Center for Sustainable Development

Green Entrepreneurship

• Small Business Development
• Green Technology

Green Infrastructure

• Air
• Water
• Soil/Waster

Two broad themes guide the community education programs within the Center of Sustainable Development: green jobs and green infrastructure.

Both themes recognize that sustainable development is complex; our programs and services must therefore prepare individuals and organizations for the changing, complex conditions within the social, cultural, environmental, and economic systems that shape our local communities.  You might say, the green jobs, or green entrepreneurship area focuses on the private sector and the opportunities and changing condition private sector businesses face; the green infrastructure area focuses on the public sector and the challenging urban communities

Whether the focus is on private sector businesses and green technology or on the public sector, our commitment is to build healthy, livable, equitable communities in the District of Columbia and beyond. Whether your goal is to start your own business, organize a community cooperative, improve energy efficiency in your home or workplace, or improve storm water run-off in your neighborhood our goal is to find the resources you need to assist you in meeting your goals.

CRED Financial Planning & Literacy/FDIC Money Smart | UDC Farmers Market | Environmental Literacy Assessment & Training

Lead Abatement Training | Waste Management Assessment

CRED Financial Planning & Literacy/FDIC Money Smart  programs offer financial planning and fiscal responsibility training designed for high school students starting in the 9th grade (CRED High School Financial Literacy) as well as adults of all ages (CRED Financial Planning). Utilizing a curriculum developed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, students participate in ten instructor-led training modules that cover a range of financial topics, including choosing and maintaining a checking account, the mechanics of budgeting, the importance of saving, and how to obtain and use credit effectively.

Environmental Literacy Training and Assessment  provides technical assistance and tools to businesses, schools, and other organizations to improve and evaluate a range of competencies in environment and sustainability. Informed by CAUSES' research, teaching, and community outreach, our environmental literacy resources are designed to create greater depth of understanding and to measure competency across an array of topics.

Lead Abatement Training  seeks to remediate hazardous lead paint that persists within the District's built spaces. Our program is designed to provide contractors and inspectors with the knowledge and skills required to identify, remediate, and dispose of lead-based paints in order to reduce risks to human health and improve indoor environmental quality.

UDC Farmers Market  brings local, fresh, sustainable food to campus on Saturdays from mid-May to mid-November. Vendors include farmers, bakers, and artisans from the District, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. UDC nutrition educators and chefs distribute information about food sold at the market and provide cooking demonstrations on site each week.

Waste Management Assessment  partners with agencies and organizations to develop comprehensive approaches to materials management that go beyond the "three R's" to work toward zero-waste goals. Through trainings, consultations, and workshops our educators work to develop and implement strategies for increasing waste diversion rates, reducing overall waste, and engaging employees, students, and customers.