Transcript How Diversity Matters: The connection between

How Diversity Matters:
The connection between
Sustainability and Diversity
Green Bag Lunch | March 25, 2015
Dara Sanoubane, [email protected]
Michael Brahosky, [email protected]
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OAoz9EF_Ig
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Air & Water quality, Health issues,
Infectious Diseases
Instability, Displacements
Pollution, Species Extinction, Deforestation
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Diversity is the process of recognizing our
differences and similarities and creating an
environment that capitalizes on them.
Equity is the fairness in the way people are treated
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Why is it important to address diversity and equity
issues in our sustainability efforts?
Human Population Growth
11
U.S.Population Projections to 2050
Percentage by Race and Hispanic Origin
80
13.6
09
13.8
14
14.2
14.3
14.5
14.7
14.8
15
08
5.3
5.8
6.3
6.8
7.3
7.8
8.3
8.8
9.2
07
16.0
17.7
19.4
21.2
23.0
24.8
26.7
28.5
30.3
60
40
64.7
62.4
60.1
57.8
55.5
53.1
50.8
48.5
46.3
Billions
100
World Total
10
We Are Here
06
05
04
Less Developed Countries
03
02
20
01
0
2010
2015
2020
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Years
Black including mixed race
Hispanic
Asian including mixed race
White non Hispanic
0
1750
More Developed Countries
1800
1850
1900
1950
2000
2050
2100
U.S. Census Bureau. (2008)
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov/population/projections/files/analytical-document09.pdf
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
The connection of the environment, economy,
and society within the last year
Pig poop fouling North Carolina Streams
Environmental Impact:

High levels of bacterial found in streams and waterways.
North Carolina’s DENR treats large swine farm operations as
“non-discharge facilities” exempt from state rules on having
to monitor waste found in rivers and streams.
Economic Impact:

North Carolina is the second leading pork producing state behind Iowa.
These farms generate so much waste it is too expensive to transport via
pipeline or truck. Instead, pig feces is held in “cesspools” or dispersed by
spraying “slurry” across fields ultimately leading to seepage into
underground water sources and run-off into nearby streams.
Social Impact:

Affecting the health of residents who are largely made up of minorities and
the poor who are most impacted. Why, because those affected have the least
amount of voice and resources to challenge big industries. As a result, they
have little choice but to endure the unbearable smell and watch their
property values depreciate.

Source: Environmental Health News
Educational Equity Green Team
Strategic Sustainability Plan 2014-2015
Mission Statement:
Recognizing its connection to matters of social justice and subsequent
impact on the diverse communities we serve, it is the mission of the
Educational Equity Green Team to promote the responsible stewardship of
fiscal, natural, and human resources through ecologically sustainable
practices.
Social Justice:
“Social Justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic,
political and social rights and opportunities.”
-National Association of Social Workers
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Environmental and Social Issues Are Related
SOCIAL
Environmental Justice:
“Environmental Justice is the fair
treatment
and meaningful involvement of all people
regardless of race, color, national origin, or
income with respect to the development,
implementation, and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations, and
policies.”
-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Poverty
Human Health
ENVIRONMENT
Water & Air
Quality
ECONOMIC
Development
Risk
Security
Social Justice IS Environmental Justice
Development
Educational Equity Green Team
Strategic Sustainability Plan 2014-2015
Objectives
Where do we want to go? What change do we want to see?
Action Items
How do we get there? How will we achieve the changes?
Time Line
When will we achieve this?
Outcomes and Evaluations
Did we get there/ did we make any changes? How do we know?
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Objectives
LIVE
Action Items
LEAD
COMMUNICATION
Outcomes and
Evaluations
20% rate of
attendance and participation
• Monthly green team
meetings.
• Workshops/events
(various sustainability
tours).
• May 2015: (Pre)
Survey staff (self-report)
re: participation in
Green Team events
• May 2016: (Post)
Survey staff(self- report)
re: participation in
Green Team events
Increase knowledge and
awareness of diversity and
environmental issues.
Workshops/events with
emphasis on diversity
and sustainability
• May 2015: (Pre) Survey
staff (self-report) re: level
of awareness and/or
interest in diversity.
• May 2016: (Post) Survey
• Outcomes: 10% Increase staff
knowledge and awareness regarding
diversity and environmental issues.
(From pre- to post-program
questionnaires)
Engage with other units to
promote diversity values for
sustainability endeavors.
• Contact the Rock Ethics
Institute and Sustainability
Institute to propose an
event. Contact at least two
student groups to propose
an event. Contact at least
two other Green Teams to
propose an event.
• Fall semester:
1 collaborative event
• Spring semester:
1 collaborative event
• Outcomes:
2 collaborative sustainability
events per academic year.
To promote events and
opportunities to participate/
contribute, highlight
accomplishments of Ed.
Equity members and others
in the GT community.
• Monthly Meetings.
• Meeting Agendas/Minutes
provided and made
accessible via share drive.
• Green Team Website.
• Green Team pulse surveys.
• Monthly updates of
meeting minutes, website
information and timely
email notifications.
• Outcomes: Provide easy
accessibility and use of
tools and resources
(website, email notifications,
meeting minutes).
To provide support for
sustainability and diverseability efforts. Increase
Educational Equity staff
participation in Green
Team Event
LEARN
Time Line
• Outcomes:
among all Ed. Equity staff in
Ed. Equity Green Team meetings,
workshops, events, and website
usage.
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
How does this apply to you?
You@PSU
Core Competencies & Behavior
Example Teamwork and Leadership Goals

