Graphic Design – �鶹��Ƶ

Rescuing La Piedad Lagoon

Ada Inman — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 20:44:46 +0000

Since 2023, �鶹��Ƶ has helped the Metropolitan Autonomous University Azcapotzalco increase efforts to save the La Piedad Lagoon in the city of Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico through a series of alumni projects involving over 300 undergraduate students. The salvation of La Piedad from contaminants is critical to the city as it is an essential body of water that can contribute one cubic meter of water per second to municipalities that struggle to meet their daily demands of the vital resource. The projects not only help meet environmental goals of facilitated access to unpolluted natural areas, they also increase activities that will lead to economic development and environmental consciousness. Dr. Fabiola Sosa, the coordinator of the project and advisor of the university’s student projects, hopes that the new access to a clean body of water will revitalize communities by encouraging organic farming and recreational activities such as bird watching and fishing.

Throughout the years, different academic departments and courses at the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM) have engaged in efforts to rescue the Lagoon. Notable course projects include UAM’s sociology department’s Qualitative Data Collection course, where students interviewed community members on how the lagoon’s contamination and decrease in water quality has affected their well-being, livelihood, cultural traditions, and aliment. Additionally, Chemical Analysis courses spend time on field reports that monitor the lagoon’s water quality and affluents and assess the distinct contaminants present in the water. The findings of both of these courses were captured in a documentary made by students in the Graphic Design Communications course, who also created infographics and other forms of digital media to spread awareness about the lagoon’s current state. Lastly, architectural students at UAM have dedicated a significant amount of time on the creation of architectural proposals focusing on adequate landscaping for the wetlands of the region. Over the next few years, student involvement in the Lagoon’s rescue is expected to increase with about 180 students per trimester from UAM, along with additional participation from other universities across the country.

Completed course projects have received nothing but positive feedback from community members and councils. Every year, UAM makes an effort to report accomplishments to the public by hosting student presentations where local governments, conservation groups, and community members can learn about their work. Their last presentation session took place on February 19th, 2024, when the audience filled an auditorium of over 150 people (more information can be found at: ). The purpose of these presentations is to update authorities on the progress of student work so that local governments that have frequent shifts in councils can continue to support students and their efforts by promoting environmental policies. Although previous student projects have been successful in making progress towards environmental, economic, and social development, Dr. Sosa hopes that students will soon be able to work on governmental action projects, with the recently established Basin Committee focusing on making the restoration of La Piedad a political priority. Before students can get involved in governmental work that will establish wetland systems to manage cleanliness, however, hydraulic engineers must determine the technical feasibility of a system’s capacity to withstand the amount of water that enters the Lagoon to ensure long-term durability and efficiency. These assessments are expected to begin as soon as July of this year. After these characteristics are ensured, Dr. Sosa expects to begin the process of establishing legal institutions that will create a protection status for the Lagoon, avoiding its urbanization and creating a protected natural area on a federal level so that any threat to its conservation can lead to legal action. The start of a legal project will be a more prolonged process than what students are accustomed to. Still, Dr. Sosa is optimistic that this will teach students about the importance of continuous activism.

Dr. Fabiola Sosa is tremendously proud of the incredible work accomplished by the UAM students. Many of their endeavors have received recognition in local and national newspapers, radio stations, and television channels. Students have had the opportunity to share their experiences and how their work has influenced them, and many of them have expressed interest in pursuing careers in environmental conservation. As part of the recognition for these efforts, Dr. Sosa was also awarded the Woman Defender of Water Award in 2023, and an award from the Judiciary of the Federation on the 2024 International Women’s Day for her dedication to equality and search for safe spaces for women. Dr. Sosa reflects on what these awards mean to her and how they represent the role of responsibility placed on women to ensure the accessibility of clean water in their households for their families. She states that she is excited for more students to get involved in the salvation of La Piedad so that they can work towards finding solutions for the societal injustices that come with environmental pollution. Dr. Sosa is grateful for the passion and dedication to the issue that students have conveyed through their hard work and is looking forward to seeing them become our future agents of change.

Rescatando La Piedad (SPA)

Desde 20203, �鶹��Ƶ ha ayudado a la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Azcapotzalco, a incrementar sus esfuerzos para salvar la laguna La Piedad en la ciudad de Cuautitlán Izcalli, México, a través de una serie de proyectos estudiantiles que involucran a más de 300 alumnos de licenciatura. Salvar a La Piedad de los contaminantes es esencial para la ciudad, ya que es un cuerpo de agua esencial que podría proporciona un metro cúbico de agua por segundo a los municipios que luchan por satisfacer sus demandas diarias del vital recurso. Los proyectos no sólo ayudan a cumplir los objetivos ambientales de facilitar el acceso a áreas naturales no contaminadas, sino que también aumentan las actividades que conducirán al desarrollo económico y la conciencia ambiental. La Dra. Fabiola Sosa, coordinadora del proyecto y asesora de los proyectos estudiantiles de la universidad, espera que el acceso a agua limpia revitalice las comunidades, al fomentar la agricultura orgánica y otras actividades recreativas como la observación de aves y la pesca.

