Mapping Environmental Justice: Understanding Stakeholder Engagement and Health Disparities on Buffalo's East Side

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Unlocking the nexus between environmental challenges, community stakeholders, and health disparities: a transformative mapping initiative on Buffalo's East Side.

Project is Not Currently Available

This project has reached full capacity for the current term. Please check back next semester for updates.

Project description

Mapping Environmental Justice on Buffalo's East Side: Investigating stakeholder engagement and health disparities through a social science approach. Students will compile an inventory of environmental issues, conduct interviews and literature reviews, and create science communication visuals to foster community engagement. The project aims to develop vital resources for research and education, fostering future research-practice partnerships. 

Project outcome

Comprehensive Mapping: A detailed map illustrating current environmental issues on Buffalo's East Side and the stakeholders involved in addressing them.

Stakeholder Engagement: Increased awareness and engagement among community stakeholders regarding environmental challenges and their impacts on health disparities.

Research Repository: A centralized repository containing results from stakeholder interviews, literature reviews, media archives, and perspectives from policymakers, providing valuable insights for future research and decision-making.

Science Communication Tools: Creation of science communication visuals and materials to facilitate discussions and education on environmental issues within the community.

Enhanced Understanding: Improved understanding of the interplay between environmental factors and health outcomes, contributing to efforts aimed at addressing local environmental injustices. 

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment Year-long (10-12 months) 
Start time Summer (May/June) 
In-person, remote, or hybrid? In-Person Project (can only function with in-person engagement) 
Level of collaboration Small group project (2-3 students) 
Benefits Stipend
Who is eligible All undergraduate students 

Core partners

  • Mother Earth Literacies 
  • Delavan-Grider Community Center 
  • Other Community Based-Organizations of the East Side 

Project mentor

Monica Miles

Assistant Professor

Engineering Education

Phone: (716) 507-6147

Email: mlr25@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

The project will primarily take place at the Delavan-Grider Community Center on the East Side of Buffalo. 

Keywords

environmental justice