Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.67
Liaison Daryl Pierson
Submission Date April 8, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Portland State University
IN-2: Innovation 2

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Molly Bressers
Program & Outreach Coordinator
Campus Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Social Sustainability Month

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:

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


A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):

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.


A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of five):
Yes or No
Curriculum ---
Research ---
Campus Engagement Yes
Public Engagement Yes
Air & Climate No
Buildings No
Dining Services No
Energy No
Grounds No
Purchasing No
Transportation No
Waste No
Water No
Coordination, Planning & Governance Yes
Diversity & Affordability Yes
Health, Wellbeing & Work Yes
Investment No

Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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