Across the United States and the world, scientists and technical experts are partnering with communities disproportionately impacted by environmental health and safety hazards: environmental justice (EJ) communities. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) will share experiences building relationships and partnering on projects with EJ community partners. In addition, UCS has been offering trainings and resources for scientists on equity and scientist-community partnerships. From these modes of equity- and community-centered work, we have developed best practices for preparing for and engaging in scientist-EJ community partnerships while utilizing the guidance of EJ community leaders contained in the Jemez Principles of Democratic Organizing, the Principles of Environmental Justice, and the Principles of Working Together. We attempt to provide some answers to fundamental questions scientists have about this work such as: What do effective scientist-EJ community partnerships look like? How can technical experts best prepare themselves? How do scientists ensure that they’re contributing to just, transformative change and aren’t perpetuating injustices?
Results/Conclusions
Scientists and technical experts can engage with EJ communities in several ways that build capacity and/or add value to the communities’ work. While all communities and situations are unique, there are several core components. History is important. Understand the history of the community, how racism, segregation, policies, and institutions (your own, especially) have contributed to the inequities of the community. Build trust by listening, being transparent (about things like time, capacity, what you can/cannot offer), and show up. Showing up can mean attending community meetings and events or sharing a drink or a meal. Communication is key. Avoid technical jargon and acronyms, limit the data/numbers, and start with the impacts to the community. Understand the community has expertise and knowledge. Members of the community are experts on their community. Ensure community has a seat at the table at the beginning by co-developing projects. Build capacity to ensure there is transformative and lasting change. Ways to build capacity can include facilitating access to: information (especially the results of any work done together), other experts, skills, institutional and scientific society resources and events, financial compensation, and more. Work within your institutions so that they are more inclusive, accessible, and value equity- and community-centered work.