Mark your calendars and sign up for the new (free) Environmental Justice and Community Action course brought to you by Jefferson Market Library University Programs of the New York City Public Library. Registration opens to the public on January 29 at 10:00 am and closes on February 11 at 8:00 pm. Students may register online, in person at the second-floor information desk, or by phone by calling 212-243-4334. The Library is located at 425 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011. The class will run on Tuesdays from 6-7:30 pm for five weeks, starting February 12.
Environmental Justice and Neighborhood Action is a class that will be taught seminar style. It will introduce students to the history, concept and movement of environmental justice. Students will learn about environmental justice from the perspective of race, class and gender. They will study the role and types of community actions in achieving environmental justice principles. Students will also put theory into practice through teamwork, collaborations and planning. As part of the course, students will identify projects involving collaborations in putting environmental justice principles into neighborhood action.
The concept of environmental justice embraces the principle that all people and communities have a right to equal protection and equal enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. The course expands on this knowledge by establishing a direct relationship of America’s segregation history and its connections to environmental pollution. By the end of the class, students will be equipped to articulate why race, class and gender matter in environmental justice and how these socioeconomic factors map out closely with pollution, unequal protection and vulnerability.
The Professor is José Gálvez Contreras. He is a Ph.D. candidate in Public and Urban Policy at Milano School of Policy, Management and Environment of The New School. He has extensive background in community organizing, small business planning, and political engagement. His dissertation focuses on the intersection of environmental justice and green jobs. He has earned two master’s degrees, one in public and urban policy, and one in environmental law and policy. If you have any questions about the course contact him at galvj753@newschool.edu
The Jefferson Market Library is committed to diversity and social inclusion. This course is designed for people of all ages and backgrounds. No prior experience with the topic is necessary. No textbooks are required. Readings are available online. Space is limited, so register now and share this information with a friend.
