About Us
Made possible through an endowment from former New School Trustee John L. Tishman, the Tishman Center is a university-wide center that is committed to bringing an interdisciplinary and environmental justice approach to contemporary environmental challenges. We work under the following core areas:
mission and vision
Mission: The Tishman Environment and Design Center integrates bold design, policy and social justice approaches to tackle the climate crisis and advance environmental justice.
Vision: We are a collaborative resource center and convenor for environmental justice groups, designers, policy makers, students and faculty that supports and advances bold environmental and climate justice action in accordance with the Jemez Principles. We will advance more equitable and just sustainability policies within the university and we will be leaders in the fight for climate justice!
Advancing Climate and Environmental Justice
The Tishman Center serves as a hub for climate and environmental justice research and practice, with a specific focus on critical, participatory action based research produced in collaboration with frontline, grassroots and community based organizations and coalitions. Through our collaborative efforts, we impact research, practice and policy while following the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing. The Tishman Center offers technical support by co-producing inclusive, bottom-up approaches that amplify the knowledge and expertise of these communities.
Supporting Progressive Innovation for Sustainability
The New School has a rich record and deep knowledge in the design and social science fields and therefore we are uniquely positioned to critically address the most complex environmental issues of our time. At the Tishman Center, we create opportunities that bring together the diverse talents of students and faculty from across our schools of design, public engagement, jazz, music, drama, and social research to develop creative, interdisciplinary solutions and new possibilities for change.
Creating Justice and Sustainability as Core Literacies for the 21st Century
By incorporating climate action and sustainability grounded in social justice into our campus culture, The New School is mobilizing 14,000 students, faculty and staff to have a positive impact on our community and the larger society. The Tishman Center’s role is to educate and prepare students through experiential learning to be leaders in this change toward a more just and sustainable society. Our intention is that students graduating from The New School will be able to demonstrate deep knowledge of environmental issues, a heightened awareness of their social justice implications, and a measure of responsibility for taking action.
