What We Do

Overview

Our core philosophy is based on two critical beliefs. First, resourced mentorship methods, based on experiential learning additive to Environmental Justice coursework, contribute to student success. Tishman mentors have practical expertise in nonprofit, government and organizing fields. Second, student participation in community-led partnerships fosters grassroots greater community capacity, including the development of new research that directly benefits community self-determination. Tishman Center hosts mentorship cohorts and community research partnerships in order to build a sustained leadership ecology in social justice and the environment.

Below you will find the five story tablets about how we foster student success, grow the field, catalyze a just transition, and advance Indigenous rights with sustainable partnerships. Long-term, the Tishman Center for Social Justice and the Environment seeks to grow self-determination of communities that have long been disenfranchised politically and economically, resulting in environmental injustices we see and experience today.

While this doesn’t represent ALL of the work in which the Tishman Center is engaged, stay tuned for more updates.

Grow the Field

Midwest Catalyst Fellowship

With generous support from the Builder’s Initiative the Tishman Center for Social Justice and the Environment launched the Midwest Catalyst Fellowship in 2022. The idea: resource students in ways that remove barriers so they may gain critical experience in the field, while building the core capacities of environmental justice organizations, and communities long-term. By shifting the equation from debt-bearing to leader-full we are building the next generation. 

Here you can read or listen to three case studies that exemplify how we are building capacity for EJ in the Midwest.

See their final projects here.