This 45-minute field report explores how climate justice can serve as a design framework for student-facing sustainability programs–not just a topic for events. Presenters will share how centering community needs and relationships reshape how programs are planned, staffed, and evaluated.

We briefly introduce climate justice as a community-centered, responsive approach grounded in bottom-up decision making. This perspective shifts planning from “What should we offer?” to “Who is already shaping community life, and how can sustainability efforts be accountable to them?” Presenters highlight how teams can reflect the communities they serve, how collaborations can move toward shared ownership, and how outreach can engage people beyond the usual sustainability audience to create a more reciprocal and impactful community.

Through short, story-based examples, we share how this framework influenced partnerships, communication strategies, and program evolution in response to feedback. The session concludes with a practical activity to help participants identify community guideposts and potential collaborators on their own campuses.