Taking a Community Inventory: How can we promote environmental justice in our community?
Having explored the meaning of environmental justice and examples of injustice in Milwaukee and beyond, students should consider ways to enact change in their community. Middle school classes can begin this process by taking an inventory of ecological understandings and perspectives present within the students' neighborhood. Community inventories allow students to discover and explore various assets and perspectives present in their immediate geographic community.
Students should be allowed time in class to formulate their research methods. However, they are expected to take time outside of class to engage with their community and actively take inventory of resources, assets, and perspectives. This is not a complicated task and can be completed by walking around the specific community while thinking critically thinking about what is found. Possible assets and obstacles to environmental justice may include:
Public parks
Schools
Businesses
Water sources
Factories/ industrial plants
Brownfields
Landfills
Sources of pollution
The inventory should also included brief interviews with community members. Students should ask parents, grandparents, leaders, teachers, and any other individuals who may be affected by the community's environment. They should develop questions they are interested in exploring. Interview questions may include:
What does environmental justice mean?
What are you most proud of in this community?
What do you think the largest obstacle is?
What sources of pollution do you encounter in this community?
How does this pollution affect you?
How are you affected by other environmental issues?
After conducting several interviews, students will compile their findings in either a formal writing assignment or oral presentation, which will ultimately serve as a proposal for a way in which they can realistically promote environmental justice in their community. The proposal should be specific to a particular neighborhood and supported by evidence found while taking the community inventory.