Previous Years

GSAW 2025 (November 1 & 2)

A two-day event of talks, interactive activities, and workshops.

The theme for this year is The Five Pillars of Sustainability: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships.

The Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us Conference is a part of the Global Sustainable Action Weekend (GSAW). The GSAW is comprised of an interactive Sustainability Weekend Kick-Off Event on November 1 and the Global Sustainable Action Conference on November 2.

The Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us Conference (GSA) is an annual on-campus event at University Park that aims to:

showcase how culture & sustainability are linked
deepen intercultural understanding and foster respect for diversity and difference
provide a platform that fosters the exchange of people, culture, ideas, and practices to raise global awareness
expand commitment to sustainable actions

The Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us Conference is open to everyone and provides a platform for the Penn State Community to express and share their passion for global awareness, research, sustainability, etc. with others.

Global Sustainable Action WeekendA two-day event of talks, interactive activities, and workshops. The theme for this year is The Five Pillars of Sustainability: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships.

Plenary Speaker

Mark Brennan

Professor and UNESCO Chair on Global Citizenship Education for Sustainable Peace through Youth and Community Engagement

Dr. Mark Brennan is the UNESCO Chair on Global Citizenship Education for Sustainable Peace through Youth and Community Engagement and Professor of Leadership and Community Development at the Pennsylvania State University.

Areas of Expertise

Community
Community and Leadership Development
International Development
Research Methods and Statistics
Social Change/Social Movements
Rural Sociology
Environmental/Natural Resource Sociology

GSAW 2024 (November 16 & 17)

2024 Event Website: https://globalsustainableaction24.rsvpify.com/

INFORMATION

The Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us Conference is a part of the Global Sustainable Action Weekend (GSAW). The GSAW is comprised of an interactive Sustainability Weekend Kick-Off Event on November 16 and the Global Sustainable Action Conference on November 17.

The Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us Conference (GSA) is an annual on-campus event at University Park that aims to:

showcase how culture & sustainability are linked
deepen intercultural understanding and foster respect for diversity and difference
provide a platform that fosters the exchange of people, culture, ideas, and practices to raise global awareness
expand commitment to sustainable actions

Conference Theme SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Speakers

Ezra Nanes

Ezra Nanes will speak at the Sustainability Kick-Off Event on November 16.

Nanes was elected to be the Mayor of State College in 2022. He currently serves as the 11th Mayor of State College. Nanes is a Penn State Alum and aspires to strengthen the relationship between the State College Borough Council, Penn State, and members of the local community.

Dr. Bill Hunter

Dr. Bill Hunter will be the opening speaker at the Global Sustainable Action Conference and will also host a breakout session.

Dr. Bill Hunter is an experiential educator who has worked in a variety of internationally focused capacities at Lehigh University for 25 years. He is the founder and Director of the Lehigh University / United Nations Partnership and is also the Director of the Office of Fellowship Advising.

Some highlights of his efforts include establishing Lehigh as the 6th university in the world to attain United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) certification, creating the Ambassadorial Speaker Series (hosting more than 30 Ambassadors, including the Ukrainian, Iraqi, Afghani, Palestinian, Pakistani, Korean, Israeli, German and Sudanese Ambassadors to the United Nations), the creation of more than 800 internationally focused educational, cultural and social programs for the Lehigh community, developer of Lehigh’s first International Community Service Trip (to Antigua & Barbuda) and service as a Guide and Project Mentor for several years in the Global Village for Future Leaders of Business and Industry. He is credited with developing the world’s first NGO Youth Representative program for the United Nations and recently completed a two-year term as an elected Director of the UN’s NGO Executive Committee.

In 2020 the Lehigh University / UN Partnership was awarded the Andrew Heiskell Award, which recognizes the most outstanding initiatives that are being conducted in international higher education by Institute of International Education Network member universities and colleges.

Dr. Hunter currently teaches “The Foundations of Sustainable Development” at Lehigh University.

Click here for the 2024 conference guide!

It contains a detailed schedule, information about the presentations and speakers, and Zoom links to access the concurrent sessions.

Caterer

Taproot Kitchen is a culinary venture whose main ingredients are people and produce: adults with autism and intellectual disabilities and fresh food gleaned from local farms. We see value and worth in both, engaging and employing people with ID in the culinary arts and gleaning unharvested food. With these unique ingredients, our team creates artisan dishes that highlight the flavors of the season.

Want more information about the Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us conference? Check out the 2023 conference guide for the schedule and presentations! https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/8ted6sp9AU4l2

GSAW 2023 (November 4 & 5)

2023 Event website: https://global-sustainable-action.rsvpify.com/

The Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us Conference is a part of the Culture & Sustainability Weekend (CSW). CSW is comprised of We Are the World on November 4 and the Global Sustainable Action Conference on November 5.

The Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us Conference (GSA) is an annual half day on-campus event at University Park that aims to:

showcase how culture & sustainability are linked
deepen intercultural understanding and foster respect for diversity and difference
provide a platform that fosters the exchange of people, culture, ideas, and practices to raise global awareness
expand commitment to sustainable actions

Join us on November 5, 2023 at 9:30 AM at the Huck Life Sciences Building, University Park or online!

*Registration for the Culture & Sustainability Weekend for Commonwealth Campus students is officially closed. Commonwealth Campus students who register to attend the GSA conference after October 13, 2023 are ONLY able to attend the conference virtually.

Conference Perks

SDGs Lab Certificate & Badge
Presenter Certificate
Networking Opportunity

Opening Keynote Speaker

Dr. Lara Fowler, Chief Sustainability Officer of Penn State University and Director of the Penn State Sustainability, as well as a Professor of Teaching at Penn State Law and Affiliate Faculty at the Penn State School of International Affairs.

GSAW 2022 (November 5)

2022 Conference Guide https://express.adobe.com/page/EKYTSHCPodCkq/

To mark Penn State’s International Education Month (November!), Penn State Global and the Sustainability Institute have partnered to host our first global sustainability mini conference. Join us at the Global Sustainable Action: It Starts with Us conference on November 5, 2022! Opening speaker, Dr. Lara Fowler and keynote speaker, Christina Kwauk.

This is a half-day conference that aims to provide a platform to raise global awareness, expand commitment to sustainable actions, deepen intercultural understanding, and foster respect for diversity and difference. While events will be held at University Park, sessions at the conference will be hybrid and will allow for virtual participation. The conference is open to ALL Penn State Students, staff, faculty, and community members across all Penn State campuses.

The focus of this first conference will be on UN Sustainable Development Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The breakout sessions will focus on three themes:

Envisioning and proactively address global challenges
Promoting inclusive communities and societies that provide access to all
Finding solutions that enhance the resilience and effectiveness of institutions

Participants will have the chance to:

Choose from interactive & thought-provoking workshops
Learn about initiatives to address global challenges
Engage with leaders in diverse global and sustainability fields

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