U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting applications for the Environmental Justice Academy, a training program to help emerging community, non-profit and environmental leaders cultivate skills to identify and address environmental challenges in their communities. The academy will take place in East St. Louis, Illinois, and is co-sponsored with the Kapal Foundation (Kappa House) and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
“The EJ Academy is an important part of EPA’s commitment to support community-led environmental justice initiatives,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “It will give participants a chance to develop the skills to identify environmental challenges and to solve problems collaboratively.”
The EJ Academy is expected to start in January and consists of a ten-month program of courses, assignments, and projects. Course material is shaped around specific community requests. It will include information on tools such as EJSCREEN, as well as laws and regulations relating to environmental justice and collaborative problem-solving approaches. The academy will be held in a hybrid form, with Wednesday sessions hosted virtually and Saturday sessions on-site in East St. Louis at Kappa House.
Any Metro East resident over 16 years old is eligible to apply. The application is posted on the Metro East Environmental Justice Academy website. Applications are open through November 3.
EPA will host an information session about the EJ Academy on Wednesday, September 20, at the Cahokia Public Library District from 6-7 p.m. Information will be shared on the application process, scheduling logistics, and the purpose of the academy.
For more information about the Environmental Justice Academy, click here.
from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/hY1fdcJ