Level I - Participate as a team member in a collaborative environment within a diverse
workforce

Level II - Seek out diverse opinions and ideas before making decision

Level III - Value opinions and ideas from a diverse population and recognize the impact
of actions on different groups and the environment

Level IV - Mentor other staff with an emphasis of

Level V - Evaluate and enhance current practices and outreach efforts to ensure
optimal support of diversity and the environment
http://ohr.psu.edu/recruitment-and-compensation/job-responsibilities-worksheet/core-competencies-non-management/
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
You@PSU
Core Competencies & Behavior
Goal
Action Steps
Metrics
Level III –
Demonstrate a
value for opinions
and ideas from a
diverse population
and recognize the
impact of actions
on different groups
and the
environment
1) Actively seek
diverse
partners in
collaborative
projects and
events on
(…insert the
work that you
do…)
1) One
collaborative
event per
semester
2) Use and
referral of
partner
websites,
handbooks and
services
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Videos

Poverty (The business of) http://www.povertyinc.org/

The Story of Stuff http://storyofstuff.org/

Shelter in Place http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/shelter-place/

Poison Fire http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/poison-fire/

A River of Waste http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/river-waste/

Tapped http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/tapped/

Money Talks: Profits Before Patient Safety
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/money-talks-profits-before-patient-safety/
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Activities


Social justice and Environmental justice:

Make 3 dice and on each surface, write social justice issues and environmental
issues (e.g., Food Security, Poverty, Industrial Agriculture, Race, Risk Society,
Deforestation, waste pollution, Infectious Diseases

So, say a student rolled: Poverty, Race, and Food Security, they would explain the
connection between all of those topics and how social justice and sustainability are
interrelated
Racism, Consumption and the environment:

Bring in different kinds of chocolate bars (Hershey, Fair Trade, Endangered Species.
etc...) and discuss how people would make a decision on what to buy (cost, flavor,
convenience, social and environmental costs)

Watch “The Story of Stuff” and/or part of “The Dark Side of Chocolate”

Discuss the impacts of labor, manufacturing and waste disposal laws

Objective: similar lessons with any product that we buy and many other factors
could go into consuming that we may have to make visible for ourselves.
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Literature, Papers & Reports

Ciocirlan, C. & Pettersson, C. (2012). Does workforce diversity matter in the fight against climate
change? An analysis of Fortune 500 companies. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental
Management, 19(1), 47-62.

Friedman, T. L. (2008). Hot, flat, and crowded: Why we need a green revolution--and how it can
renew America. Macmillan.

Mann, M. E. (2013). The hockey stick and the climate wars: Dispatches from the front lines.
Columbia University Press.

Pearson, A.R. & Schuldt, J.P. (Dec. 2014). Facing the diversity crisis in climate science. Nature
Climate Change, 4, 1039-1042.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2008). US population projections. US Census Bureau: Washington, D.C.
Retrieved from http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/29429/title/The-ComingHealth-Crisis/

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]. (n.d.). Environmental Justice. Retrieved from
http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/basics/ejbackground.html

Jarvis, D. (2013). Environmental Justice and Social Work: A Call to Expand the Social Work Profession
to Include Environmental Justice. Columbia Social Work Review, 4(1), 26-45.

Dorceta, E.T. (Jul. 2014).The State of Diversity in Environmental Organizations Report.University of
Michgan,
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Penn State electrical engineering alumnus’
kiosks bring clean water to India
Advait Kumar, a Penn State electrical engineering alumnus, saw something that changed his life.
"One day I went to the backyard and I saw all these house workers queuing up to get their turn to
fill water from our home," Kumar said. "I didn't understand why they were there."
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Thank You!
Any Questions?
Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Questions?
Please type your questions into the chat box.
sustainability.psu.edu/greenteams
Resources
• Videos
• Presentations
• Guides
Thank you for attending!
Discussion Questions
Feel free to use any of these questions, or ones that your Green
Team creates.
• Did your understanding of “sustainability” and “diversity”
change after hearing the presentation and if so how?
• What goals and action items does your unit plan to include in
your strategic plan?
• Does your unit Green Team have a strategic plan and if so, are
you meeting progress goals?
• What outcomes and evaluations do you employ to measure the
success of your goals?