Social Sustainability

Prerequisite:

Prerequisite Action: What is Social Sustainability?

Description: When people hear the term "sustainability", the social and community aspects don't always come to mind. Find several resources or videos on sustainability and "social sustainability" to better understand the bigger picture.  While researching, think about how different definitions of sustainability relate or differ. What do all definitions of social sustainability have in common? 
            

Time Commitment: 30 minutes+

Required Documentation: Write 3 or more sentences about what you learned about social sustainability and your sources. 

Choose at Least Two of the Following Actions:

Action 1: View the Of This Place: Great Basin Neighbors Exhibition at the Shaw Gallery (Sept. 4th-Nov. 20th)

Description: Of This Place: Great Basin Neighbors is a group exhibition of work by Newe (Shoshone), Numu (Paiute), Nuche (Ute), and Diné (Navajo) artists. Utilizing the languages of basketry, beading, ceramics, fiber, installation, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and quillwork, these artists celebrate and express concern for the landscapes of our shared region and reflect on the impact of boarding schools on their cultures. Learn more about the exhibit and Shaw Gallery hours here.

• When: On view Sept. 4 - Nov. 20, 2026 **check gallery hours in the above link
• Where: Shaw Gallery (located in the Kimball Visual Arts Center)

Time Commitment: 1 hour+

Required Documentation: Write 3-4 sentences about your experience and how you can relate it to social sustainability.

Action 2: Attend a Hispanic Heritage Month Event (Sept. 15th - Oct. 31)

Description: Attend one of the many Hispanic Heritage Month events happening throughout the month of October. Learn more about the upcoming events here. Make sure to check the dates and plan ahead for the event(s) you want to attend! This programming is for educational purposes, and all are welcome.

Time Commitment:  1 hour+

Required Documentation: Write 3 or more sentences about which event you attended and how you can relate it to social sustainability.

Action 3: Attend an LGBTQ+ History Month Event (Oct. 5th - 29th)

Description: Attend one of the many LGBTQ+ History Month events happening throughout the month of October. Learn more about the upcoming events here. Make sure to check the dates and plan ahead for the event(s) you want to attend! This programming is for educational purposes, and all are welcome.

Time Commitment:  1 hour+

Required Documentation: Write 3 or more sentences about which event you attended and how you can relate it to social sustainability.

Action 4: Tour the Ballot Processing Center for Weber Elections (Oct. 6th)

Description: Join the Walker Institute on October 6th from 6:30-8:30 PM to tour the ballot processing center for Weber Elections. This is an open house event, so stop by when you're able! 

• When: Oct. 6, 2026, from 6:30-8:30 PM
• Where: Weber Center (basement level), 2380 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401

Time Commitment: 1 hour+

Required Documentation: Write 3-4 sentences about something interesting you learned.

Action 5: Attend a Walker Institute Talk (Oct. 7th or Oct. 21st)

Description: Attend a Walker Institute Talk. More info TBD. See all events here. 

• When: Oct. 7th or 21st, 2026, from 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
• Where: Lindquist Hall, Room 171

Time Commitment:  1 hour+

Required Documentation: Write 3 or more sentences about which talk you attended and what you learned.

Action 6: Attend Día de los Muertos en Ogden (Oct. 11th)

Description: Attend Día de los Muertos en Ogden. Rooted in generations of tradition, Día de los Muertos is a time to share memories, tell stories, honor our loved ones, and celebrate the connections that continue beyond life. There will be music, danza, art, ofrendas, food, local vendors, and community. Learn more about the event here. This programming is for educational purposes, and all are welcome.

• When: Oct. 11, 2026, from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Where: Ogden Amphitheater (343 E 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401)

Time Commitment:  1 hour+

Required Documentation: Write 3 or more sentences about your experience and how you can relate it to social sustainability.

Action 7: Participate in the WSU Service Day of Remembrance (Oct. 14th)

Description: Join the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) for their 15th Annual WSU Service Day of Remembrance on October 14th. Service opportunities will take place for a variety of activities at various locations. View the different shifts and register via GivePulse TBD.

*All benefits-eligible faculty and staff can use their employee service leave for this event (which is code "SERV" in Leave Tracker).  

Time Commitment: 1 hour+

Required Documentation: Upload a photo of you volunteering.

Action 8: Attend Conversation with Hurst Artist-in-Residence: Pepón Osorio (Oct. 21st)

Description: Experience a conversation with Pepón Osorio, an internationally recognized multidisciplinary artist whose work explores race, identity, social justice, and the experiences of Latinx and working-class communities in the United States. Through community-centered sculptures and installations, Osorio’s work sparks conversations about culture, inequality, belonging, and social change. Free and Open to the Public.

• When: Oct. 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM
• Where: Wildcat Theater (in the Shepherd Union)

Time Commitment: 1 hour+

Required Documentation: Write 3-4 sentences about what you learned. 

Action 9: Participate in Vote Early Day (Oct. 23rd)

Description:  Register to vote by October 23rd at 5:00 PM and participate in Vote Early Day (Oct. 24th). Vote Early Day is a nonpartisan movement of media companies, businesses, nonprofits, election administrators, and creatives working to ensure all Americans have the tools to vote early. The Walker Institute provides a variety of resources and helpful "Voter Tools" on their website here. 

• Watch "What is Civic Engagement" (1:52).
• Register to Vote: Here
• Unsure if you are registered to vote? Check here!

Time Commitment:  varies

Required Documentation: Take a picture dropping off your ballot in any ballot box. There is even a box located on the east side of the Shepherd Union. 

Action 10: Learn About the Dignity Index

Description: Working together to solve problems is essential for a thriving community. Learn about how to better communicate and interact with others in a more productive and meaningful way using the Dignity Index. "The Dignity Index is designed to ease divisions, prevent violence, and solve problems." 

• Watch "How to Use the Dignity Index to Score Speech" (23:35). 

Time Commitment: 30 minutes+

Required Documentation: Write 3 or more sentences about what you learned and how you can apply the Dignity Index in your life moving forward.

Action 11: Contact Your Representatives to Take Action

Description: Find an environmental issue important to you and contact your representatives to take action. The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators provides a great resource to learn more about local issues and associated legislation. To find current Utah legislation, go to Bill Tracking webpage and scroll down to Utah on the map. Find and contact your national, state, and local elected leaders on Find and Contact Elected Officials webpage. Watch the video below to learn more about Civic Engagement before proceeding. 

• Watch "What is Civic Engagement" (1:52). 

Time Commitment: 1 hour+

Required Documentation: Write 3-4 sentences about the issue you chose and who you contacted.

Action 12: Get Involved with a Local Organization Working on Climate-Related Issues

Description: Get involved with a local organization working on climate-related issues! Some great examples include Utah Clean Energy, Foodscaping Utah, Friends of the Great Salt Lake, Sierra Club Utah Chapter, Healthy Environment Alliance Utah (HEAL Utah), Ogden Nature Center, Citizens' Climate Lobby, Utah Climate Action Network, and Utah Rivers Council. You can find more groups here. **Note that some organizations require dues. 

Time Commitment:  varies (30 minutes)

Required Documentation: Write 3-4 sentences about the organization you joined and what you hope to gain.

Innovation Action:

Description:  Innovative actions are welcome, but please email greenbadge@weber.edu for approval before submitting this as one of your actions.

Time Commitment: varies

Required Documentation: varies