Park School - a leader in sustainability communications

One of the most important initiatives in the Park School is sustainability -- and the application of media for social change. We've been doing this in a number of ways throughout the years, and as the new Dean, it's going to be one of my top priorities.

In fact, this Thursday morning at 7:30 AM, I'll be interviewed live on WHCU about Park's initiatives.

We've got a lot to be proud of -- and a lot going on this week in particular.

Several of our Communication Management and Design students and alums are putting their knowledge and skills to use in promoting the green economy and sustainable business practices. Sarah Brylinsky, '08, is the Sustainability Education coordinator for Dickinson College; while at IC she won the AASHE student sustainability leadership award. Brylinsky was a resident assistant of the Sustainably Conscious Living Community and prompted the College to require sustainability training for RAs, designed programs for first-year students to connect them with local environmental organizations, worked to make residence halls more eco-friendly, and created Ithaca’s first communications course on sustainability.
Kiffen Ratkevich, 2010 Park School Communication Management and Design, is putting his knowledge and skills to use in promoting the green economy and sustainable business practices. Kiffen is currently completing an internship with Opportunity Green, a non-profit enterprise developed in partnership with the UCLA Anderson School of Management to support and promote innovation and entrepreneurial leadership in the green economy.

Kiffen used his CMD skills to design and produce a video showcasing Ecovative Design, the 2009 Opportunity Green 25 Business Award winner. The OG25 Business Award recognizes the most promising start-ups committed to building a new green economy.

View Kiffen’s video by logging on to http://www.opportunitygreen.com/og25/ and clicking on the Opportunity Green 2009 video. Look for his blog about the role of communication technology in the green economy at this site and at www.ithaca.edu/scm.

This week at IC, we kick off the Media for Social Change mini-course, led by alum Andy Orgel '74, CEO of One Degree Media and Entertainment and Dean Diane Gayeski; student groups will also be facilitated by Professor Mara Alper, visiting professor from Korea Dong Keun Ahn, and five alums representing careers in radio, TV, cable, and new media. The Park School Sustainability Club is helping to develop and present case studies for the course.

It kicks off Thursday April 22 at 7PM in Park Auditorium with a presentation by Lynne Twist, noted environmentalist, activist, and author of The Soul of Money as well as a special videotaped address from Van Jones, author of the Green Collar Economy and former Obama green jobs advisor.

students can still sign up for the mini-course.

For more info, please visit:

http://www.ithaca.edu/rhp/community/socialchange/