The Repurpose Project: Temple U’s Sustainable Event Management Course visits the re!

Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management partnered with The Resource Exchange to create The Repurpose Project. The Project is part of the Sustainable Event Management Course within the Event Leadership Certificate.

The overall goal of STHM Sustainable Event Management course is to better educate students about environmentally friendly initiatives in the event and meeting planning industry. Students are provided with resources and tools to needed to become socially responsible future leaders of event and meeting industry.

The Repurpose Project is a great way for STHM to Partner with a community leader in sustainability.

And we’re so glad they reached out to us! Students from the program came into our store to get reused materials for their projects. Here was their assignment:

  • Gather materials for the project at Resource Exchange 
  • All materials used in the project must cost under $10
  • Create an adaptive reuse project that can be used for an event
  • Create a 2-3 paragraph write up describing your project.
    • Purpose
    • Functionality
    • Materials used

And the projects turned out great! The students used ribbon, string, lighting fixtures, and frames in creative ways to bring their event ideas to life.

Reclaimed fake flowers, fabric paper and vases were used by many students to make creative center pieces and event props!

Some event ideas were weddings, fundraisers, family gatherings, birthday celebrations, educational events, and more! Center pieces for the events were all made with materials The Resource Exchange diverted from landfill, and each project cost less than $10!

One student used reclaimed countertop samples to create the title for this “Grad Advice” board.

And one student even made a clever organizer from a frame and strips of fabric!

Overall, we were really impressed with the students’ creative ideas and the program’s efforts to incorporate sustainability into their educational planning. Thanks to educator Christine Cleaver and all of Temple’s Sustainable Event Management Students for helping us to spread creative reuse throughout Philadelphia!