What specific challenges might arise when navigating legal and regulatory frameworks for your project, and might you proactively address these challenges while staying compliant with the laws?
One of the big legal challenges we face is all the regulations and laws that Lehigh has surrounding the park, specifically, in terms of who can enter the park. This challenge is hard for us to address as Lehigh is very set in their rules due to the consequences if a legal issue were to arise. However, we can partially get around this by working with organizations that are also part of lehigh. This is because all Lehigh organizations, students, and faculty are allowed entry onto the property without there being a threat of trespassing
How might you strike a balance between complying with local laws and regulations and upholding high ethical standards, especially when faced with situations where the two may come into conflict? Give specific examples.
Our project at the current moment does not entirely face this issue. As we currently have no manufacturer for our product, nor are trying to make profit off of them there are no specific legal issues we face. We want to try to give the kits away for free to the students of either a local middle school or elementary school. An issue we could face in theory is if we try to conduct research with minors. There are many more regulations we must follow as each child as a caregiver is responsible for their well-being. When addressing law and ethics we would completely apply these regulations as it is the most ethical way to make sure the kids are safe and protected.
There would also be regulations and laws for if we began manufacturing and selling the product. This is because there is a massive difference when using an outside manufacturer, charging customers, and earning profit. Especially when addressing an ethical issue related to our customers and why the project exists. For example, we are trying to bring food security to South Bethlehem residents because there is no access to nutritious foods and/or they do not have the money to buy them. It puts us in a tough spot when abiding by the rules of manufacturing and creating profit, but not causing our customers stress when our mission is to bring relief.
As you reflect on the workshop discussions and insights gained, what specific actions or adjustments will you make in your stakeholder engagement and decision-making processes to align more closely with ethical principles and legal requirements?
From the workshop, one of the main things we learned was about photography ethics. Although it seems common sense, there are many minor details that we might not think about while posting pictures of our projects, specifically when there are other people in them. We will also focus on the legal requirements regarding the park being Lehigh’s private property and how to incorporate it into our plans. Lastly, we will be more cautious when referring to low-income residents of South Bethlehem who are suffering from food insecurity to guarantee that we choose the correct wording to portray our ideas and intentions.
Write 3 elevator speeches about your project:
- For a professor/advisor:
Hello Professor, I’m excited to share with you our project through Lehigh University’s Creative Inquiry Program. The Southside Permaculture Park Social Impact Fellowship aims to address food security in South Bethlehem using sustainable practices like permaculture. Our team is committed to leveraging community partnerships to empower residents to grow their own vegetables, herbs, and legumes, enhancing nutrition intake and addressing environmental concerns.
- For an interviewer for a summer internship:
Good afternoon, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to discuss our project, the Southside Permaculture Park Social Impact Fellowship, with you. Through Lehigh University’s Creative Inquiry Program, our team is dedicated to tackling food insecurity in South Bethlehem by promoting sustainable practices like permaculture. By fostering community engagement and education, we aim to empower residents to cultivate their own vegetables, herbs, and legumes, fostering improved nutrition and environmental stewardship. I’m eager to bring the skills I gained in this project to contribute to this impactful initiative over the summer.
- For a roommate asking about your project:
The Southside Permaculture Park Social Impact Fellowship is a project through Lehigh’s Creative Inquiry Program. For our project specifically, we’re setting up community gardens and partnering with local organizations to help people grow their own food. We’re aiming to improve nutrition and fight food insecurity while being kind to the environment. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s pretty cool seeing how we’re making a difference in our community.