On this week’s show, your host, Justin Mog, is delighted to be in conversation with an old friend and colleague at the University of Louisville, Henry Cunningham, who serves as the Assistant Vice-President for Engaged Scholarship in the Office of Community Engagement (https://louisville.edu/communityengagement/) Dr. Cunningham co-founded and co-directed the University’s International Service Learning Program. He has extensive background in international and community development, having conducted developmental work in several countries. He was assigned to the United Nations where he worked with international leaders focusing on sustainable development in developing countries. Henry currently teaches a community-based learning course, enabling students to engage with the immigrant community. He has published articles and book chapters on community engagement, and he co-edited a book on partnership and collaboration which was published in 2020.

Henry is a native of the Central American nation of Belize. We begin the conversation discussing what it is like there, Belize’s history as a young nation, and it’s tremendous ecological and human diversity. Belize has the world’s second longest coral reef after Australia, and Henry shares how it is now being endangered because of contamination flowing down from Florida. It is also a place where the economy and a lot of government policy is driven by Ecotourism and protecting the environment is a national priority.

Belize is also a host country for the U.S. Peace Corps, and Henry shares his experience getting to know Peace Corps Volunteers there. He argues that the Peace Corps is the most valuable investment the U.S. makes in international diplomacy.

We conclude by discussing Henry’s work with Community Engagement at UofL, which has been recognized nationally. Learn more about how UofL students, faculty, and staff collaborate with community members in mutually beneficial relationships and discover how you can establish or grow partnerships with UofL!

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at http://forwardradio.org

The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at http://appalatin.com

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