Advancing Sustainability and Health Education Across Arizona: A Convening
On March 11, 2026, an Arizona Convening on Sustainability Education was co-hosted by RCE Greater Phoenix*, ASU's Global Futures Education Alliance, the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center (SWEHSC), and SCORCH at the UA Tucson campus Health Sciences Innovation Building. A diverse group of educators, researchers, community leaders, and public agencies came together from across Arizona with the shared purpose to strengthen the collaborative process for advancing sustainability, health, and education in our communities.
It was well-established early on that participants were invited to move beyond listening – to connect, share experiences, build relationships, and reflect on what it truly means to center community in their work. Conversations encouraged participants to think about program design work conducted with communities rather than alongside them. Throughout the day, a series of engaging "seed talks" grounded the discussion in real-world experiences. Speakers highlighted the importance of co-creating research with communities, addressing environmental health challenges through equity-centered approaches, and recognizing the emotional and mental health impacts of climate change, especially among youth. These perspectives helped frame sustainability and health not as separate issues, but as deeply interconnected parts of community wellbeing.
Interactive sessions, including small group discussions and lightning talks, created space for participants to learn from one another and discover common goals. Organizations shared innovative work, from youth-led environmental monitoring and climate education programs to workforce development and community-based initiatives, sparking new ideas and potential collaborations. By the end of the day participants worked together to identify ways to carry ideas forward, strengthen partnerships, and sustain momentum beyond the convening. A follow-up virtual convening is slated for April 2026 for this exact purpose.
The event served as a powerful and important reminder that meaningful change happens when we come together, with intention, openness, and with communities at the center.
* RCEs are Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, and they part of a global network initiated by the United Nations University (UNU) and recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
