Maggie Heiser, January 12, 2022
Black Environmental Leaders Association (BEL) and The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) are looking for applicants for the Ohio Environmental Leaders Initiative (OELI), a pilot leadership development program designed to serve as a springboard for rising leaders in the environmental movement of Ohio.
BEL and OEC believe that one of the most important ways to move the environmental justice movement forward is to build up and support the next generation of leaders. The Ohio Environmental Leaders Initiative will be a multi-racial program centering racial equity and economic empowerment in its execution through investments in its participants.
This program will culminate in the completion of a joint cohort project related to environmental justice that allows participants to utilize their strengths and the material they have learned in the program to further their experience and skills. While OELI is primarily a learning experience, BEL and OEC also believe that participants’ time is valuable. All participants will receive a $500 stipend for their participation.
The mission of the Black Environmental Leaders Association is to align as stewards of the natural and built environment through collaboration and partnership, to raise awareness and advocate for environmental and economic justice. The Ohio Environmental Council’s mission is to secure healthy air, land, and water for all who call Ohio home in order to hold polluters accountable in court while working with communities and companies that want to invest in a clean, more sustainable direction.
This is your opportunity to be a part of the inaugural class of the Ohio Environmental Leaders Initiative in 2022!
IMPORTANT DATES AND PROGRAM COMMITMENTS
Applications are due by February 4, 2022. Selected applicants will be interviewed in early February, with final decisions made by mid-month. Those who are selected to join the Ohio Environmental Leaders Initiative will be expected to attend a virtual orientation the week of February 28. Being a member of the Ohio Environmental Leaders Initiative is a six-month commitment. The experience will equip you with the skills and training to put your leadership in action to create and sustain a healthier environment and a stronger community.
For more information, please visit the complete application, available here.