Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) has integrated sustainability into its campus culture, academic programs, and operational practices. This strategic move forward includes energy efficiency measures such as upgraded lighting systems, optimized HVAC systems and waste reduction and recycling programs.
Supported by funding from The Duke Endowment, the Sustainability Village at JCSU’s Center for Renewable Energy & Sustainability (CRES) is a signature component of the university’s comprehensive efforts. Anchored by real-life experiences in growing, harvesting and distributing organic produce, hydroponic farming, and managing solar power systems, students from majors across the JCSU curriculum prepare to be future leaders in sustainability issues.
CRES students extend their study and work beyond the campus through community engagement and education programs. Students grow produce and seedlings at Sustainability Village in solar-powered greenhouses and outside garden areas, then distribute them to community members at nearby Rosa Parks market to help increase access to nutritious food. In collaboration with local organizations, students host workshops, appear at community events, and go door–to-door, talking to neighbors and building awareness of sustainable practices.
“We are a university. It’s important to serve our community. We want to uplift everybody, spread education. As I attend graduate school, I want to continue to bring back what I know and help build up this community that I love.”
Theodore Castro, JCSU Class of 2023
“We are a university. It’s important to serve our community. We want to uplift everybody and spread education. As I attend graduate school, I want to continue to bring back what I know and help build up this community that I love,” says Theodore Castro, a public health major in the JCSU Class of 2023.
Learn more about Sustainability at JCSU and CRES.
