SUSTAINABILITY
ENGAGEMENT
A Certificate Portfolio on Environmental Justice
Brandon Dawson
ABOUT
THIS
PORTFOLIO
This website serves as the portfolio for the Sustainability Engagement Certificate gained at the Nicholas School for the Environment.
Completed in the Spring of 2020, Brandon focused his certificate on environmental justice. The SEC seeks to engage undergraduate students with the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental. Through coursework, employment, and a capstone project, Brandon sought to unpack the intersection of environmental degradation and injustices faced by low-income populations and communities of color. He dove into coursework on the intricacies of North America's rich and complicated environmental history and the considerations necessary for creating lasting change in an ever-changing global political landscape. His outside experiences took him all the way to Costa Rica to assess community-based models for conservation and brought him right back to Durham, where he immersed himself in the environmental justice issues facing North Carolina. He then utilized this knowledge to create educational materials on EJ for the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. To learn more about the certificate itself, click here.
"Sustainability is the possibility that human and other life will flourish on the planet forever." John Ehrenfeld
Sustainability is not a term easily defined. Subtle nuances in each definition can have grand implications. While over the course of gaining this certificate, Brandon has encountered many definitions, the above definition is by-far his favorite. To say that life will simply live forever is too bleak. For life to flourish, that takes real preparation, communication, and respect between human beings and the natural world.
ABOUT
SUSTAINABILITY
ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE
"Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." EPA
Environmental justice sits at the intersection of environmentalism and social justice. Far too often have low income communities and communities of color faced the disproportionate impacts of environmental degradation and injustices. With roots right here in North Carolina, the EJ movement seeks to create a just transition to a more sustainable future, ensuring that all people have safe, livable environments. To learn more about the 19 principles of environmental justice, click here.
ABOUT ME
This process has been a journey I'll not soon forget.
My path through environmentalism began as a beekeeper when I was just 14 years old. Since then, I have learned that the road to a more equitable and sustainable planet will be long, full of bumps, and always pressing. At Duke, I have earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Studies at the Sanford School of Public Policy. I have worked to promote community amongst first-generation, low-income college students on campus and I have worked in Durham to advocate for children petitioned into the court system, all the while maintaining a deep love for performing and musical theater. I hope to continue engaging with and learning more from the environmental justice community as we push for justice.
SPECIAL THANKS
There has never been a moment on this path where Brandon has worked alone. Each of the individuals below has helped him immensely and he can only hope to repay them one day for their vast kindness and generosity.
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CONTACT ME
If you have questions, comments, or a job offer, fill out the form below!