The Center for Transformative Action helps create communities that are socially just, ecologically sound and work for everyone. We do this by providing educational programs and fiscal sponsorship services to innovative social change initiatives. These projects work to transform the structures as well as the habits of mind that produce inequities in our communities, country and the world. Through their innovative methods, as well as their successes and challenges, they show us what is possible.Transformative Action is an alternative paradigm for social action that moves us beyond complaint, competition and us vs. them thinking. Inspired by the non-violent organizing that erupted in the last century, Transformative Action calls for courage to break the silence that surrounds these injustices; patience and compassion to build an inclusive movement for systemic change; imagination to stay free from “us vs. them” strategies; and inspiration to envision new solutions to common challenges. When we animate the power of our hearts in these ways, bold actions result:We find common purpose with othersTake pressing social problems in handLive our lives out loudListen deeply, act courageouslyTransform ourselves and each otherAnd ultimately co-create thriving, inclusive communities that work for everyone.At CTA, our projects and initiatives engage and strengthen the power of the heart, and our services support bold change makers. Because Ithaca, Cornell University, and New York exist in a far-reaching network, the impact of those empowered through our programs ripples across the country and the world, transforming lives and communities. This is our vision for change.

Research and Teaching in Sustainable Development and Environmental Politics