HBCU-CBO Gulf Equity Consortium


Gulf Water Justice Strategic Planning Project

The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ), in collaboration with the Barbara Jordan – Mickey Leland School of Public Policy at Texas Southern University (TSU), is undertaking a strategic planning process to design the Gulf Water Justice Project. Recognizing that communities along the Gulf Coast Region are collectively exposed to but uniquely challenged by climate change, DSCEJ aims to positively contribute to equitable water management decisions in the region. . . .Learn More.

 

HBCU-CBO Gulf Coast Equity Consortium

The HBCU-CBO Gulf Coast Equity Consortium is designed by Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director and Founder of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. The goal of the Consortium is to improve the health and lives of children and families in the Gulf Coast Region. . . Learn More.
 

Celebrating Black Communities and Their Fight for Environmental Justice

The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice celebrates Black History Month in recognition of the struggles, sacrifices, and achievements that have brought us to this moment in time when racial equity is a goal shared by people of different races and backgrounds, from grassroots community organizations to the President of the United States. We pay special tribute to the following... Learn More.

HBCU-CBO Gulf Coast Equity Consortium UpdatesEstSquare1


Addressing environmental and health inequities using a racial equity lens.



 



Project Overview

HBCU3.JPGWe expect that the work of the HBCU-CBO Gulf Coast Equity Consortium Project will be transformative and will be guided by the nexus of three basic principles forming the foundation for our work.
The first is a mainstay of Environmental Justice work.  “People must speak for themselves.”  This project is designed to listen to community concerns first and then provide education and training on identified issues preparing community residents to have voice on critical issues. 

The second guiding principle involves the establishment of equitable partnership with communities; “The Community University Partnership Model”. One such model, “Communiversity” developed by the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice sets guidelines and processes for ensuring an equal voice in the project among community members and researchers.

The third guiding principle employs the use of the “Community-Based Participatory Research Model.”  This model sets parameters to ensure that the overall project is community-driven and that community-members are substantively involved in the research undertaken.  Much care will be taken to remain true to these principles to safeguard the integrity of the project.

Most of all, we believe that by working with communities in this way – with academics respecting community input –communities can be strengthened.  

Ultimately, communities will increase their voices and build their capacity to respond to issues that affect the health and well-being of their children and families.  This project is designed with the aim of leaving each community better off than where they were at the start of the project.  This means each community will have increased in their capacity to organize, advocate for solutions to the challenges they face concerning environmental health, economic prosperity and social justice issues.

Gulf Coast Partner Community Based Organizations:  Gulf Coast Partner Historically Black Colleges and Universities:
  • Alabama A & M University
  • Dillard University
  • Florida A & M University
  • Jackson State University
  • Texas Southern University
  • Tennessee State University

Funders:
JPB Foundation
The Kresge Foundation 
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