Becoming a Community Partner

What is a Dow Innovation Community Partner?

A business, non-profit, community group, individual, neighborhood, or other organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region that is:

• Working to address sustainability issues connected to one or more of the following focus areas: water quality and/or waste water management; food waste; plastic waste; and the circular economy

• Willing to identify and share a problem or challenge that students can take on in an inquiry and action research project, both in and out of the classroom

• Able to collaborate with an area teacher and their students on some level

What might a partnership with an area teacher and students involve?

• Drafting a "challenge letter" to students outlining the sustainability issue or challenge

• Providing insight and feedback to teachers and students as they work to solve a problem

• Hosting teachers and students to further their understanding of a problem through a field trip or classroom visit

• Celebrating and sharing the classes work on the problem

• Attending select events related to the Fellowship experience and/or teacher and student project work

What is the time commitment expected from a Community Partner?

• The time commitment will vary across the year, but we expect partner will contribute no more than 10-15 hours of effort over the course of a year.

• Planning will occur over the summer, and projects will take place during the school year