The Environmental Justice Academy: Enhancing Community Capacity, Knowledge Production and Citizen Empowerment

The Environmental Justice Academy (EJA) was developed as an integrated curriculum to teach data collection, analysis and evaluation methods; citizen science technologies and community-based participatory research (CBPR); and appreciative inquiry as a leadership strategy to address the myriadof social and environmental injustices experienced by marginalized, underrepresented communities. This evidence-based program has a strong emphasis on leadership development and supports increases in knowledge, skills, abilities for creating change. It is designed to strengthen community capacity for stakeholders working in communities struggling with environmental injustices. The presenters will discuus the EJA’s origin, progress, successes and opportunities for future partnerships and expansion.