This course examines environmental justice organizing in a US and global context. Students will explore the disproportional impact of environmental racism and climate change on low-income communities of color in the US and globally. The course will examine both the history of environmental justice organizing as well as contemporary US and global efforts to organize for change. A particular focus will be on grassroots and coalition building as a strategy for environmental justice and climate change organizing.
Pathway Elective For
- Community Change (Host)
- Global Social Work Practice
- Policy & Political Social Work
Objectives
Students will:
- Develop knowledge about environmental justice and climate change and the impact on communities.
- Develop knowledge about historical organizing work on issues on environmental justice and climate change.
- Examine contemporary organizing efforts and approaches to work for environmental justice in different contexts.
- Analyze different approaches and strategies to work for environmental justice.
Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)
This course integrates PODS content and skills with a special emphasis on the identification of theories, practice and/or policies that promote social justice, illuminate injustices and are consistent with scientific and professional knowledge. Through the use of a variety of instructional methods, this course will support students developing a vision of social justice, learn to recognize and reduce mechanisms that support oppression and injustice, work toward social justice processes, apply intersectionality and intercultural frameworks and strengthen critical consciousness, self-knowledge and self-awareness to facilitate PODS learning.