Vassar College
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

Community Works Campaign Community Works is a philanthropic campaign whose mission is to provide financial assistance to local not-for-profit organizations. Funded by donations from employees and students of Vassar College, Community Works has funded 40 different institutions in the Hudson Valley since its inception in 2001. Past recipients have included organizations in the field of sustainability such as Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and Sustainable Hudson Valley. Building Bridges Project Building Bridges is a collaboration between Vassar and several non-profit agencies working with the local community to discover different ways to bring nutritious food to urban neighborhoods in Poughkeepsie. The project began in 2009 with the idea of conducting a Community Food Assessment to better understand the nature of food insecurity in Poughkeepsie as well as the community assets available to eradicate it. Poughkeepsie Shuttle The Vassar Student Association offers a free weekend shuttle service into Poughkeepsie, supplementing two week-day city bus lines which stop on, or adjacent to, campus. Apart from providing students with a public transportation option as an alternative to car ownership, the shuttle and the city bus lines increase the engagement of students with the local community. They encourage student involvement in Poughkeepsie by providing access to local businesses and non-profit organizations. Casperkill Assessment Project The Casperkill Assessment Project is a partnership between Vassar’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI) and local organizations and individuals. Since its inception in 2006, the CAP has conducted research on the Casperkill Creek and its watershed. The project’s primary goal has been to use its research to make the Casperkill the best and healthiest possible community resource, building on the notion that a healthy watershed can be an asset for the social, environmental, and even economic health of our community. Casperkill Watershed Alliance The Casperkill Watershed Alliance is a partnership between the Vassar Environmental Research Institute (ERI), Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County (CCEDC), watershed residents, civic officials, and other interested parties. The alliance meets monthly and organizes various community watershed events such as streamside plantings, storm drain marking projects, creek cleanups, natural lawn care workshops, rain barrel workshops, bike rides, and more. Dutchess Watersheds Dutchess Watersheds is an online community of individuals and watershed organizations working in education, advocacy, research and protection of the watersheds in Dutchess County, New York. Created by the Vassar Environmental Research Institute in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County (CCEDC), the website provides the public with information on community events, watershed facts, research data, and multimedia materials for education. Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve Situated on the southern side of Vassar’s campus, the Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve provides wooded trails, open meadows, sports fields, and space for several organizations. The land hosts a wide variety of activities by members of Vassar and the surrounding communities, and remains one of few open spaces in the City of Poughkeepsie. Exploring Science at the Vassar Farm The Department of Education offers a one-semester program in science and environmental education at the Collins Field Station on the Vassar Farm property. Vassar students work with faculty to design and implement lessons for local Poughkeepsie elementary students. Poughkeepsie Farm Project The Poughkeepsie Farm Project is a non-profit organization that works toward a just and sustainable food system in the Mid-Hudson Valley by operating a member-supported farm, providing education about food and farming, and improving access to healthy locally-grown food. While the PFP functions as an independent organization, it operates on 10-acres of farmland on lease from the college and receives ongoing support from Vassar student interns and volunteers.

http://www.dutchesswatersheds.org/casperkill-creek-information http://www.dutchesswatersheds.org/ http://farm.vassar.edu/ http://education.vassar.edu/programs/index.html http://farmproject.org/ http://communityworks.vassar.edu/