization played in silencing these voices? How has colonization impacted people’s quality of life and the land inhabited by them? In what ways is language used as a tool for colonization? What are some of the tools that can be used to highlight these narratives so that we can build a more equitable, accessible, and diverse movement? How do we validate and celebrate the diversity of the human experience? How do we create a space of visibility for marginalized groups? How can we reclaim language and identity? How can we break down barriers and create brave spaces for individuals to share their experiences? How can we work together with respect for our diverse backgrounds? More information can be found at http://www.pdx.edu/wrc/SSM

Number of events = 81 events over 5 years with an average of 16 events each year. Average annual attendance = 500 Number of organizations that have been involved over the last 5 years = 34. Includes student organizations, academic departments, student services departments, and external organizations. Examples include: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Center for Diversity and the Environment Queer Resource Center Food Action Collective Chemeketa Community College Portland Community College Graduate School of Education Coalition of Pacific Islander Students Other outcomes: Cultural Sustainability Self-guided Tour Map: http://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/sites/www.pdx.edu.sustainability/files/Cultural%20Tour%20Map_Digital%20Version_09.04.14.pdf Seven students have completed internships. Completed an accessibility study of major campus buildings and have advocated for changes that provide additional accessibility for students, staff, faculty, and community.