In fall of 2019, The Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, after a three-year pilot program, approved the permanent posting of an academic specialist in Costa Rica to coordinate a network of community-based partners across the Central America country. This network collaborates to welcome co-generative engagement with MSU students, faculty and other community partners on arts and humanities projects that respond to challenges related sustainability, climate justice and community resilience. This work takes the form of community participatory research, design, art, education abroad and other projects that address root causes and co-create new knowledge. To date, hundreds of faculty, students and community partners have collaborated to respond to significant issues including land enclosure, youth self-harm, climate change, tourism impacts and education across the country.

In 2022 alone, partners are collaborating to co-design and build a new education center for indigenous and campesina girls, a reserve near the capital San Jose, a lookout platform above the San Luis valley, a new indigenous social services center, and a major art installation on youth, privatization and land in Monteverde. This last project will coordinate with a STEM-focused art project on youth, justice and water in Detroit and result in visits by students, teachers and artists from Detroit as well as important art exhibits on MSU's campus and in Detroit. Students also engaged in community participatory research to evaluate institutional responses high indigenous suicide rates, youth educational programming and community development programs. Earlier in 2022, the program welcomed Michigan foundation, academic and business leaders to Costa Rica for two-weeks of discussions and visits with leaders in sustainable development. Finally, program partners have developed a proposed design justice minor for the university.

At the core of the program is the idea that university and community networks can co-generate responses to root causes issues related to justice, sustainability and resilience across political and cultural boundaries -- including those institutionalized by nation-states and educational institutions.