This action team worked with students in several other organizations to research and initiate the creation of a public space/café where students, faculty, and staff regularly meet to discuss pertinent issues, engage speakers, organize deliberation and action, and so forth. Team members are interested in the idea of creating a sustainable café on campus that would provide space for the above interactions and be based on fair trade, organic, and locally grown food (some in the café itself). They are also exploring the possibility of a mobile version of this public space housed in a retrofitted bus.
Promoting a campus culture that seriously deliberates about issues of sustainability, social justice, democracy, and major global issues would be greatly enhanced by having a space or spaces where students interested in such topics could gather knowing that others with similar interests would likely be there. Imagine a public space that was both appealing and the site of regular informal presentations by and discussions with knowledgeable individuals on a wide range of issues, a place where artistic projects relating so such issues might be displayed, performed, etc. Imagine a public space where campus organizations frequently met to discuss vision and plan action. Imagine a very cool place that students designed, ran, organized – or simply relaxed. This is a great project for students wishing to get involved in campus networks and make lasting changes at NAU!
This has evolved into the student driven creation of the Green Scene Cafe at the new Health and Learning Center.
The Action Research Team Symposium held in the Green Scene Cafe! Great work to all of the on the ground organizing in order to make this space possible!