What We Do

The Environmental Equity Information Institute (E2I2) develops initiatives in the following five strategic areas:

Data on the environment and climate is more abundant than ever before. However, it lives on different websites, is housed by different government or non-governmental entities, and there is not always uniformity in how data is measured. These challenges make it difficult for ordinary, busy people, without data science degrees to access, understand, and use data to make informed decisions. However, having access to data is crucial for environmental justice communities so they can take action and advocate for change. E2I2 works with EJ communities to bridge the gap between their information needs and data. First, we listen to communities tell their stories about legacy pollution and the increasing impacts of pollution on their health and quality of life. We also listen to communities talk about their strengths and assets. Next, we ask what information communities would like to have. We take this information and provide the following support to communities:
  • Development of Comprehensive Community Data Profiles, which compile available environmental, health, and sociodemographic data in a plain language report and slide deck for communities to use. Comprehensive Community Data Profiles include GIS mapping of pollutants over social and demographic data.  
  • Development of additional monitoring and data collection methods as needed to fill data gaps. For example, installation of E2I2’s solar-powered, air monitors that collect continuous, real-time data on community pollutants of concern.
  • Development of community data dashboards that compile pollution, climate, health, and socioeconomic and demographic data in one place.
  • Technical assistance to help communities translate data into concrete actionable steps.

E2I2 provides tailored community education and training programs that increase community knowledge about environmental and climate threats and the skills to develop, implement, and sustain their own initiatives to tackle these threats. Power Over Pollution is E2I2’s novel environmental health data literacy training program that helps Environmental Justice communities access, understand, and use data to amplify their stories and develop action plans for change. Power Over Pollution’s overall objective is to improve knowledge about environmental and health data and the self-efficacy and skills to translate data into evidence-based interventions to improve health and wellbeing. We rigorously designed Power Over Pollution based on tested health behavior change theories and state-of-the-art environmental health literacy frameworks. Key Power Over pollution features include:

Environmental Engaged Learning

  • Tailoring each training to the context and training needs of different communities, which range from poor water or air quality to lead contamination to extreme heat.
  • Use of community-centered, participatory, hands-on multi-media activities to build knowledge and skills within a safe learning environment. Fundamental to the learning approach is fostering community among participants and amplifying their connections to the broader community they represent.
  • Learning includes mindfulness breaks, reflections on community strengths and assets, and opportunities for working with different people in different capacities to address the social-emotional needs of adult learners.
Each training follows a similar structure:
  • Module 1 begins with understanding the connection between environmental exposures and health.
  • Module 2 moves onto how environmental data is collected and measured.
  • In module 3, participants learn how to interpret data that is presented in different formats like graphs, charts and GIS maps.
  • In module 4, participants learn ways to protect health from environmental exposures and brainstorm local level action. Every training ends with an action plan developed by all the participants collaboratively to ensure momentum continues after the training concludes.

Using inter-disciplinary and community-based participatory research models, E2I2 conducts the following research and evaluation activities:

  • Conduct community assessments to develop detailed community-specific environmental health and climate profiles.
  • Identify environmental and climate risks in alignment with community priorities.
  • Understand the health, social, and economic impacts of cumulative exposure to environmental and climate threats.
  • Evaluate high and low-tech interventions, programs, and policies that aim to alleviate or eliminate environmental and climate threats.

E2I2 uses a model of partnership and engagement that centers communities as experts about their community. We work with grassroots groups, community-based organizations, faith leaders and institutions, and non-profit organizations to provide the additional technical support they need to meet their goals. We also work with local and state government agencies to facilitate community connections for meaningful engagement. Activities include:

  • Organizing community conversations through community events, such as townhalls.
  • Surveying of community needs.
  • Providing technical support such as project scoping and identification of funding opportunities.

E2I2 develops clean energy, sustainable high and low-tech solutions to environmental and climate threats faced by environmental justice communities. Examples of current projects include:

  • Development of solar-powered, community air monitors custom made to collect real-time, continuous, precise measurements of pollutants of concern to the community.
  • Development of community data dashboards that compile pollution, climate, health, and socioeconomic and demographic data in one place.
  • Development of a solar-powered cooker for communities without access to a reliable electricity source.