Youth Education Programs

Environmental Justice Academy

The Environmental Justice Academy and course is being created at the Atlanta Metropolitan State College to attract community and student engagement 

Atlanta Metropolitan State College (AMSC) invites you to apply to the fourth class of the Environmental Justice (EJ) Academy. The Spring 2019 EJ Academy is an intensive, leadership development program for community advocates, college students and faculty, government officials and any other group or person motivated to acquire interpersonal skills and community organizational tools to identify environmental challenges and achieve sustainable, environmental improvement goals. The Academy is co-sponsored by AMSC, the Center for Sustainable Communities, RCE Greater Atlanta and the US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Office and Environmental Justice and Sustainability, and is supported by the Turner Foundation. The Academy format is a three-day, on-site training (March 28 – 30, 2019) followed by homework assignments and online sessions to be completed within one month. After completing the Academy, participants will attend a capstone event on May 10, 2019, where they will present a project which draws upon tools/skills learned through the Academy. March sessions will be held at AMSC’s Easley Pavilion, 1630 Metropolitan Parkway, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30310. Course materials and presentations include environmental laws and regulations, community capacity building, strategic partnerships, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, project management, program evaluation, and resource management. The EJ Academy also introduces students to the EcoDistricts Model for community revitalization and EPA’s Collaborative Problem-Solving Model, a seven-step process for community leaders, community members and stakeholders to work together to achieve positive, sustainable outcomes.

Persons selected for the EJ Academy will learn the following:

• How to leverage human, social, intellectual, technical, legal, and financial resources to make long-term community progress;
• How to use consensus-building processes to facilitate successful negotiations/collaborations;
• How to increase capacity to address environmental and/or public health issues; and
• A basic understanding of environmental justice and environmental regulations.

As a result of participating in the EJ Academy, participants will receive the following benefits:

• Complete a community portfolio, which will assist in securing funding, identifying partners, describing community resources and challenges and establishing stakeholder credibility;
• Complete a plan to guide organizational activities;
• Identify and secure potential partners to assist with addressing community challenges;
• Interact directly with technical experts from EPA and other organizations; Network with other community leaders and establish mutually beneficial relationships;
• Be eligible to apply for 40 hours of technical assistance from the Community Planning Assistance Program at the conclusion of the Program;
• Receive individualized feedback, guidance, and assistance from experts.