Change Makers and Community Builders
Hosted by the Bucknell Center for Sustainability & the Environment
The 2025 Sustainability Symposium, Change Makers and Community Builders, invites us to consider how connection, collaboration, and persistence through hope can lead to positive change. This year we highlight change makers and community builders working in our local lower anthracite coal region as we celebrate 10 years of the Coal Region Field Station*. Join us as we learn from local leaders about their journeys and consider the lessons that can apply to our own found and rooted communities as we invite all to consider the role each of us can play in change-making and community building.
The Sustainability Expo is a chance for students, staff, faculty, and community groups to share their work in a broad range of sustainability and environment research, action, creative works, prototypes, and more. Students are welcomed and encouraged to present their work from course projects, summer research, and even tabling with their student groups. Organizations, non-profits, and campus units are invited to table at the Expo and share their good works and opportunities for environmental and sustainability engagement as well.
This event is FREE and open to the public, but we do ask for advance registration so we can plan for food, reduce waste, and keep this and future events free for all. If you plan to attend but are not submitting a proposal for the Sustainability Expo, please register here. To submit a proposal to join the Sustainability Expo, complete the form by March 21st which will also register you for the event.
Tentative Schedule
All events will be held at McDonald Commons
Thursday, April 3, 2024
12:00 – 12:50 p.m. Keynote Speaker & Lunch
Betsy Kramer, SEDA-COG Program Manager for Community Revitalization
“Bridging the Past and Future: Sustainability’s Role in Revitalizing Coal Communities”
1:00 – 2:20 p.m. Snap Talk Panel
“Change Makers and Community Builders: A Panel Discussion“
Panelists:
- Jake Betz – Mother Maria Kaupas Center and the Mount Carmel Area Community Center
- Betsy Kramer – SEDA-COG Program Manager for Community Revitalization
- Heather Makal – Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance
- Matt McMullen – Environmental Resiliency VISTA, AmeriCorps
- Mark Stansberry – Screen Arts Institute
2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Campus Excursion Options and Expo set-up
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Sustainability Expo and Coal Region Field Station Celebration