Topics Of Interest

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it is seeking applicants for a total of $1.5 million in environmental justice small grants to be awarded in 2013. EPA's environmental justice efforts aim to ensure equal environmental and health protections for all Americans, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. The grants enable non-profit organizations to conduct research, provide education and develop solutions to local health and environmental issues in communities overburdened by harmful pollution. Grants are available for up to $30,000 each.

The 2013 grant solicitation is now open and will close on Jan. 7, 2013. Applicants must be incorporated non-profits or tribal organizations working to educate, empower and enable their communities to understand and address local environmental and public health issues. EPA will host four pre-application teleconference calls on Oct. 30, 2012; Nov. 14, 2012; Dec. 1, 2012; and Dec. 13, 2012 to help applicants understand the requirements.

Previous grants have supported activities including projects to better protect children in the Boston-area from incidences of lead poisoning and asthma attacks, conduct research on air quality in a portside Philadelphia community and provide support to residents on the Red Lake Reservation in Minnesota to repair failing septic systems and identify water that is unsafe to drink.

The principles of environmental justice uphold the idea that all communities overburdened by pollution – particularly minority, low income and indigenous communities – deserve the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, equal access to the decision-making process and a healthy environment in which to live, learn and work. Since 1994, the environmental justice small grants program has provided funding in more than 1,300 communities, to community-based non-profit organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues. The grants represent EPA's commitment to expand the conversation on environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across the nation.

More information about the Environmental Justice Small Grants program:
http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html

Environment Justice Small Grants 2013 Request for Proposals and schedule of pre-application teleconference calls:
http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/publications/grants/ej-smgrants-rfp-2013.pdf

Also see:

Department of Labor's Environmental Justice Strategy

In 2008, the Commonwealth of Virginia set in motion a process to build a statewide career pathways system. The purpose of that effort was to weave together and align education, workforce development, and economic development at all levels. You can read about Virginia's progress, outcomes to date, and lessons learned in Taking Root: The Virginia Career Pathways System, a new released report from Workforce Strategy Center released by the Commonwealth.

The Workforce Strategy Center has announced webinar on Wednesday, October 24th, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM EDT. Hear from key Virginia stakeholders who will discuss their career pathways work. The webinar will be moderated by WSC Senior Associate Melissa Goldberg, a coauthor of the report. The webinar is designed to help state leaders interested in pursuing career pathways learn from Virginia's experiences. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.

Speakers include:

• Elizabeth Creamer, Director of Education and Workforce Development, Office of the Secretary of Education
• Elizabeth Povar, Vice President, Business & Ally Services, Virginia Economic Development Partnership
• Randall Stamper, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Career Pathways and Workforce Programs, Virginia Community College System and former Director, Adult Education and Literacy, Virginia Department of Education

Please register here for the webinar.