The Dean’s Changemaker (DCM) Program offers EUC students the opportunity to turn their ideas into action through hands-on, sustainability-focused experiences. Each year, students work alongside faculty and community partners to contribute to meaningful projects within one of four Living Labs: Maloca Community Garden, EcoArts, , or Las Nubes Ecocampus.
Three students participate during the summer term, and one student during the Fall/Winter term. Through the program, Changemakers develop practical skills, build relationships across the Faculty, and gain experience addressing real-world environmental and social challenges.
Whether contributing to community initiatives, exploring circular innovation, supporting creative approaches to sustainability, or engaging with ecological research and education, the program gives students a space to apply their learning beyond the classroom and make a tangible impact within and beyond EUC.
Meet our Living Labs
Get hands-on with urban agriculture, community gardening, and food systems while growing connections between people, place, and the environment.
Discover opportunities to explore environmental justice, cultural heritage, and creative collaboration through engaging workshops, performances, and exhibitions.
Turn ideas into action by experimenting with circular approaches to design, consumption, and waste through innovative, real-world projects.
Step into a living classroom in Costa Rica, where students can engage with tropical ecosystems, conservation, and sustainable community development.
The Changemaker Experience
What Changemakers Do:
- Work on real sustainability projects
- Collaborate with faculty, students, and community partners
- Research and explore environmental challenges
- Develop events, workshops, or educational resources
- Support community-based initiatives
- Test and implement new ideas
- Communicate project outcomes and impact
What You’ll Gain:
- Apply your learning — connect classroom knowledge to real-world challenges
- Build practical skills — develop project management, communication, research, and problem-solving skills
- Collaborate — work with people across disciplines and communities
- Explore your interests — discover potential career and academic pathways
- Build your network — develop relationships with faculty, peers, and sustainability practitioners
- Make an impact — contribute to projects with tangible environmental and social outcomes
Student Spotlights
Dani Ocampo
Living Lab: Maloca Community Gardens
International Development Studies (major) Sustainable Environmental Management (minor)
Dani is putting the EUC Faculty’s commitment to hands-on learning into action. Through her role, she's been working on a conservation-focused project supporting little brown bats, combining environmental stewardship with real-world problem-solving. The experience has shown her that meaningful change doesn't require grand gestures, but rather when someone is willing to take the first step and turn an idea into reality. Dani hopes her project will leave a lasting impact by supporting little brown bat populations for years to come, proving that the work students do today can help shape a more sustainable future.
Declan Craig
Living Lab: Las Nubes EcoCampus
Cities Regions Planning
Working with Las Nubes has given Declan a behind-the-scenes perspective on what it takes to create meaningful change. From supporting day-to-day operations to helping projects move forward, he's come to appreciate the many unseen efforts that keep initiatives running smoothly. His goal is to contribute to a well-functioning team where everyone feels supported and fulfilled. As he returns to 91ÑÇÉ«, Declan is looking forward to applying the practical skills and real-world experience he's gained through his placement to his coursework and future opportunities.
Erica Garber
Living Lab: Circular Innovation Hub Placement
Cities Regions Planning
At the Circular Innovation Hub Erica has contributed to research exploring eco-anxiety and how youth perceive plastics through social media. She has gained new knowledge about sustainability while building meaningful connections within the faculty. This experience has helped her grow academically by preparing her for her upcoming years of study through new experiences, skills, and perspectives. It has also strengthened her understanding of the importance of collaboration in creating meaningful change. Erica’s advice to other students is to take risks and not be afraid of new things, as stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to valuable experiences and opportunities for growth.
FAQs
Contact Us
Email our office at euc_ee@yorku.ca
ÌýInterested in connecting? Contact our Experiential Education Coordinator:ÌýThanh Dinh Ìý