The document summarizes the work of the Greater Portland Sustainability Education Network (GPSEN) which is recognized as a Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE). It discusses GPSEN's vision, priority action areas including advancing policy, transforming learning environments, building educator capacity, empowering youth, and accelerating local solutions. It provides examples of projects within these areas like sustainability trainings, youth networks, and community partnerships. It encourages increasing collective impact through collaboration, aligning with initiatives, sharing work, and engaging communities to advance sustainability.

1. RCE Greater Portland:
Honoring the Past
while Creating the Future
RCEs of the Americas
September 14, 2017
Kim Smith, Ph.D.
Lin Harmon-Walker, J.D.
Heather Spalding, M.S.Ed.

4. How can ESD and RCEs help our regions?
 Map existing sustainability organizations
 Synergize regional partnerships
 Expand and engage beyond silos
 Identify and align with initiatives
 Leverage resources
 Develop sustainability curriculum
 Increase trainings and public awareness
 Build leadership and volunteer opportunities
 Create collective impact

5. Recognized as an RCE in 2013
Motto: Educate ~ Empower ~ Engage

6. Vision and Mission
GPSEN envisions a healthy, just, and thriving region
where education for sustainability is prioritized and
integrated across sectors; and where everyone has
opportunities to shape a sustainable future.
GPSEN connects diverse organizations in a
collaborative network that multiplies our collective
capacity to educate, empower, and engage for a
sustainable future.

9. GAP Priority Action Areas
Advancing policy
Transforming learning and training environments
Building capacities of educators and trainers
Empowering and mobilizing youth
Accelerating sustainable solutions at the local level
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10. Advancing Policy ~ Missions and Strategic Plans

11. Transforming Learning and Training Environments
 Whole Institution Approach
 Operations
 Green Construction
 Energy Consumption
 Purchasing
 Waste Reduction
 Transportation
 Learning Gardens
 Hiring Practices
 Accreditation

12. Building Capacity of Educators and Trainers
 Sustainability Symposium and
Leadership Awards
 Conferences
 Trainings and Workshops
 Green Outcomes and Courses
 Degrees and Focus Awards
 Applied Learning and Research
 Resource Clearinghouses
 Grants and Green Initiative Funds
 Sustainability Literacy Test

13. Empowering and Mobilizing Youth
 College and Youth Networks
 Train-the-Trainer Workshops
 Course Assignments
 Service-Learning
 Living Labs
 Virtual International Youth
Conference

14. Global RCEs and RCEs of the Americas
Youth Network

15. Accelerating Sustainable Solutions
at the Local Level
 Community-Based Learning
 Civic Engagement
 Citizen Science
 Community Partnerships
 Think Tank

16. 2016 GPSEN GAP Commitments
1. Policy: Met with government officials
2. Transforming Whole Institutions: Partnerships with colleges and industries
3. Trainings and Capacity-Building:
 Sustainability Symposium
 Hope and Resilience and Facing Climate Change Trainings
 Regional Faculty Workshop
4. Youth Engagement:
 K-12 and College Student Networks
 Pen Pal Program
5. Sustainable Communities:
 EcoChallenge
 Volunteer Projects

17. How do we tell our stories?

18. Partner Events

19. How can we increase our collective impact?
 Promote collaboration vs. competition
 Advance sustainability policies
 Align with local initiatives, SDGs and the GAP
 Map existing actions and programs to SDGs
 Model actions at work, in classrooms, and at home
 Share workload
 Respect and connect with diverse expertise
 Engage in communities throughout region
 Build networks, like RCEs

20. Next Steps
 Leadership Transition – New ED and Board Members
 Map efforts with SDGs

21. We’re all in
this together.
Let’s increase
our handprints!