Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, HBCU Climate Change Consortium, Charleston Climate Coalition!

DEEP SOUTH CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Last week, we profiled Dr. Beverly Wright, founder of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. Today, we’re profiling the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice itself. The DSCEJ was founded by Dr. Wright in 1992 in collaboration with community environmental groups and other HBCUs within the Southern region to advance environmental justice.

It’s dedicated to improving the lives of children and families harmed by pollution and vulnerable to climate change in the Gulf Coast Region through research, education, community and student engagement for policy change. The DSCEJ also fosters health and safety training for environmental careers. The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) Since this time, the Center has become a powerful resource for environmental justice research, education, as well as health and safety training for environmental careers.

Some of its projects include: the HBCU Climate Consortium, community engagement, research and policy and international Connection. Why does the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice matter to us? Communiversity. This model emphasizes a collaborative partnership between universities and communities. 

The partnership promotes bilateral understanding and mutual respect between community residents and academicians. In the past, collaborative problem-solving attempts that included community residents and academicians were one-sided in terms of who controlled the dynamics of the interaction between the two, who was perceived as knowledgeable, and who benefited. 

DEEPER DIVE:DSCEJ

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CLIMATE CHANGE CONSORTIUM

In 2011, Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Inc. and Dr. Robert D. Bullard, Distinguished Professor at Texas Southern University (Houston) launched the Historically Black College and University Climate Change Consortium because of the urgent need to diversify leadership in the environmental arena. 

The Consortium has a total of 30 HBCUs participating in its activities and is growing its numbers to include more schools each year in an effort to train the next generation of climate and environmental justice leaders.  Since 2011, the Consortium has supported hundreds of HBCU faculty, students and leaders from climate-vulnerable communities participate in a number of important domestic and international gatherings. 

Why does the HBCU Climate Change Consortium matter to us? Because it was partially established to develop HBCU student leaders, scientists and advocates, especially in vulnerable communities in the southern United States where the vast majority of HBCUs are located. Areas where more billion-dollar disasters occur than the rest of the country combined. These are some of the HBCU Consortium Partners…  For the complete list, check out theclimate.org/episodes.

• Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Alcorn State University, Arkansas Baptist College,
• Bethune-Cookman College, Claflin University, Coppin State University, Clark-Atlanta University, Dillard University

• Fisk University, Florida A & M University, Grambling State University

• Hampton University, Howard University, Huston- Tillotson University,

• Jackson State University, Lincoln University, Mississippi Valley State University,

• Morehouse College, Morgan State University, North Carolina A &T University

• Savannah State University, South Carolina State University,

• Southern A&M University Baton Rouge, Spelman College

• Tennessee State University, Texas Southern University

• Tuskegee University, Virginia State University, Xavier University of Louisiana

DEEPER DIVE: HBCU CCC, HBCUs, Dr. Wright, Dr. Bullard, HBCU CCC Internship Flyer

THE CHARLESTON CLIMATE COALITION

According to the Charleston Climate Coalition, t’s no secret that the Lowcountry is especially susceptible to the climate crisis — we see this as a call to action for the region to become a climate action leader for the Southeast. Our work is to ignite a mass movement and usher the Lowcountry towards climate liberation. Charleston Climate Coalition is a 501c3 non-profit that creates alliances between community, private, and public organizations to tackle the global climate crisis by starting at home, in the Lowcountry. The group’s four main areas of local climate action: Art & Media, Event Planning, Climate Alliances, and our Climate Action Plan Campaign.

Art & Media–Storytelling, art projects, and social media. Expanding the movement through art and stories; informing our base of opportunities to get involved; encouraging civil, non-violent engagement; educating on and making more salient the climate crisis; deepening our integration of environmental justice issues; infusing joy in our work in the face of stressful realities; demonstrating alternate futures.

Event Planning–Planning and executing events, such as marches, rallies, seminars, workshops, etc. Recruiting more activists; practicing mutual aid and frontline environmental justice work; making activism fun!

Climate Alliances–Growing networks of climate-concerned businesses, organizations, groups, and individuals around climate action; spreading climate-friendly practices; increasing the size and power of our climate community. Currently working with four groups, Lowcountry Farms, Restaurants, Green Businesses, and Coffee Shops for Climate Action, with more on the way!

​Climate Action Campaign–Push for Climate Action Plans at every local municipality, as well as Charleston County. Why does the Charleston Climate Coalition matter to us? Its partnerships: including collaborations with Farms for Climate Action, Restaurants for Climate Action, Green Businesses for Climate Action, Coffee Shops for Climate Action, Clothing Stores for Climate Action…you get the picture.

DEEPER DIVE: CCC