The Sustainable Cities Partnership (SCP) is a yearlong partnership between Western Washington University's (WWU) Office of Sustainability, the Association of Washington Cities (AWC), and one partner city chosen through a competitive application process. WWU and AWC selected the City of Edmonds as the first city to participate in the program in 2016.
The Partnership engages WWU students and faculty on sustainability and livability projects chosen in collaboration with the partner city. The SCP faculty and students work through a variety of studio and service learning courses, providing students with experience tackling the city's real-world projects. Many courses/projects will involve fieldwork, so the partner city will typically be within a two-hour drive of Western.
Students bring energy, enthusiasm, and innovative approaches to difficult, persistent problems. SCP's primary value derives from collaborations resulting in on-the-ground impact and forward movement for a community ready to transition to a more sustainable and livable future. AWC helps solicit partner cities and communicates the value of the Partnership to elected and appointed municipal officials throughout the state. AWC also helps with the ongoing communication needs of the partner city and connects with the resources and skills of other municipalities in the region.