At Wofford, we envision community sustainability work as that which promotes community flourishing holistically, by reflecting on the past, present and future, and the many intersections that make up our daily lives, from health and wellness to financial considerations to educational opportunities to political decision-making to our environment and place. We reflect upon the inequities that structure our daily lives and how those are experienced and internalized differently across diverse lived experiences so that we can plan and act together with a joint commitment to equity. Toria Teamer, Wofford’s Bonner manager, underscores that “a strong commitment to equity” implies that “communities’ voices are louder than that of the institution.”
Our community sustainability initiatives are most often connected to the Spartanburg community, which houses Wofford on the city’s northern border. We value our partnerships with residents, leaders, schools and organizations across Spartanburg. Through these partnerships, we are all stronger, as we learn and work collaboratively in reflection and action. Dr. Alysa Handelsman, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology and Wofford’s community sustainability specialist, states, “Through our collaborative efforts to promote holistic well being now and into the future, we are un-learning and re-learning together what community means, how we form part of it and how we can draft shared visions and action plans as we move forward.”
There are classes and programs at Wofford that create experiential learning opportunities for students to engage with partners in imagining and building sustainable communities.
Consider learning more about Spartanburg and participating in community life through volunteer opportunities and/or participation in community workshops and programs.