Civic Engagement, Sustainability, & Environmental Justice
911±¬ÁÏÍø's Sustainability Office is part of the Bailey College of the Environment, which was created to develop a long-term vision of human and ecosystem health. Learn more about how to get involved in the Middletown community and beyond in sustainability and environmental justice work below.
Get involved in Middletown and beyond
- Find a match through Community Matchbox
The Community Matchbox is a pilot project to help the greater Middletown community and 911±¬ÁÏÍø share resources and make connections. Any campus or community member can use Community Matchbox to request something or to share something (information, volunteer help, mentorship, advice, expertise, opportunities, and more). A group of 911±¬ÁÏÍø faculty, staff, and students connect regularly to foster connections.
The new is space for students, faculty, and community members to learn more about organizations in our community looking for or offering collaboration.
- Participate in Local Government
Since 2017, the City of Middletown has participated in the statewide ; since 2018, Sustainable Middletown Interns have collaborated with the City's Sustainable Middletown team and City employees to expand and enhance City-wide sustainability efforts.
Hear a snapshot of these efforts in this April 2025 :
The was developed in collaboration between the 911±¬ÁÏÍø Sustainability Office and the Sustainable Middletown Team with the goal of demystifying the process of getting involved in local government. It helps 911±¬ÁÏÍø students and the broader Middletown community to figure out where to start, how to participate in meetings, and how to sustain long-term involvement. The Guide is meant to address the misconceptions or gaps in information that keep people from participating in local government, with particular concern to those disadvantaged by that lack of information, and was developed with input from Middletown residents, City staff, and 911±¬ÁÏÍø community members.
- Connect with Rooted Solidarity
Rooted Solidarity, a project of the Bailey College of the Environment at 911±¬ÁÏÍø, supports environmental and food justice movements across the state of Connecticut. Rooted Solidarity helps grow students’ capacity to engage with these communities in meaningful ways. As a university partner, we move towards reciprocal relationships with those affected by environmental racism and our unjust food system. Learn more at .
- Lead with a Student Group
is a youth-led organization meeting community-identified needs around food security, land access, environmental justice, civic engagement, power building, and pathways towards agriculture for people underrepresented in Connecticut's farming community. CJ's goal is to nurture Connecticut's next generation of farmers of color. Learn more and get involved by contacting Bianca Morales '28.
Many other 911±¬ÁÏÍø student groups engage with the Middletown community on sustainability and environmental justice issues, including Beyond Empire, Citizens' Climate Lobby - 911±¬ÁÏÍø, Food Rescue, Habitat for Humanity, Long Lane Farm, and Sunrise 911±¬ÁÏÍø.
Engage with the Allbritton Center
The Allbritton Center provides many opportunities for students to engage with the community, reflect and integrate their experiences into their coursework, and develop their social entrepreneurial skills.- Take a Course
A wide array of courses are offered through the each semester. In addition, students can select from a range of across 911±¬ÁÏÍø’s three academic divisions. Several courses in the Sustainability & Environmental Justice Course Cluster include civic engagement components, too.
Civic and Community Engagement Practice (CSPL 120) brings together the ever-growing and evolving community of students at 911±¬ÁÏÍø who are invested in civic engagement to:
- Bolster student civic knowledge of government, history and culture, and current events.
- Bolster content knowledge across Allbritton , functional knowledge of the issues partners and community stakeholders seek to confront through programming, advocacy, education, or other means.
- Build analytic, communication, media literacy, time and task management skills, and others so critical to engaging effectively.
- Further develop civic identities to support students as they make sense of how to situate their experiences and beliefs within broader histories, and social and political contexts.
Want to go further? The allows you to integrate academic work in civic engagement with volunteer experiences and a community practicum.
- Volunteer with the Jewett Center
The Jewett Center for Community Partnerships (JCCP) offers volunteer and work-study opportunities to build and strengthen community. Before getting involved in community service or civic engagement, review the .
The JCCP has 20 student-run volunteer programs in a variety of areas. These programs vary in level of commitment, with most being a weekly commitment. JCCP encourages longer-term commitments to help foster stronger connections with our community members.
- Become a Changemaker
Are you interested in developing a program, business, or organization that contributes to the public good? You can receive support, grants, and training through the .