Climate and Ecological Justice Collaborative
Overview
Mission
The Climate and Ecological Justice Collaborative (CEJC) aims to advance practice, teaching, and research to achieve climate and ecological justice through working and learning with communities most impacted by these injustices.
Vision
We envision building a resilient, regenerative, and equitable society where communities most impacted by climate and ecological injustice are at the heart of solutions. We aim to create a world that prioritizes social equity and collective well-being for present and future beings within the web of life.
Projects
Sunrisers and Social Work
In the face of climate change's profound social justice implications, marginalized communities experience disproportionate hardships, yet the field of social work has given this critical issue less attention than other pressing concerns.
Ecosocial work, which recognizes the interconnection of environmental, social, and economic factors, has made theoretical strides but lacks practical implementation.
This study aims to bridge this gap by interviewing community organizers from the Sunrise Movement, or Sunrisers, with a social work background, to explore how they navigate the intersection of climate justice and social work, unveiling practical manifestations in practice and policy while identifying opportunities for enhancing social work education.
The study seeks to understand ecosocial workers' perspectives on the role of social work in addressing climate injustice, their unique approaches to practice and policy, and potential improvements to the social work curriculum.
Exploratory Assessment of New Roots
New Roots, part of a nationwide farmer incubator network, is a farmer training program for refugees and immigrants in Kansas City that began in 2008.
As a collaborative effort between Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas and Cultivate KC, it offers a four-year farmer-in-training program through classes, workshops, and demonstrations. Participants with agricultural backgrounds in their home countries receive training and support to launch local farm businesses.
We are working with Catholic Charities and Cultivate KC to assess the impact of New Roots including:
- economic focus
- community building
- participant engagement
- and fostering a cross-cultural and cross-generational community.
Rising Voices, Changing Coasts (RVCC)
The Rising Voices, Changing Coasts (RVCC) Hub is a coastal research project that brings together university-trained scientists and Indigenous knowledge-holders to study the interactions between natural, human-built, and social systems in coastal populated environments.
Learn more: Rising Voices, Changing Coasts
Climate & Ecological Justice Collaborative Contacts
Climate & Ecological Justice Collaborative Affiliates
- EuiJin Jung, associate researcher/postdoctoral researcher - KU Center for Public Partnerships & Research