NAAC Partners with WE ACT for Environmental Justice to Empower South Jersey Communities

NAAC is excited to announce a new partnership with West Harlem Environmental Action Inc. (WE ACT for Environmental Justice), a leader in the fight for environmental and climate justice. This collaboration is part of a broader effort initiated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which awarded WE ACT the responsibility of operating the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) for EPA Region 2. Covering New York, New Jersey, and 8 Indian Nations, the TCTAC provides technical support to underserved, rural, and remote communities so they can access crucial grant funding and resources.

As part of this effort, NAAC will be vital in focusing outreach in South Jersey, particularly in our core service areas of Atlantic, Cape May, Salem, and Cumberland Counties.

Expanding Access to Environmental Justice Support
The WE ACT TCTAC is designed to help historically marginalized communities that often lack the resources to tackle pressing environmental, climate, and energy justice challenges. By offering training and technical assistance (TA), the center helps community organizations and local governments build the capacity to:

• Navigate complex grant application systems
• Write competitive grant proposals
• Effectively manage grant funds
• Engage in environmental and energy justice decision-making processes

The goal is simple: to provide these communities with the tools they need to access and leverage funding opportunities that can help them advance their environmental, climate, and energy justice goals.

WE ACT TCTAC Community Voices: A Platform for Advocacy
A unique feature of the TCTAC is developing a rotating network of Community Voices across New York and New Jersey. This network will play a vital role in amplifying the voices of the communities most affected by environmental and climate issues, ensuring their needs are heard and addressed. NAAC will be instrumental in mobilizing this network in South Jersey and connecting communities to WE ACT's extensive resources and services.

The TCTAC Community Voices cohort will:

1. Provide local support tailored to the unique needs of communities in New York and New Jersey
2. Conduct outreach to Environmental Justice (EJ) communities, ensuring they can access TCTAC services
3. Support the design and facilitation of in-person training in their respective regions
4. Offer valuable feedback on the TCTAC program's design, implementation, and community impact

NAAC's outreach will be concentrated within a 50-mile radius of its territory, covering Atlantic, Cape May, Salem, and Cumberland Counties. This focus allows us to maximize our impact by ensuring that communities within this region can fully benefit from the services and support provided by WE ACT.

Building a Stronger Environmental Justice Movement
The partnership between NAAC and WE ACT for Environmental Justice is about more than providing technical assistance; it's about building a movement. Over the next two years, TCTAC Community Voices participants will regularly convene to discuss regional environmental, climate, and energy justice priorities. These discussions will lay the foundation for a Regional Environmental Justice Network, which will continue to build capacity and drive advocacy in the future.

By working together, we can ensure that South Jersey's communities have a powerful voice in shaping the environmental policies and decisions that affect their lives.

Join Us in Making a Difference
Suppose you're a community leader or advocate in South Jersey looking to make an impact. In that case, we invite you to join us in this critical work. With your involvement, we can strengthen the capacity of our local communities to fight for environmental justice and ensure that they have access to the resources needed to thrive.
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For more information on how to get involved, contact NAAC to learn more about the opportunities available through this groundbreaking initiative. Together, we can create a healthier, more equitable future for all.