Sustainability at EMU

As a peace and justice institution, we are called to be changemakers and take bold action around sustainability and climate change. At EMU, we acknowledge how the interconnecting challenges of climate change, ecological destruction, and social injustices impact our EMU community locally and globally.

As concerns grow over climate change and climate anxiety among younger generations, EMU’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) seeks to be at the forefront of fostering a sense of belonging and uplifting students directly affected by these global environmental issues. We prioritize supporting our community's needs and cultivating an inclusive environment where every voice is heard and valued.

Our approach integrates the goals of DEI and sustainability through an intersectional lens. This means not only addressing environmental sustainability but also understanding how environmental issues intersect with social justice concerns such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and other identities. We aim to uplift social and environmental justice interconnectivity, as both movements are embedded and rooted in the same oppressions.
The work of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Sustainability have intertwining goals through academics, providing resources, and shifting policies that support the EMU community and environment. Our goal is to cultivate and collaborate in ways that uplift social and environmental justices for the people and the planet. As an Anabaptist institution, it’s always been part of our understanding of the call to live gently with God’s creation and the natural world.
Through academic programming, community engagement, and policy advancements, EMU is committed to creating meaningful change. While we recognize that we are not perfect and that a framework of environmental sustainability is complex and interchanging, we remain steadfast in our commitment to taking action and honoring our goals.

Join us as we work towards a sustainable future where DEI and environmental sustainability are at the core of our mission and community life together.