Advancing sustainability, whether in one’s dorm, on a college campus, in a community, or at national and global levels, means enabling change, and educating change agents. Many sustainability competencies and the recent National Academies report “Strengthening Sustainability Programs and Curricula at the Undergraduate and Graduate Levels” agree that sustainability education should support the ability of students to design and lead change in multiple spheres—organizations, communities, states, and internationally. However, it is unclear how many college students interested in sustainability have opportunities to learn about theories of change and historical social movements or try out approaches such as community organizing and asset-based community development.

The first half of this one-hour webinar will introduce participants to a few models for engaging students in experiential learning about change agency and invite discussion and sharing about opportunities and barriers experienced by others seeking to equip students to be change agents. In the second half of the program, several recent college graduates engaged in energy equity advocacy work will share their perspectives on how their college or university supported their ability to become leaders in energy equity, and what further opportunities colleges and universities could provide to effectively support this key aspect of sustainability education. These young people lead MAYE Corps, a Metro Atlanta-based, youth-led team committed to implementing energy equity programs that center youth leadership, racial and social justice, and local collaboration. All have important insights to share about how colleges and universities can strengthen curricular and co-curricular opportunities for students who want to understand theories of change and learn how to become change agents themselves.