How can you sustain the actions – despite political and leadership transitions - of corporations to take responsibility for the environmental and health impacts they have on communities living in and/or near their manufacturing operations and production? This course provides students with an opportunity to create and apply a conceptual framework for advancing environmental justice policy and practice within corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts embraced by industry. Students will explore how corporations can operationalize environmental justice principles, values, and people-centered actions in communities affected by historical and current manufacturing, processing, and other industrial operations.

 To develop this framework at the intersection of corporate responsibility and environmental justice, students will examine the health, environmental, social, and economic impacts that various industries have on communities living near industrial facilities and operations. They will also identify and evaluate existing drivers, market forces, regulatory policies, and corporate sustainability strategies that are being used to advance environmental protection, community well-being, and environmental justice. In addition, students will develop practical strategies and pathways for building stronger, more accountable partnerships between industry and communities located in and/or near manufacturing, processing, or other operations activities.

 Working with the University of Michigan Community-Business Environmental Justice Collective and other partners, students will engage in experiential learning through real-world examples across diverse industries. Through this applied learning experience, students will consider how corporate responsibility and sustainability practices can be strengthened to improve community well-being, advance environmental justice, and support more equitable and sustainable outcomes.