What does it mean to be sustainable? How can we build community between diverse social factions? What is the role of service in achieving sustainability? These are some of the questions that will be examined during Global Link, a summer program for ICU undergraduate students in New York City.

Now in its second year, the summer Global Link program has undergone some changes over the past 12 months, shifting focus from its previous model as a Student Internship to a more comprehensive experience. The Japan ICU Foundation (JICUF) has custom designed the new Global Link to expose ICU students to a variety of organizations and thought-leaders working in the field of sustainability.

A strong service component has also been incorporated, to balance and reinforce the sustainability side. The student participants will be fully engaged in a diverse range of activities that will be complimented by a set of directed readings and assignments. The program, which will run from July 6 – July 31, will consist of four weeks in New York City, with several related field trips.

SERVICE 

Instilling a love of service has been a core component of ICU’s mission since its founding in 1949. This summer, in addition to exposing students to issues surrounding sustainability, Global Link also aims to provide numerous service opportunities. Service is in fact a key ingredient in sustainability, as the act of service exposes the various interconnections between people and the world in which we live.

Sustainability

The mission of Global Link is to expose ICU students to the interconnections between economic, environmental and social sustainability. While sustainability initially emerged as a key concept within ecology and environmental studies, it’s definition has since expanded to look at the three overlapping areas of economic, environmental and social sustainability.

ACTIVITIES

The four week program will consist of a curated series of activities, all aimed at exposing ICU students to innovative sustainability initiatives in New York City. These experiential learning-focused activities will include hands-on volunteer service, site visits to offices, tours of sustainability initiatives, presentations from diverse speakers, as well as regular group discussions and directed reading assignments. The following is a small sample of activities that are being planned:

Echoing Green Office Visit and Training

Sustainability Tour of Brooklyn Naval Yard

Visit the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

Habitat for Humanity – Urban House Build

Volunteering at The Bowery Mission

Tour of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture

Outdoor Camping and Hiking Adventure

HOUSING

For the entire month of July, all six students will be housed nearby JICUF at International House NY, a diverse residential community of students and young professionals. International House is located on Riverside Drive and 122nd Street in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. Adjacent to International House are Sakura Park, Riverside Park, with extensive walking/running/bike paths, Grant’s Tomb and Riverside Church. A host of educational institutions are also in the neighborhood, including Columbia University, Union Seminary, Barnard College, Jewish Theological Seminary and the Manhattan School of Music.

This summer 2015 program promises to be a rewarding one for our Global Link participants and JICUF staff alike!  For more information and updates, please refer to the Global Link website.