Engaged Opportunity Grants
Toxic Inequality: Understanding Environmental Justice in America
Investigating the root causes of environmental injustice by examining history, policy and the environment
Every community has a right to clean air, land and water, yet resource poor communities and communities of color disproportionately bear the weight of environmental pollutants. This project explores environmental justice in America through the lens of structural inequality. Through a partnership between Black Belt Citizens Fighting for Health and Justice (BBC) and Cornell, students have an opportunity to learn about the histories and structures that gave birth to the environmental injustices of today. The team is promoting both learning and action through a documentary film screening, community discussions facilitated by BBC, a new environmental justice course and a community-engaged learning trip where Cornell students work alongside community organizers in Alabama’s Black Belt region.
Topics: Access, Equity and Justice; Energy, Environment and Sustainability; Law, Government and Policy
The Team
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Shorna Allred, Department of Global Development and Department of Natural Resources
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
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Jamila Michener, Department of Government
College of Arts and Sciences
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Barnaby Knoll, Campus and Community Engagement - Residential Programs
Student and Campus Life
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Scott Peters, Department of Global Development
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
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Amy Kuo Somchanhmavong, Public Service Center
Student and Campus Life
- Community partner: Black Belt Citizens Fighting for Health and Justice
- Community partner: Cinemapolis
Engaged Opportunity Grants
Supporting a wide range of community-engaged learning projects, from student leadership programs and partnership building to events and conference travel. Open to all faculty and staff.