June 13 & 14, 2024
Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus, Savannah, GA and Zoom
Our third annual Environmental Justice and Climate Protection Conference brings together community leaders, concerned citizens, elected officials, academics, and industry experts. Together we will break information silos through information sharing focused on identifying solutions to heal and improve the environmental health of all Georgians.
Attendees to this two-day conference receive solutions-oriented information on the dimensions of environmental health that impact Georgia residents. With sessions on environmental justice impacts, translating knowledge into action, and community coalition building, we will discuss, and more importantly, actively brainstorm, what community work can be done right now to move the needle on improving environmental health.
Hosts
Preliminary Agenda
8:15-9:00 – Check-in and Breakfast (main ballroom)
9:00-9:15 Opening Session (main ballroom)
9:30 – 10:45 Environmental Justice Activation (main ballroom)
Andrea Jones, Georgia WAND
FreAsia Young, Brown & Associates Environmental Solution
Treva Gear, Dogwood Alliance
BREAK
11:00-12:15 – Concurrent Sessions:
11:00-12:15 Environmental Justice on the Coast (main ballroom)
Jazz Watts, One Hundred Miles
Alice Keyes, One Hundred Miles
11:00-12:15 Environmental Justice in Data (theatre)
Kaiya Murphey, Partnership for Southern Equity
Dominique Mack, Community Rx
Femi Adesanyaon, E212
Amy Sharma, Science for Georgia
12:15- 1:00 Lunch and Keynote
with Dr. Mildred McClain from Harambee House (main ballroom)
1:00 – 2:15 Concurrent Sessions:
1:00- 2:15 Outreach/Connecting with Communities (I) (theatre)
Kandake May Wallace, Florida A&M University
Tasha Messer, EcoRise
Morgan Barnes, Center for Black Women’s Wellness
Garry Harris, Sustainability Solutions Group and Institute
1:00- 2:15 Resources & Grantmaking (main ballroom)
Brittany Shaar and Aradhana Chandra, Southern Environmental Law Center
Melanie Pearson, Emory CHART
Kevin Daniels, Georgia State University College of Law
BREAK
2:30-3:35 Concurrent Sessions:
2:30- 3:45 Research Interactions with Community (theatre)
Leslie Rubin, Break the Cycle
2:30- 3:45 Gardening (main ballroom)
Ginger LaRue, Building Upward LLC
Nia Harper, Center for Black Women’s Wellness
Jami Nakan, The University of North Georgia
BREAK
4:00-5:30 Happy Hour, Unposter Session, Climate Fresk Workshop (main ballroom)
**all Friday events are in the main ballroom
8:15-9:00 – Check-in and Breakfast
9:00- 9:15 Opening remarks
9:15-10:30 Outreach/Connecting with Communities (II)
Hailey Hatfield, University of Georgia CHARTER
Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn, University of Georgia CHARTER
Opeyemi Aransiola, EcoAction
Yomi Noibi, EcoAction
Tonya Bonitatibus, Healthy Augutsa
10:45 – 12:15 Listening session and report out with lawmakers and representatives
12:15-1:00: Closing remarks and take-home lunches
Sponsors
Sponsors enable us to provide travel stipends, produce high-quality videos, and keep the momentum going.
Environmental Justice Heroes
Climate Champions
Change Agents
Friends of Environmental Justice
Erin Adams, Jennifer Hilburn, Tristan Odekirk, and Oya Money-Worthy
Register Now!
Location and Lodging
Online – Zoom
In Person – Savannah Ballroom, Student Union, Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus, 11935 Library Dr, Savannah, GA 31419
Directions | Armstrong Campus
Northbound: Travel north on interstate 95 (I-95N). Take exit 94, GA-204, toward Savannah/Pembroke. Turn right onto GA-204 E for 7.3 miles. The Armstrong Campus is on your right and has two entrances onto campus. The second entrance (Arts Drive) is the main entrance to the university. See campus map for specific building locations.
Southbound: Travel south on interstate 95 (I-95S). Take exit 94, GA-204, toward Savannah/Pembroke. Turn left onto GA-204 E for 7.5 miles. The Armstrong Campus is on your right and has two entrances onto campus. The second entrance (Arts Drive) is the main entrance to the university. See campus map for specific building locations.
Eastbound: Travel east on interstate I-16 (I-16E). Take exit 157A onto interstate 95 (I-95S) toward Brunswick/Jacksonville for 5.1 miles. Turn onto GA-204 E for 7.5 miles. The Armstrong Campus is on your right and has two entrances onto campus. The second entrance (Arts Drive) is the main entrance to the university. See campus map for specific building locations.
Traveling by Air?
The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport connects with 29 daily non-stop flights to 10 major cities. Scheduled airlines include American Eagle, Delta, Delta Connection, United Express, US Airways and US Airways Express. For more information, visit the Savannah International Airport website at savannahairport.com.
Parking and Finding the Student Union
Parking permits are not required in the Sports Center Parking, directly across from the Student Union. Please follow the green lines to the indicated lot (Red Arrow) on the map below.
The Peachtree Ballroom can be found on the second floor of the Student Union, located directly across from the Sports Center Parking, indicated by the black arrow on the map below.
Lodging
We have secured a block of rooms for $159/room at the Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Airport. 80 Clyde E Martin Drive, Savannah, GA 31408
The booking link for our group is HERE.
Alternately, you can call the hotel front desk directly at 912-964-5550 opt. 0 and book reservations over the phone.
Please note that in addition to the room and tax, at check in the card on file will be authorized for an additional $50 for incidental hold. If the guest does not charge anything to the room from the market or the restaurant and bar, that money will be credited back to them after checkout.
Travel and Stay Stipends
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we are able to provide travel stipends to those in need. This stipend is meant to enable individuals and organizations who have been historically marginalized to participate in the conference. We want to bridge any accessibility gaps that we can.
Please use the form below to apply for a stipend. Stipends will be given out on a first-come-first-served basis and will be available until funds run out.