Optional Training Day Session Summaries

Session 1: How to Create and Sustain an Effective Workforce Development Program

The session is intended to  assist emerging organizations better understand the nuts and bolts necessary to design and deliver an effective job training program.  Information will be provided in a participatory and informative way featuring experts with a proven track record.  Presenters will span the workforce development trajectory, including Workforce Development Board, Apprenticeship, Academia and community based.  Participants will learn about design, implementation, curriculum, fund development, job readiness, placement and leveraging ideal collaborations. The training will be offered in two sessions.

Session 2: Overview of Clean Air Act (CAA)

This session will provide a broad overview of the Clean Air Act.  There will be several highly interactive sessions.  The following topics will be covered:

• State Implementation Plans
• Climate Change and Stratospheric Ozone
• Clean Air Act and the Community
• Mobile sources
• Acid Rain
• Permitting
• Air Toxics

 The training will be led by Laura McKelvey, Community and Tribal Programs Group of Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards along with other EPA staff. Richard Moore of the Southwest Network for Environmental & Economic Justice and Los Jardines Institute will also provide insight from the community perspective on the significance of the Clean Air Act to community organizers.

Session 3: Citizen Participation in the Title V Air Permitting Process

Before a regulatory agency issues an operating permit to a source of air pollution, the public gets a chance to have its say.  This session covers why the title V permit program is important to communities and how public involvement in the permit review process can be used to improve air quality.  Participants will learn what information is needed to review a draft permit, strategies for permit review, how to target the most important issues, and how to submit effective comments on a draft permit.  This training is presented by a community advocate with extensive experience in air quality work and with EPA staff.

Session 4: Grant Writing

This session will provide an overview of grant writing for federal and foundation grants, a roundtable of speakers from foundations will share tips for attracting foundation funding, an EPA Grants Management tutorial will be shared and an overview of Federal Grants Management will be provided.  All sessions will be interactive and include an open forum for questions and answers.

Session 5: Advocacy Strategies and Tools For Securing Environmental Justice

This day long training will cover a wide range of advocacy strategies and tools that can be used by grassroots activists and community members to secure environmental justice.  Topics covered include using Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (both administrative complaints and law suits), International Human Rights Norms related to environmental justice, Community Benefit Agreements and other voluntary agreements, and environmental justice laws and policies at the State level. Presentations will cover the strength and weaknesses of each of the strategies/tools, and examples of how these strategies/tools have been used to further Environmental Justice. The training will conclude with a moderated discussion lead by grassroots activists on how these tools could be used together or separately on local Environmental Justice campaigns.

Session 6: Organizing for Clean & Affordable Water: A Resident's Training about the People's Water Board Coalition and Home Water Audits

The training will explain how to conduct home water audits and the connections between water affordability and aging wastewater infrastructure.  The training will showcase some of the water work organized by the People's Water Board Coalition in Detroit.  The Coalition organizes grassroots actions in Detroit to advocate for clean and affordable water, such as home water audits.  During the training, participants will learn about Detroit’s aging wastewater infrastructure, combined sewage overflows, and increasing water rates.  Participants will also learn how to check and fix leaks and use less water in the home and outside the home (i.e. rain barrels, rain gardens).

Printable Optional Training Day Overview (.pdf)