Lois Gibbs Fellowship – Join Us!

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Clean Air Coalition of Western New York today announced the launch of the Lois Gibbs Fellowship, an innovative program that will empower 15 Western New York residents to advocate for a healthy and just environment.

The Clean Air Coalition of Western New York believes that leadership development of a grassroots base is critical to building an effective environmental health movement in the region. The Lois Gibbs Fellowship will train activist skills and foster relationships between grassroots actors and decision makers.

The Lois Gibbs Fellowship is a selective, 10-month program that provides a diverse set of emerging citizen leaders with the tools and training to build sustained political will to improve the environment and health in Western New York neighborhoods.

“Western New York is full of environmental health hazards,” said Erin Heaney, the Coalition’s Executive Director. “Our Tonawanda Coke Campaign put us in touch with residents from throughout the region who have questions about environmental hazards in their community. The Fellowship will allow these folks to connect, learn how to organize their neighbors, and make change.”

Over the course of one year, the Lois Gibbs Fellowship will provide rich training opportunities in the following areas:

* Developing effective messages and media outreach
* Strategic campaign planning and power mapping
* Holding elected officials accountable
* Grassroots lobbying
* New media
* Corporate and Government research
* Engaging faith-based communities

The Fellowship is open to anyone in Western New York. Applications may be found online at www.cacwny.org or by calling the Coalition to request a paper application. Individuals interested or working in environmental health and justice issues are strongly encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to residents working on land-use and food access issues. The application is open to people new to organizing as well as experienced folks looking to hone their skills. The Fellowship is designed as a part-time program that can accommodate people who are working full-time. Applications are due November 4th.

The program is named in honor of Lois Gibbs, a grassroots environmental justice advocate from Western New York. She is best known for her successful campaign to relocate families living on top of a toxic waste dump in Niagara Falls. Lois Gibbs is emblematic of the program’s philosophy: ordinary individuals can make an extraordinary difference when they organize.

The Fellowship is generously supported by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.