Thirty participants from environmental organizations attended the first training session for a new project of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) called Building Capacity Through Diversity.

It's a program designed to explore the intersection of race, culture and the environment. Building Capacity Through Diversity grew out of the recognition within Michigan's environmental movement that racial and ethnic barriers exist and can hinder our efforts to build an effective and inclusive movement. With the support of groups like MEC and Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice and funding from the C.S. Mott Foundation, ACCESS has developed a program aimed at increasing the capacity of organizations, communities and community leaders to promote alliances across race and culture.

"I believe this project is a wonderful opportunity for me and others working in environmental, health and other social justice areas to personally address some issues that may limit our ability to be as effective and as collaborative as we could be," says Josephine Powell, participant and Environmental Outreach Director of the Wayne County Department of the Environment.

During the overnight retreat in Brighton, Powell and fellow participants took part in activities designed to build community and trust within the group. Facilitators from the Freedom Trainers, a national group of trainers dedicated to dismantling oppression, also led the participants in activities aimed at forming a shared language and analysis to discuss race and racism.

After the retreat, Jamie Morton of the Lake Michigan Federation commented, "I am thrilled to receive this training. It will help us ensure that diverse individuals and local groups have the opportunity to be effectively involved in environmental decisions being made at the community level."

Participants included representatives from the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, the Ecology Center and community groups like Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision and Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation.

Upcoming topics will include "Race and Racism in the United States and Michigan," "The Environmental Movement: A Collection of Visions," "Skills Building and Alliance Building," as well as local speakers presenting on the historical and contemporary experiences of racial and ethnic communities in Michigan.

If you are interested in learning more about the project, please contact Michelle Lin, Project Coordinator, at mlin@accesscommunity.org or (313) 216-2258.