A lo largo de los años, diferentes departamentos académicos y carreras de la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) se han involucrado en las labores de rescate de la Laguna. Los proyectos emprendidos por los alumnos de diferentes cursos incluyen: Recolección de Datos Cualitativos del Departamento de Sociología de la UAM, donde los estudiantes entrevistaron a miembros de la comunidad sobre cómo la contaminación de la laguna y la disminución de la calidad del agua han afectado su bienestar, sustento, tradiciones culturales y alimentación. Además, los cursos de Análisis Químico dedican tiempo a realizar informes de campo en donde se monitorea la calidad del agua y de los afluentes de la Laguna, demas de evalúar los diferentes contaminantes presentes en el agua. Los hallazgos de ambos cursos fueron plasmados en un documental realizado por estudiantes de la carrera de Diseño de la Comunicación Gráfica, quienes también crearon infografías y otros medios digitales para generar conciencia sobre el estado actual de la Laguna. Finalmente, los estudiantes de arquitectura de la UAM han dedicado una cantidad de tiempo significante a crear propuestas arquitectónicas enfocadas al paisajismo adecuado de los humedales de la región. En los próximos años, se espera que la participación estudiantil en el rescate de la Laguna aumente con alrededor de 180 estudiantes por trimestre de la UAM, junto con una participación adicional de otras universidades de todo el país.

Los proyectos de cursos completados no han recibido más que comentarios positivos de los miembros y ayuntamientos de la comunidad. Cada año, la UAM se esfuerza por informar al público sobre sus logros organizando presentaciones de estudiantes donde los gobiernos locales, los grupos conservacionistas y los miembros de la comunidad pueden aprender sobre sus trabajos. Su última sesión de presentación tuvo lugar el 19 de febrero de 2024, cuando el público llenó un auditorio de más de 150 personas (más información puede ser consultada en la siguiente página: ). El propósito de estas presentaciones es actualizar a las autoridades sobre el avance del trabajo estudiantil para que los gobiernos locales que tienen cambios frecuentes de personal puedan continuar apoyando a los estudiantes y sus esfuerzos impulsando políticas ambientales. Aunque proyectos estudiantiles anteriores han logrado avances hacia el desarrollo ambiental, económico y social, la Dra. Sosa espera que los estudiantes pronto puedan trabajar en proyectos de acción gubernamental, con el Comité de Cuenca recientemente establecido enfocándose en restaurar La Piedad como una prioridad política. Sin embargo, antes de que los estudiantes puedan participar en trabajos gubernamentales que establecerán sistemas de humedales para descontaminar la Laguna, los ingenieros hidráulicos deben determinar la viabilidad técnica de la capacidad de un sistema para soportar la cantidad de agua que ingresa a la Laguna para garantizar la durabilidad y eficiencia a largo plazo. Se espera que estas evaluaciones comiencen en julio de este año. Una vez aseguradas estas características, la Dra. Sosa espera iniciar el proceso de establecimiento de instituciones legales que creará un estatus de protección para la Laguna, impidiendo su urbanización y creando un área natural protegida a nivel federal para que cualquier amenaza a su conservación pueda dar lugar a acciones legales. Iniciar un proyecto legal será un proceso más largo de lo que los estudiantes están acostumbrados. Aún así, la Dra. Sosa es optimista de que esto enseñará a los estudiantes sobre la importancia del activismo continuo.

La Dra. Fabiola Sosa está tremendamente orgullosa del increíble trabajo realizado por los estudiantes de la UAM. Muchos de sus esfuerzos han recibido reconocimiento en periódicos, estaciones de radio y canales de televisión locales y nacionales. Los estudiantes han tenido la oportunidad de compartir sus experiencias y cómo su trabajo los ha influenciado, y muchos de ellos han expresado interés en seguir carreras en conservación ambiental. Como parte del reconocimiento a estos esfuerzos, la Dra. Sosa también recibió el Premio Mujer Defensora del Agua en 2023, y un premio del Poder Judicial de la Federación en el Día Internacional de la Mujer 2024 por su dedicación a la igualdad y búsqueda de espacios seguros para las mujeres. La Dra. Sosa reflexiona sobre lo que significan para ella estos premios y cómo representan el rol de responsabilidad que recae en las mujeres para garantizar el acceso al agua potable en sus hogares para sus familias. Ella dice que está emocionada de que más estudiantes se involucren en salvar La Piedad para que puedan trabajar para encontrar soluciones a las injusticias sociales que conlleva la contaminación ambiental. La Dra. Sosa agradece la pasión y dedicación al tema que los estudiantes han transmitido a través de su arduo trabajo y espera verlos convertirse en nuestros futuros agentes de cambio.

