People of Color Sustainability Collective
Quick overview
Who this is for: PoCSC centers the experiences and leadership of students of color in sustainability and environmental justice work. All students are welcome to participate, consistent with UC’s commitment to equity and inclusion.
What we offer: A supportive space to explore the intersections of race, culture, and sustainability—offering community, internships, educational events, and leadership opportunities.
Connect with us
Location: Cardiff House, 117 Carriage House Road
Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Email: pocsc@ucsc.edu
Instagram: @PoCSustainability
Newsletter: PoCSC Newsletter
About PoCSC
The People of Color Sustainability Collective (PoCSC) helps make UCSC a leader in environmental justice, centering the experiences and leadership of students of color while welcoming all who want to engage in inclusive and transformative environmental work. Through programming, leadership development, and community-building, we support students in reimagining sustainability in ways that honor identity, culture, and care for the Earth.
PoCSC represents a collaborative effort between UCSC’s Resource Centers, College Nine and John R. Lewis College, and the UCSC Sustainability Office. We continue growing our coalition through outreach to academic departments, student organizations, and other campus units.
What is inclusive sustainability?
PoCSC coined the term “inclusive sustainability” in 2015 as a framework that:
- Disrupts the idea that the university and the formally educated are the gatekeepers of knowledge
- Acknowledges efforts made by PoC to advance sustainability
- Recognizes that many sustainability efforts have historically ignored and discriminated against communities of color
- Embraces different cultural approaches of caring for the environment
- Emphasizes intersectional and interdisciplinary approaches
For PoCSC, inclusive sustainability must begin as a framework for student success, retention, and building community in higher education.
Learn more about our approach: Read ”Inclusive Sustainability: Environmental Justice in Higher Education” by Lu et al., which demonstrates how UC Santa Cruz has shifted from technical, export-oriented sustainability to inclusive sustainability centered on power dynamics, difference, and ethical considerations.
Programs and opportunities
Internships
We offer internship opportunities each academic year where student interns collaborate with the AIRC team and other campus Resource Centers. Interns develop leadership, facilitation, event planning, project management, and research skills while engaging directly with environmental justice issues.
Get started: Email pocsc@ucsc.edu for information about upcoming opportunities and application deadlines.
Events and workshops
Our community hosts events throughout the year highlighting environmental justice, wellness, and cultural connections to land. Recent programming has included community dinners, healing workshops, nature hikes, and guest speaker series.
Stay informed: Sign up for our newsletter and follow @PoCSustainability on Instagram for event announcements.
Research and storytelling
PoCSC grounds its work in research examining both barriers and possibilities for students of color in campus sustainability. Our team collects and uplifts stories reflecting the diverse ways communities of color connect with environmental practices and values.
Connect with our team
The People of Color Sustainability Collective (PoCSC) welcomes students interested in exploring environmental justice through an inclusive lens that centers the leadership and experiences of students of color. Whether you want to get involved in our programming, apply for internships, or just learn more about our work, we’d love to connect.
Email: pocsc@ucsc.edu
Our mission
The mission of the People of Color Sustainability Collective is to make UCSC a leader not just in mainstream sustainability, but also environmental justice, in recognition of our changing demographics and pressing ecological challenges. We will accomplish this through:
- Raising awareness about the contributions that people of color have made to the environmental sustainability movement in general and at UCSC in particular
- Reexamining the definition and values of the sustainability movement to identify how it can be more inclusive of all underrepresented populations
- Creating critical dialogue about environmental justice through student discussion spaces, student of color caucuses, social media awareness campaigns, workshops, and speaker presentations