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Environmental Justice

The Tishman Center for Social Justice and the Environment

  • Overview
  • Who We Are
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Tishman Center

  • Overview
  • Who We Are
  • Alumni
  • What We Do

Organized to Make Change

The Tishman Center for Social Justice and the Environment at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), was founded in 2021 through gifts from The NorthLight Foundation and Dan and Sheryl Tishman. Kyle Whyte, the George Willis Pack Professor at SEAS, launched the early planning process for envisioning the Tishman Center, culminating in its first success: the hiring of Michelle Martinez as the Tishman Center’s inaugural director. Whyte and Martinez bring a combined wealth of experience in grassroots environmental justice leadership, public service, and innovation in education. They will work together to transform education and research at U-M toward the service of undoing inequality and securing justice in the face of climate change and the transition to renewable energy. They will innovate in curriculum design, create cutting-edge professional development and leadership programming, and foster empowering partnerships with nonprofit and grassroots organizations.  

Service and Leadership for Real Justice

The Tishman Center is committed to transforming higher education for the sake of social justice, especially as so many communities are both threatened by climate change and locked out of the benefits of the growing renewable energy sector. We believe that higher education should train leaders of the future with the skills and grit needed to achieve justice as climate and energy systems change. The Tishman Center will focus on the empowerment of leaders who are from the communities facing climate and energy inequality, bridging U-M students with community-based professionals working outside academia for immediate and genuine positive impacts.

Who we are

Tishman Center News

Latia Leonard (MS ’24): Championing environmental justice in Michigan
December 4, 2024

Latia Leonard: Championing environmental justice in Michigan

Latia Leonard (MS ’24) graduated from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) with a focus on environmental justice. Leonard attended SEAS after getting her BA in...

SEAS master's students working with community members to clean up the coastline of Mo‘omomi Beach in Moloka‘i.
February 14, 2024

SEAS students support Native Hawaiians in massive Land Back movement and efforts to build food sovereignty

Aloha ʻāina, which translates to “love of the land,” is a central concept of Native Hawaiian thought, signifying the sense of being connected to and responsible for all living things. Aloha ʻāina has...
Earth Day: Justice in Focus
April 19, 2023

Earth Day event focused on ways to build a just future for all

Participating in our democracy, particularly locally, and organizing for systems and policy change to promote the collective good is critical to building a clean energy future that is just and works...

Professor Kyle Whyte
December 6, 2022

Environmental justice expert selected as U-M’s first US Science Envoy by State Department

Contact: Jim Erickson University of Michigan environmental justice expert Kyle Whyte is one of seven distinguished scientists in the country named U.S. Science Envoys by the Department of State...

SEAS launches new scholarships to provide environmental justice opportunities to students, funding to community organizations
November 17, 2022

SEAS launches new scholarships to provide environmental justice opportunities to students, funding to community organizations

The University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) announced a new $1 million award to catalyze the field of climate justice in the Midwest. Led by the Tishman Center for...

Tishman Center’s Inaugural Climate Justice Catalyst Fellows.
November 16, 2022

Congratulations to Our Tishman Center Inaugural Catalyst Fellows

Following a competitive application and selection process, we are pleased to announce the Tishman Center for Social Justice and the Environment's inaugural Climate Justice Catalyst Fellows. The...
New environmental justice hires
July 12, 2022

SEAS continues to grow the Environmental Justice program with new expertise, community organizers

The U-M School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) is growing its Environmental Justice (EJ) program with some exciting hires, bringing new expertise and courses that will provide students with...

U-M School for Environment and Sustainability receives $11M gift to establish Tishman Center for Social Justice and the Environment
October 7, 2021

SEAS Receives $11M Gift to Establish Tishman Center for Social Justice and the Environment

ANN ARBOR—The NorthLight Foundation and Dan and Sheryl Tishman have committed an $11.125 million gift to the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability to expand the school's environmental justice...

02/10/2023
Kyle Whyte
U.S. Science Envoys: Advancing U.S. Foreign Policy Through Science Diplomacy (U.S. State Department)
03/04/2025
Michelle Martinez
Tishman Center Director Michelle Martinez receives American Association of Geographers Powershift Award
11/18/2022
Michelle Martinez
Democrats in control: Advocates want action on justice, climate and “stronger leadership” from Gov. Whitmer (Great Lakes Now)
04/16/2023
Kyle Whyte
SEAS hosts Earth Day panel on environmental justice (The Michigan Daily)
01/01/2025
Kyle Whyte
$4M boost for University of Michigan’s environmental justice hub (Bridge Detroit)

 

 

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