Just DePaul is a community-driven department focused on our collective commitment to advance the agenda of social and environmental justice in each one of us, at DePaul University, and in the many communities we partner with locally and globally.
Mission: We advocate for sustainable institutional transformation by seeking environmentally just practices and educating the DePaul community on actionable steps that can spark meaningful change.
Vision: We envision a future where sustainability is the central pillar underlying the work done at DePaul and beyond.
Values: Collaboration, Intersectionality, Transparency, Respect, Justice, Sustainability
Motto: A more just and sustainable future for all.
Commitment: We value research that makes connections between “social justice issues” and student learning and achievement.
Foundational Document
Just DePaul is our collective commitment to advance the agenda of social and environmental justice in each one of us (the personal level), at DePaul University (the institutional level), and in the many communities, we serve and partner with locally and globally (the societal level). It is designed to support students, staff, and faculty alike. Just DePaul provides tools to incorporate social and environmental justice-oriented relationships, workplaces, spirituality and prayer, internal and external partnerships, education, and experiences across the university.
Network Weaving
This document is meant to be shared as a resource to initiate conversation around the issues we would like to tackle within our own programs and initiatives. This paper investigates building sustainable communities through improving their connectivity – internally and externally – using network ties to create…opportunities. Improved connectivity is created through an iterative process of knowing the network and knitting the network.
Just DePaul Principles
Just DePaul upholds the following principles as core to the work of Social and Environmental Justice:
1. Human Dignity: Basic Equity
2. Personalism, Compassion, and Relationship
3. Solidarity: Search for the Common Good
4. Participation: Systemic Change
5. Sustainability and Care for our ‘Common Home’
6. Transformation and Non-Violence
7. Knowledge and Experience
Meet the Team:
Rubén Alvarez
Director
As double Demon, Rubén (he/him) has been involved in DePaul’s community engagement efforts as a student, staff, and adjunct faculty for the last twenty-five years locally, nationally, and internationally. Currently, Rubén serves as the Director for Just DePaul, an institution-wide initiative, hosted in The Division of Mission and Ministry, to advance the agenda of social and environmental justice central to furthering sustainability at DePaul University.
Amar Pattabiraman
Graphic Designer
Amar (he/they) is a UX Design student at DePaul and the Graphic Designer here at JSTDP! They love to create visual materials like stickers, notebooks, and other graphics that promote the Just DePaul mission of sustainability, as well as social and environmental justice.
Zayn Ibrahim
Sustainability Coordinator
Zayn (they/he) is Just DePaul’s Sustainability Coordinator! They graduated with their Bachelor’s from DePaul University in Environmental Studies in 2025 and he is advancing his education by pursuing a MS degree in Environmental Science. His research interests include environmental education, urban agriculture and, of course, sustainability! Outside of their work, Zayn can be found painting/drawing, traveling or rocking out at a music festival.
Genesis Suggs
Communications Coordinator
Genesis (she/her) is the the Communications Coordinator for Just DePaul. She helps spread awareness about initiatives by Just DePaul and promotes sustainability on campus. She is a undergraduate student studying Political Science and Climate Change Science and Policy and she is passionate about housing justice, sustainability, and social justice!
Evelyn Ashburner
Sustainability Network Weaver
Evy (she/her) is the Sustainability Network Weaver for Just DePaul. She helps connect students to sustainability initiatives around DePaul. She is also the leader of our Student Sustainability Committee (SSC), a committee built to bring students together to talk about sustainability efforts on campus and plan how to get those efforts passed on to the SGA and administration.
Just DePaul News & Stories
First Newsletter Coming August 2025, stay tuned!
Photo Gallery:
Follow Us on Social Media!
Page Designer
Rhianna Fields is a master’s graduate at DePaul University in the Writing and Publishing program. She helped build, design, and edit the website and our shiny new Just DePaul page. She spent two years with the Just DePaul team working in sustainability and social justice. She is a copywriter/editor, event-planner, and website curator.