Stronger Engagement for Results and Justice in Region 6
What Is SERJ?
Region 6's Stronger Engagement for Results and Justice program is the conduit that inspires and embeds environmental justice and climate change processing and procedures relating to Region 6. The program seeks both internal and external individual feedback from stakeholders to help implement environmental justice and address climate change across the region’s day-to-day work.
Why Do We Need SERJ?
Region 6 is home to several areas with long-standing environmental justice concerns. The region is also home to renowned environmental justice advocates and community-based organizations who want a deeper relationship with the EPA. SERJ provides a consistent rhythm of community engagement, space for innovation, and accountability and storytelling about the region’s progress toward goals.
How Will We Engage with Stakeholders?
Our core actions under SERJ include:
- Providing access.
- Cultivating deep partnerships.
- Action planning.
- Integrated analysis.
- Centering community’s lived experience.
- Regular communication on progress.
- Using every tool in our toolbox.
- Building capacity.
SERJ will organize regular Environmental Justice Leaders Roundtable Calls, Environmental Justice Summits, and End of Year Evaluation Meetings.
- Environmental Justice Leaders Roundtable Calls: Held every other month, virtually, these calls are an opportunity for regional stakeholders to lift concerns, ask questions and build community on a regular basis. This will be a multi focused approach for both on site-specific and systemic concerns.
- Environmental Justice Summit: Summits are multi-day meetings in rotating locations that will give community stakeholders an opportunity to dig deeper into issues of concern, especially those with high systemic challenges. Guest speakers such as non-profit community-based organizations and others will lead the sessions. These summits will focus on sharing strategies that are effective for addressing environmental justice concerns. Region 6 held its first summit November 7-8, 2023.
- End-of-Year Evaluation Meeting: The end-of-year meeting is an opportunity for Region 6 to report on progress towards annual goals and to assist in creating future goals and workplans. This is an opportunity for storytelling on accomplishments and capturing lessons learned.
Sign Up for Weekly EJ Updates
Please click on the link if you would like to join our mailing list using the Environmental Justice Weekly Update form or email [email protected].
For more information about how the EPA is implementing environmental justice nationwide, visit our main Environmental Justice web page.