Vision 2020 Milestones Demonstrate Power of Cross-Sector Partnerships 

Thanks in part to the decisive goals and strategies outlined in Vision 2020, we saw major advancements in Sustainability not only amongst partner institutions but also Prince George’s County Public Schools.  This article will examine how collaboration advanced accomplishments in sustainability, key takeaways, and lessons learned as we look ahead to 2030.   

Vision 2020 Statement Sustainability: The University District Vision 2020 will protect and conserve our natural resources, increase the use of clean, renewable energy sources, reduce greenhouse gases, provide green spaces and build green. 

• Provide “green” standards & incentives,  

• improve, maintain public spaces and streetscapes,  
• support sustainable MD certified initiatives, and;  
• create bike/pedestrian infrastructure 

Partnership Accomplishments. In 2018, the Committee held a solar co-op event to advance a community solar program. The Partnership collaborated with the Prince George’s County Department of Environment and the City of College Park’s Committee for a Better Environment (CBE) to host a Rain Barrel Sale and a Sustainability Expo. This includes Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Rain Check Rebate program, native plants, beekeeping, and more. 

Schools are great places for teachers, students, and families to teach and learn about their environment. At Hollywood Elementary, we built and established a maintenance plan for a butterfly garden, assisted with lesson plans about stormwater and the stream bed that passes near their campus underground, created after school clubs with university students on sustainability topics and more. At Hyattsville Middle School, we helped streamline a recycling program, build up their walk/bike to school culture, and supported the application. Recently, College Park Academy announced their certified Green School status. 

Cross-sector Collaboration Leads Us to the Finish Line. 

The Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) certifies schools as “Green Schools” on an annual basis. This rigorous application process takes a school-wide effort to document curriculum, activities, initiatives that showcase sustainability efforts: energy efficiencies, gardens, tree maintenance, composting, and more.  In 2019, the Partnership’s Sustainability Committee, working with the University of Maryland’s Office of Community Engagement, Campus Community Connection, and the Prince George’s County Public Schools’ William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center worked through a proposal that invested $5,000 in the Partnership’s annual budget to support the last three schools serving College Park students to be certified by MAEOE. This work was also supported by the City of College Park’s Education Advisory Committee, which reviewed applications and provided “Green School Awards” to local schools.