In early 2021, SLS announced its new Signature Partner Program aimed to further foster sustainable practices by deepening its relationships with some of its closest community partners. Through other signature programs, such as the Sustainable Communities Summer Internship Program, students can reap the benefits of these ever-growing partnerships through experiential learning and meaningful hands-on work.

SLS currently has three signature partners: the Center for Civic Innovation, a community organization driven to fight inequality in Atlanta and advocate for local policy change; the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, an organization committed to improving the quality of life within the West Atlanta Watershed through the protection and restoration of natural resources; and the Center for Sustainable Communities (CSC), an organization focused on supporting a wide range of sustainability initiatives throughout the Southeast. CSC Founder and President Garry Harris has an overwhelming passion for working alongside communities to address their environmental, social, and economic concerns to ultimately strengthen their overall resiliency. CSC has been a partner with SLS since its earliest days and is an initial co-founding member of RCE Greater Atlanta, a regional sustainability network acknowledged by the United Nations. CSC has also worked with nearly a dozen academic departments and student associations resulting in close to forty different projects, programs, and related activities related to energy, health, clean energy workforce, gender equality, climate and extreme weather, pollution, and sustainable development. These include partnering with courses such as the project-based Business Decisions for Sustainability and Shared Value (MGT 3770), the SLS Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) short course, and even a Smart and Sustainable Cities course (CEE 4160) this past spring. Through this partnership with SLS, the Center for Sustainable Communities has even expanded many of these projects to other universities and government agencies, including Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, the University of Maryland, Old Dominion University, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

One unique approach that CSC takes to advance social justice is the application of "just-science"; a method of utilizing techniques and instruments like data science, engineering, and applied science and technology to provide remedies for a broad range of community-based challenges. In conjunction with Georgia Tech departments, one of CSC's larger just-science projects is the ECODistrict in Hampton Roads, Virginia. An ECODistrict is a "community developed with a holistic, sustainable view in mind." To promote this holistic approach to urban development in Hampton Roads, CSC has pushed for "development without displacement"; an initiative aimed at preventing gentrification from displacing, harming, and disadvantaging local families and longstanding local businesses. Even more so in line with SLS' efforts to promote asset-based community development, CSC's "Community Champion" initiative aims to empower communities by directly supporting community members that already act as leaders and proponents of change. Through a short workshop, these individuals can learn from experts how to become an even more influential voice in their neighborhood, whilst placing the power of change further into the hands of those who know the community best.

CSC is also involved in two of Georgia Tech's newer initiatives. The Anchor Institution Social Innovation Initiative has ambitious goals to involve the faculty and student body in social innovation, with the hopes of significantly impacting 3-4 UN Sustainable Development Goals within the next decade. Additionally, the initiative aims for 50% of students to engage in a social innovation program by graduation and will train faculty interested in social impact to support the development of partnerships and strategies that have the potential to impact products and services at large. Launched in 2021, the Public Interest Technology Student Fellows Program works with community partners to involve students within the College of Engineering in projects that focus on the study and application of technology that serves public interest and betterment. In addition to the five community partners, Georgia Tech partners (like the Career Center) and faculty members are also involved to ensure that each annual cohort fulfills the ambitions of both the community partner and student.

Although founded in 2015, CSC has amassed numerous awards both as an organization and alongside students. The Center for Sustainable Communities partnered on the creation of the UNITAR SDG Training Modules: an online course of interactive modules surrounding the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This program won an award at the 2020 RCE Awards for Innovative Projects on Education for Sustainable Development, receiving recognition as an Outstanding Flagship Project. CSC also worked with Kennesaw State architecture student Azha Parker on multiple phases of a Green School initiative. Her thesis aimed to design a gym for an elementary school built on a capped landfill that could help to eliminate any harmful effects of the landfill. This design also included features such as an outdoor classroom and a nature exhibit for students to come together and interact with the environment. In 2021, she won the highly coveted Portman Prize for her efforts to address how the built environment of African Americans affects their overall health.

The Center for Sustainable Communities is constantly expanding its efforts to involve students in sustainable activities and projects, having worked with or provided STEM-based internships and engagements to nearly 300 students in the past. This past summer, CSC embarked on its 3rd annual "Excursion into Justice" – a specialty tour initiative exposing students to unique, one-of-a-kind experiences in racial equity and justice throughout the southeast. With such an emphasis and priority on student involvement, CSC is helping to engage and educate the younger generation on becoming the future leaders of climate and social action. With this additional engagement, CSC continues to work tirelessly to make a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient world for all.