1. The Eco-Reps’ Sister Organization Including Social Justice Peer Educators on your Campus Jill Ramirez, M.A., Coordinator of Sustainability Education The University of Arizona, Residence Life 2012-2013 Advocates Coming Together

2. The University of Arizona About 40,000 students About 7,000 students living on campus – 22 undergraduate halls – Over 80% of students in halls are freshman Hall Council in every dorm – At least one Eco-Rep and ACT Rep per hall

3. Goals Understand the power of peer education Understand the structure of UA Residence Life’s sustainability and social justice peer education programs Understand the importance of incorporating social justice peer education into holistic sustainability programs Increase motivation to incorporate social justice peer educators on your campus

4. PEER EDUCATION Some research on

5. Benefits of Peer Education** Identification can make peers more successful than professionals (Clements & Buczkiewicz, 1993; Peers et al, 1993) Peers are credible sources (Perry, 1989; Woodcock et al, 1992; Clements and Buczkiewicz, 1993; Jarvis, 1993) Peer educators serve as positive role models (Perry and Sieving, 1993; Clements and Buczkiewicz, 1993) **Taken from Turner, G. & Shepherd, J. (1999). A method in search of a theory: Peer education and health promotion. Health Education Research, 14, 235-247.

6. Educational Outcomes Create awareness Increase knowledge Initiate action Awareness + Knowledge = Action

7. PROGRAM STRUCTURE

8. Main Components Hall Council Position – Director of Sustainability – Director of Social Justice Weekly meetings – 1.5 hours with Coordinator of Sustainability or Social Justice Education Outreach

9. Positional Requirements Educational hall programming ― One each semester ― One Eco-Rep/ACT collaboration 2 nd semester Resources ― www.life.arizona.edu www.life.arizona.edu ―

10. Positional Requirements (continued) Stretch Yourself Activities – Two per semester – Attend non Eco-Rep/ACT event – Examples: Heritage month event Community service Guest speaker Pertinent documentary Read article

11. Positional Requirements (continued) Eco-Reps Large Scale Programming Earth Hour Recycle Mania

12. Positional Requirements (continued) ACT Large Scale Programming Hunger Banquet Raise Your Voice Photo Shoot Stomp it Out Series

13. Leadership Eco-Reps Hierarchical Positions include: – Student Advisor – President – Vice-President – Director of Passive Programming – Marketing Rep – RHA Rep – Secretary ACT Co-Director Model Each oversees roughly 1/3 rd of campus by tracking – Attendance – Stretch Yourself activity completion – Programming requirement completion

14. WHAT WE’VE LEARNED

15. Major Benefits Gets students connected Provides built in support Creates/expands worldview Creates advocates for life

16. Challenges Various knowledge bases Retention Accountability Making change

17. In Conclusion Sustainability is about more than just the environment You can infuse social justice into pre-existing sustainability programs Launch your own social justice peer educators who collaborate with your sustainability educators

18. BEING SUSTAINABLE IS IMPERATIVE Being Green is Important

19. THE CHANGE STARTS WITH YOU

20. Questions?