2026 Thriving Communities Symposium

Special Events

Awards Dinner Reception  October 23rd | 6:00pm – 8:30pm

Join us for a special Award Dinner Reception on Friday evening to recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership and dedication are helping build healthier, more sustainable, and resilient communities. Enjoy an evening of connection and celebration as we honor this year’s environmental champions.

Reserve Awards Dinner Tickets here.

Bus Tours  October 24th | 9:30am – 12:00pm

• 1) Neighborhoods Reimagined Bus TourThis bus tour—shaped by research from students at Jefferson University’s Landscape Architecture program, Villanova University, Temple University, and the Overbrook Environmental Education Center—examines how history, green infrastructure, and conservation strategies can be used to reimagine West Philadelphia neighborhoods free from Illegal dumping, blight, brownfields, vacant lots, and the growing pressure of data centers and other polluting landuse proposals.

  The Reimagine tour will feature West Fairmount Park, the Overbrook Center, and various stops of historical infrastructure and environmental significance along the Lancaster Ave industrial corridor.

  Reserve Neighborhoods Reimagined Bus Tour ticket here.

• 2) Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Bus TourThe Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will tour revitalized vacant lots in West Philadelphia that showcase how strategic greening, environmental stewardship, and community partnership can transform underused land into resilient community spaces. These sites now function as urban farms, community gardens, green stormwater systems, and calming neighborhood spaces—serving as models of equitable urban revitalization that enhance environmental health and improve overall quality of life.

  The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Tour will feature Aspen Farms, Viola Street Garden, the Overbrook Center, and more to highlight urban agriculture in West Philadelphia.

  Reserve Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Bus Tour tickets here.

Symposium Overview

This year’s symposium, guided by the theme “Building Capacity for Sustainable and Resilient Communities,” reflects our belief that thriving communities are built through shared knowledge, collaboration, strong partnerships, and collective action. Over two days, participants will gather to exchange ideas, explore strategies, build connections, and advance solutions that strengthen environmental health, justice, sustainability, and community resilience.

The symposium sessions will feature conversations, learning opportunities, networking, and community engagement focused on key environmental and public health priorities, including:

• Technical Assistance: Strengthening organizational and community capacity to advance environmental and sustainability goals.

• Air Quality: Monitoring and addressing environmental health challenges to support healthier communities.

• Water Quality: Protecting local waterways and promoting equitable access to clean, safe, and recreational water resources.

• Climate Adaptation: Preparing communities to respond and adapt to evolving heat and rainwater patterns.

• Urban Agriculture & Nutrition: Connecting local food production, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and community well-being.

• Illegal Dumping: Identifying root causes and community-informed strategies to prevent dumping and restore impacted neighborhoods and landscapes.
  

• Lead & Domestic Toxins: Reducing exposure to lead and other environmental hazards in homes, schools, and neighborhoods.

• Soil Care & Remediation: Restoring healthy soils in historically underinvested areas and transforming brownfields and other potentially contaminated or underutilized land.

• Next Generation Environmental Stewards Convening: Engaging emerging leaders and workforce development programs to shape the future of environmentally just and sustainable communities.

• Land Use and Community Development: Exploring how land use impacts communities.

Although registration is required, the symposium is free to attend. We encourage you to join us, share your ideas and experiences, and connect with others committed to building sustainable, equitable, and thriving communities. Please feel free to invite colleagues, community members, partners, and emerging environmental leaders from your network.

We look forward to welcoming you to Saint Joseph’s University in October and continuing our shared work to build more sustainable, resilient, healthy, and thriving communities.