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Environmental justice activists are created, not trained. That is, most people
who become environmental justice activists do not begin with that intent.
Instead, a problem is identified in the community and a person within the
community decides to solve the problem. In the process, the person gains
experience that makes them aware of how difficult it can be to solve the
problem. The difficulties are often enhanced by the fact that the person is
often a volunteer who has another job to earn an income. Usually, it is only
after those experiences that the person becomes aware of the resources
available to overcome those difficulties.
Activists with experience and the
ability to take advantage of environmental justice resources (most of which
were developed after 1990) often have the most success solving community
problems. The resources available to environmental justice activists
include training to organize, analyze, and manage.
The scope of solutions environmental justice activists consider may be limited
by a lack of technical skills. Though many colleges teach courses about the
history of the environmental justice movement, few college opportunities exist
to develop skills to solve environmental justice problems. Students participate
in the "communiversity" activities at the Deep South Center for Environmental
Justice at Xavier University of Louisiana and the Environmental Justice Resource Center at
Clark-Atlanta University that emphasize education and outreach to communities
affected by environmental justice problems. The University of Michigan has an
environmental justice focus that helps students develop skills to analyze
environmental justice problems and identify possible solutions. Note, though,
that most students in these college programs, and similar law school programs, are people who intend
to work with environmental justice activists and that few environmental justice
activists receive such training.
Environmental justice activists also require training to manage environmental
justice groups. Due to the small size of most environmental justice groups,
most activists play several roles with the organization.
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