EPA’s Environmental Justice Academy at UD in September; applications being accepted : University of Dayton, Ohio

Friday June 25, 2021

EPA’s Environmental Justice Academy at UD in September; applications being accepted

By Mark Gokavi

Applications are being accepted for Ohio’s first Environmental Justice Academy, a training program developed for emerging community, non-profit and environmental leaders to help cultivate skills and address environmental challenges.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) are hosting the event Sept. 10-11 at the University of Dayton.

Applications (two per entity only) must be submitted by July 7 to R5_EJAcademy@epa.gov. Participants must be based in Darke, Preble, Montgomery, Miami, Greene or northern Warren counties.

The application includes five questions. Each response is limited to 200 words. More information is available at https://www.epa.gov/oh/ej-academy.

The academy consists of a nine-month program of courses, assignments and projects. Organizers define environmental justice as “the fair treatment of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.”

The academy hopes to encourage collaborative problem-solving among local government, small businesses, academic institutions and industry to create a shared vision among different stakeholders so that all parts of a community have a voice in addressing local environmental concerns.

Organizers hope the academy teaches participants to leverage resources, use consensus-building, increase capacity to address community issues and foster a basic understanding of environmental justice.

MVRPC has served the planning needs of the Miami Valley since 1964.

In 2020, a regional equity initiative was launched in the Miami Valley. As a result, the Environmental Justice Academy model will be customized. Some modules will explore “equity themes” as well as “methods for encouraging positive change through community revitalization.”

The academy is being supported by UD’s Hanley Sustainability Institute, the Human Rights Center and the Fitz Center. UD’s Leanne Jablonski, Leslie King and Tony Talbott are members of the steering committee.

For more sustainability news and information, visit HSI’s news blog, the Hanley Sustainability Institute website and the sustainability program website. To sign up for HSI’s Sustainability Spotlight newsletter, register here.

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