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