History

The Sustainability Leadership Group (SLG) is a program designed specifically for sustainability-minded first-year students to gain leadership experience early on in their Wake Forest careers. The inaugural SLG team, SLG ’23, formed in the fall of 2019 and was composed of an eager group of first-year students who served as peer leaders in their respective residence halls.

Now with over 100 SLG alumni, the program has established itself as the premier leadership opportunity for new Deacs who share a passion for sustainability.


The Three Pillars of SLG

Leadership
SLG members develop leadership skills through workshops, guest speakers and panels, group discussions, and – most importantly – action. While the program sets the foundation for your development, you’re encouraged to take the next step on your own (with the team’s support, of course). Step out of your comfort zone, discover your leadership style, and gain first-hand experience in a culture where there are no failures, only opportunities to improve.

Education
No prior sustainability knowledge or experience is required! We take the time to bring you up to speed on the latest science on the climate crisis, sustainability at Wake, environmental and climate justice, and the psychology behind social change efforts. Even if you already consider yourself a seasoned expert, you’re bound to learn something new. SLG is a great way to discover your passion and chart your path forward at Wake Forest.

Community Building
Through fun team bonding activities, collaborative meetings, interactive workshops, group outreach, and the occasional outdoor excursion, SLG members get to know each other pretty well! The sense of community we work hard to develop extends outside the group as well, as you’ll engage with other students, create sustainability-themed events, coordinate with campus leaders like RAs, and ultimately put together your own group project that makes a lasting impact on campus.

Mission

The mission of SLG is to develop students into impactful leaders who work together to spread a culture of sustainability throughout the first-year class at Wake Forest and beyond. This mission is achieved through three pillars: leadership development, education, and community building.

Application Season

SLG members are selected through an application process that is made available to incoming first-year students each summer. All incoming first-year students are eligible, regardless of knowledge and experience. 

Working with SLG

SLG is all about collaboration. If you are a student organization, staff, or faculty member and would like to learn how you can work with SLG, please email Brian Cohen (cohenbj@wfu.edu).

How It Works

We kick off SLG with an orientation where members learn the basics and meet their teammates, and follow that up with an off-campus retreat. SLG then meets weekly, where we focus on developing leadership skills, teaching each other about and discussing sustainability, and building community. In addition to team meetings, members work together to build community with the rest of the first-year class and work in teams to develop initiatives and projects that they execute on their own time. SLG team members have the opportunity to learn about and work on a variety of topics, including carbon reduction, environmental and climate justice, waste minimization, environmental education, civic action, behavior change psychology, and more. We also have plenty of opportunities to have fun and bond with one another through (optional, but highly encouraged) movie nights, meals, Campus Garden volunteer sessions, local hikes, and more! SLG is a group that truly belongs to its members; you get out of it as much as you put in.


Meet Your SLG ’28 Coordinators


Meet SLG ’27



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