How can we engage alumni and community members on climate issues?
You are a student for four years, but you’re an alum for the rest of your life. This is the opportunity and challenge for colleges and universities: how to provide high-impact information on important topics for lifelong learners.
Duke turned to Growing Greener and one of its own alums (Mick Smyer, grad school alum) for the solution. In early March, 2020, just prior to the COVID-19 , we provided two workshops at Duke. The first, hosted by the Duke Alumni Association, gathered 80 alumni from all generations for an evening workshop on Breaking the Climate Silence Habit. The second, hosted by Duke’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) was a mid-morning session for 30 OLLI Members.
Chris McL., director of Duke’s OLLI summed up the impact of the Growing Greener materials: “These cards are elegantly simple and yet very powerful. I think they will hold great appeal for our members and directors.” One bonus: staff from Duke’s Office of Sustainability attended the evening workshop and were excited to learn about Growing Greener’s College Student materials. We are planning student-focused collaborations for the Fall.
“These cards are elegantly simple and yet very powerful.”
Chris McL., Director of Duke’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
