Principles 5 and 6 | Partnership and Dialogue
The Haworth College of Business has used PRME as an opportunity to increase engagement with other universities around sustainability. For example, the college was represented at the 4th PRME Regional Meeting North America, hosted by the College of Business and Economics, at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada in fall 2017.
In 2017-18, the college collaborated with a data collection initiative of PRME seeking to identify stakeholder perceptions about business responsibility and sustainability. In particular, the college was one of three business schools, along with Kennesaw State University and Seattle University, used to benchmark U.N. PRME institutions regarding efforts for enhancement of responsible management education practices.
Through the affiliation with PRME, the college has become a member of the Sustainability Centres Community, an initiative of the Network for Business Sustainability. This organization brings together sustainability centers to share best practices around integrating sustainability into our teaching and research. Collaborations such as this can be useful as we grow and develop our Center for Sustainable Business Practices.
The Haworth College of Business provides faculty and students with many opportunities to form partnerships and collaborate with the professional community in areas associated with responsible management. This report cannot begin to capture each unique collaboration; however, examples of partnerships and dialogues are included below.
Mercantile Breakfast Series
Sponsored by Mercantile Bank of Michigan, this series provides an opportunity for the local community to hear top business leaders and Western Michigan University faculty, alumni and friends of the Haworth College of Business discuss current business-related topics. Topics presented during 2016-18 addressing sustainability included:
- September 30, 2016 : Mike Larson, president and CEO, United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region
Topic: "United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region," Larson discussed the impact a community can have on other community members through service and contributions to local nonprofits.
- January 27, 2017 : Amy Kuchta, executive director, Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Topic: "Big Brothers/Big Sisters," Kuchta discussed the impact Big Brothers/Big Sisters has on children and young adults in the community.
- March 31, 2017: Belinda Tate, executive director, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Topic: "Building Community Through the Arts," In her presentation, Tate discussed the many facets of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and how arts have an impact on a community.
- April 28, 2017: Don Cooney, vice mayor, Kalamazoo
Topic: "The Foundation for Excellence: The City of Promise Moves Forward,” Cooney discussed initiatives within the community to support and uplift all members.
Entrepreneurship Forum
Entrepreneurship Forum is a monthly series sponsored by BlueOx Credit Union and hosted by Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business. The forum brings stories of entrepreneurs and startup success to the greater Kalamazoo community.
Speakers addressing topics relevant to PRME included:
- November 11, 2017: Benjamin Gott, founder, Boxed Water is Better
Based in Grand Rapids, Boxed Water describes itself as part sustainable water company, part philanthropic project. They obsess over providing the purest water in the most sustainable way, in part through the elimination of plastic bottles.
- January 13, 2017: Karen Smoots, founder, The Green Glove Dryer
Entrepreneur Karen Smoots devised a glove dryer that utilizes your home’s forced air register system to dry wet gloves. Since there is nothing to plug in or turn on, the Green Glove Dryer is the most eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for warming and drying wet clothes and accessories. Their vision: To manufacture an environmentally responsible, safe, energy saving product, while utilizing post-consumer recycled materials when possible.
- April 14, 2017: Patrick Mixis, founder, Feed the World Café
Providing Meals in Our Community to Those in Need. “One for one.” Feed the World Cafe is a social impact restaurant offering fresh unique food using locally sourced ingredients. For every meal purchased at the restaurant and through catering, one or more meals are provided in our community.
