Environmental Justice Freedom School
The Environmental Justice (EJ) Freedom School is a two-week summer program offered to high school students in the Chicagoland area to develop local school climate action plans. Students, along with teachers, practice the skills and tools to articulate, advocate, and develop climate adaptation and mitigation plans described in this WBEZ article.
Each summer, the program educates twenty 9-12 grade youth about the long-term impacts of ecological contamination and provides them with the skills to organize and advocate for clean and healthy world while prioritizing communities in need.
Through learning adventures with community environmental advocacy partners about ecological issues and their impact on communities, the students will develop climate and environmental literacy to identify environmental problems and its solutions.
Students will become climate change champions for their school community and local environment through EJ teach-ins inspired by their climate action plans. EJ Freedom School will consist of Chicago Public School educators leading high school students through a carefully curated series of activities to learn about the health of Chicago’s air and water quality alongside leading environmental protection groups.
Now Accepting Applications for EJ Freedom School 2026! In session this Summer from June 2026.
EJ Freedom School Goals:
- During the EJ Freedom School, students and teachers will develop climate and environmental literacy to identify environmental issues, anthropogenic and biological causes of climate change, impacts, and solutions.
- Students will develop social and emotional intelligence and skills to process feelings about climate change and reflecting, collaborating, negotiating, and organizing towards climate action.
- Students will identify and develop individual and collective agency to address individual and collective climate impact of air and water pollution in underserved communities.
- Students will advance skills and practices to identify and develop action-oriented solutions, climate change mitigation and adaptation plans.
- Students will develop skills to disseminate information and school climate action plans to school district, various stakeholders, and the public.
EJ Freedom School Partners
