TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE EDUCATION
Start:Empowerment brings climate and social-environmental justice education to K-12 classrooms across the United States.
With deep ties to grassroots organizations, frontline communities, and Indigenous leaders, we form powerful partnerships with educators, schools, and nonprofits.
Our adaptable curricula and partnership models are tailored to meet the unique needs of local schools and equip youth and communities of color with green job skills, catalyzing improvements in learning outcomes and fostering the next generation of climate advocates.
Having impacted over 3,770 students across NYC and Austin, we’re expanding our reach nationwide.
Transforming Classrooms: Celia Cruz High School for Music
S:E established a hydroponic gardening program at the Celia Cruz High School in the Bronx to educate students about climate and food justice. We regranted $5,000 to support teacher labor and pay for the greenhouse and hydroponic tent.
20+ pounds of microgreens were harvested for distribution to students and staff members to help fight food insecurity by providing easily accessible, nutritious produce in the school community. S:E also provided an engaging Career and Technical Education (CTE) skills-training resource, developing young agro leaders through the teaching of our Food Justice curriculum.
Our Unique Approach
We employ a critical consciousness framework to co-create programming alongside youth, educators, activists, and community members, ensuring environmental justice education resonates deeply within public schools. Our curriculum prioritizes long-term education, improved learning outcome, civic engagement, and environmental empowerment, resulting in student-led projects ranging from policy advocacy to school gardens.
Words From A Happy Teacher
"I have been implementing the Environmental and Climate Justice Curriculum in my Environmental Science classes and I am very impressed that the curriculum is well organized with four separate modules that focuses on specific environmental justice and climate change issues that relate to my students in the Bronx, NY. I am also very impressed with how well curated the curriculum is with four interactive Google Slides presentations filled with informative videos, maps, diagrams and pictures. There are multiple activities with teacher prompts designed to engage the students. I recommend this curriculum to all teachers who want to educate their students about Environmental and Climate Justice!"
- Alex Goasdoue
Environmental Science Teacher
High School for Teaching and The Professions
