Building Capacity and Community: The 4th Annual Community Environmental Leadership Program (CELP) Empowers Climate Justice Advocates

This summer marked the 4th Annual Community Environmental Leadership Program (CELP), a gathering that brought together a diverse group of community leaders for a series of intensive training sessions. Sponsored by the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, the program spanned six weekends, offering Friday night and all-day Saturday sessions that delved into pressing issues such as environmental and climate justice, extreme weather, pollution, public participation, and community advocacy.

The participants of CELP were as varied as the communities they represented. From rural and urban backgrounds, mothers, public school educators, grassroots organizations, and graduate students from counties like Nueces, Fort Bend, Harris, Brazoria, and Shelby came together with a shared goal: to enhance their capacity for community advocacy and to equip themselves with the tools needed to address environmental injustices.

Guest speakers from esteemed organizations such as the Bullard Center, CEER, Liberty Road CDC, For the Greater Good, Bayou City Waterkeepers, City of Houston, Raices Collab, Air Alliance Houston and Northeast Redevelopment Council provided invaluable insights. Their expertise covered a wide array of topics, including air, water, and soil pollution, public participation, data mining, and the innovative use of digital storytelling and Story Mapping for advocacy.

Throughout the program, participants engaged in a rich exchange of technical and local knowledge. They explored ways to build organizational capacity and learned to harness technical information effectively for community advocacy. This collaborative environment allowed them to develop digital stories and Story Maps that will serve as powerful tools for educating their communities and advocating for change.

In addition to gaining new skills and insights, CELP participants built a robust network of like-minded environmental and climate justice warriors. This network, forged through shared experiences and a common commitment to justice, will play a crucial role in their ongoing fight to improve their communities. As CELP concluded, the participants left with a strengthened sense of purpose, a powerful support system, and a deeper understanding of the environmental challenges facing their communities. Armed with new knowledge and a united front, they are now better prepared to lead the charge in addressing these issues, ensuring that their voices are heard and their communities are empowered.