The Community Environmental Leadership Program (CELP) is a dynamic, community-based training initiative designed for grassroots leaders across Texas that champion environmental and climate justice. CELP provides a powerful platform for learning, connection, and action. The multi-week program centers the lived experiences of Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other historically overburdened communities and equips participants with advocacy tools to fight pollution, influence policy, and protect public health.
Participants will receive training in core topics such as Environmental and Climate Justice, Air, Water, and Soil Pollution, Flooding and Disaster Resilience, Community Advocacy and Public Participation, and Data Collection & Storymapping. The curriculum is grounded in real-world case studies from across the Texas Gulf Coast, with guest sessions led by researchers, organizers, and policy experts from the Environmental Justice Movement.
Each session emphasizes community-driven knowledge and practical strategies that can be immediately applied at the community level. The program helps participants and speakers build lasting relationships, creating a strong network they can rely on for future projects and community work.
CELP is a flagship initiative of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University. This program empowers local leaders with the knowledge and tools to demand justice, hold polluters accountable, and push for equitable change in their own backyards.
With support from regional collaborators and national networks, CELP is training a new generation of environmental justice leaders rooted in place, history, and people power. The program continues to grow a statewide network of fenceline advocates who are transforming their communities and shaping the future of environmental justice in Texas.