Business-to-business, Auburn business collaboration

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:38:06 +0000

Orange County is a rural southern Indiana county comprising four incorporated towns and a number of unincorporated communities. Residents are intent on celebrating the county’s industrial roots, natural beauty, and historic architecture while embracing and preparing for the future. Local progress is driven in large part by “grassroots cooperative leadership” (), while legal and medical non-profits provide essential communal services. This community-oriented mentality lends itself to innovative partnerships between various actors working towards common goals in areas like infrastructure, culture, tourism, and healthcare.

An important community resource seeks a face to match its mission

HandUp OC is a regional nonprofit which aims to better the lives of Orange County citizens by improving personal and community health, fostering connections, and teaching valuable life skills. The organization sponsors local events, hosts clothing/food drives and community meetings, and provides vital resources for residents. Despite its active role in the community, HandUp OC’s promotional materials were visually inconsistent, relying primarily on name recognition and word of mouth. Seeking a coherent brand identity to unify its message and programming, the organization enlisted student help

HandUp enlists a student designer to view the organization with fresh eyes

HandUp OC brought their branding challenge to the Sustaining Hoosier Communities (SHC) program at Indiana University. This unique project was one of two involving a single student participant on the university side, a graphic designer supervised by Professor Jenny El-Shamy in the School of Art, Architecture, and Design. Collaborating with HandUp OC community partner Dessica Albertson, the student designer worked to create a brand identity for the nonprofit which would communicate their message and effectively engage community members in their work.

Brand designs to bring a non-profit to new heights

This collaboration provided HandUp OC with innovative brand identity concepts. Equipped with new branding material, the organization increased its potential for community outreach. With a familiar identity across channels, HandUp OC is more likely to attract interested Orange County residents to its crucial programming. On the university side, the student designer benefitted from the project’s small scale, which mimicked a professional designer-client dynamic.

The impressive scope of HandUp OC’s community work required an equally impressive brand, something this student designer was able to deliver. With a fresh, coherent identity, the non-profit can focus its efforts on community development and support.

Sustaining Hoosier Communities Contact Info
Jane Rogan
Sustaining Hoosier Communities Director
jrogan@indiana.edu
(812) 855-0568
https://shc.indiana.edu

Indiana University Faculty Contact Info
Jenny El-Shamy
jelshamy@indiana.edu

Read the full story of the partnership.

San Diego State University

Ada Inman — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 00:28:52 +0000

The Sage Project

The Sage Project is a program within the at San Diego State University with a simple goal: tackling sustainability goals through community-based projects. Thousands of university students are eager to use their knowledge, skills, and creativity outside of the classroom, and faculty need impactful projects to offer these students. The Sage Project establishes partnerships with local communities that give SDSU students access to dozens of projects each year developed in close collaboration with the community. The result is a sustainable relationship between the university and surrounding communities. University faculty are given the connections and resources to seamlessly incorporate community-based projects into their courses, university students learn through real-world projects, and partner communities get immediate access to dozens of instructors and researchers at the cutting edge of their fields plus students with the drive and fresh perspective to offer innovative solutions to the community’s pressing problems.

CRS aims to expand its programming and initiatives to continue to make an impact on students, faculty, staff and the greater community at large, and to set an example for institutions around the world. By design, Sage and its sister programs help to move SDSU toward the “Fifth Wave” institutional goal of a culture that is transdisciplinary, collaborative, and problem-driven, by addressing global challenges at a local level, through collaborations across campus and with partners from business, government, nonprofits, and education.

Fun Facts about Sage

Sage has gone international via a partnership with the City of Tijuana, Mexico, on a project focused on helping improve parks through community engagement and education. In addition, through partnership with Sage, the City of Lemon Grove, CA, was the first US city to apply the UN Habitat’s climate action planning toolkit. Sage has also partnered with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, a regional office of the California Water Boards, a State agency.

Year Program Established | 2013
Country | US
Federal Region of Program | 9

Public or Private Institution | Public
Number of students at institution | 35,000

Highlight Videos and Articles

by Erik Anderson
by Karen Pearlman
by Gary Warth
by Gary Warth
by Gary Warth
by the EPA’s Net Zero program
by Jonathan Goetz
by the San Diego Red
by Jeff Ristine
by Aaron Warnick
by Susanne Clara Bard
by Susanne Clara Bard
by Hannah Ramirez

Community Partners

Contact Info

Jessica Barlow
Program Director
(619) 594-3807
jbarlow@sdsu.edu