At the EJC program, students from the Chicago Public High Schools (CPS) collaboratively reflect on environmental justice issues, understanding them from a local to a global perspective. This process thereby empowers them to form bonds with peers through creating a community of care in connection with nature. As a program facilitator, I have worked for the non-profit Carole Robertson Center for Learning, in partnership with After School Matters and CPS, since 2024 in Albany Park.
Final collaborative projects co-designed by participants from Chicago Public High Schools:
EJ Cohort Spring 2026 | Be part of the solution not the pollution | zine | Von Steuben High School | Chicago Public Schools.
EJ Cohort Summer 2025 | The world is in our hands, change ripples through our effort | web site | Von Steuben High School | Chicago Public Schools.
In order to effectively advocate for the environment, as high schoolers, we create collaborative projects such as videos and podcasts in order to spread awareness.We’re doing this because water is life, and it’s under threat. We’ve seen how pollution, waste, and neglect are damaging our rivers, lakes, and drinking water. Clean water should be guaranteed for everyone, not something we have to worry about losing. We care about our environment, our health, and future generations. That’s why we’re raising awareness, sharing knowledge, and encouraging our communities to take action. Protecting water means protecting all of us.
https://environmental-justice.my.canva.site
EJ Cohort Spring 2025 | IT IS HAPPENING AROUND US | zine | Von Steuben High School | Chicago Public Schools.
In a society where young people have limited «power» and often feel incapable of doing great things, we find clarity in the mist, a place that allows us to experiment, raise our voices, and dedicate our time and hearts to great things and opportunities. In the ASM environment justice program, we find ourselves and have decided to create this «magazine» to express our ideas and solutions to problems in our community. Many times, small and continuous changes lead to big results. So we ask the reader to put their heart into these pages and seek inspiration in making small but big changes in their community.
EJ cohort Summer 2024 | ADVOCACY Radio Show, youth for environmental justice in Chicago | radio show | Peterson Elementary School | Chicago Public Schools
Students developed this program with the intention of bringing awarness to their communities and to amplify their voices to improve the policies and services that serve citizens inteads of big companies and corporations. They spoke from their experience and in their own words. They presented a live radio broadcast on WZRD Chicago 88.3 FM the student and community led radio station located at Northeastern Illinois University NEIU. You can listen to the radio show by following this link and join the environmental justice conversation led by our youth.
Listen the ADVOCACY Radio Show, youth for environmental justice in Chicago.
Lucía Garcés Dávila 