Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) College of Law student Brittanii Wade has been selected to participate in the three-day Environmental Justice Academy (EJ Academy). The program is designed to cultivate skills so that participants may successfully identify environmental challenges and accomplish their communities’ environmental improvement goals.
“My research will focus on the Parramore community which is the same area where the FAMU College of Law is located,” said Brittanii Wade, FAMU Law student. “This is an important community and I want to research to see what environmental justice concerns are out there and look for solutions. I am excited about being selected to the Environmental Justice Academy. This experience will be extremely helpful with my research project.”
According to EJ Academy project coordinators, the courses include environmental laws and regulations, community capacity building, strategic partnerships and replication of best practices. Students will learn professional program and project management, grant writing, program evaluation, and resource management skills.
After completing the EJ Academy, students will return to their respective universities and complete a capstone project by the end of the Spring Semester. The goal of the capstone project is to identify and address an environmental challenge in the student’s community.
The capstone project is student led with a committed faculty mentor guiding the student’s progress to success. Associate Professor of Law, Jeffrey M. Brown, is the FAMU College of Law faculty advisor working with Wade on this project.
The Environmental Protection Agency describes environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement 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 EJ Academy will take place March 18th-22nd at Tennessee State University. The EJ Academy is a collaboration between the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Forestry and Tennessee State University.
