Analyze

Favelas in RJ state are often located on hills, which served as refuge for enslaved people - after the abolition of slavery (1888) - and immigrants, who worked for downtown citizens. The Law of lands (1850) prevented unoccupied lands to be owned through labour and provided government subsidies for the arrival of foreign settlers to be hired in the country, further devaluing the work of black men and women. As a result, favelas today are mostly composed of a black population, surviving decades of persecutions and low incomes while defending, preserving and creating a unique culture rooted in African origins that reverberates into music and the arts. Children in favelas, due to social and economical inequality and racial discrimination, have less possibility of personal development and professional realization. They attend public schools where in 2021, according to SAEB, students do not reach a satisfactory level in Portuguese language (69%) and math (95%).

They hardly have access to after-school courses and do not tend to see themselves represented in the academic community. This produces a disadvantage in access to higher education and consequently in opportunities for decent employment. The project Closer to the Sky aims at co-producing scientific knowledge in collaboration between astronomers and artists/educators living in the favela of Cantagalo Pavão Pavdosinho (PPG, RJ, Brazil), for children, teenagers and young adults of the community. We will work in close collaboration with the social project Ninho das Aguias, where classes and night sky observations will be held.
Offering extracurricular courses and cultural experiences to students in the PPG, we wish to enrich their school curriculum and strengthen the chance they wish to stay in education after secondary school. A key element of the courses is providing positive role models of scientists from Afrodescendant backgrounds, reinforced by the presence of local artists and educators, thus endorsing their role within the academic community. The project also creates just work opportunities for local artists and educators, who will offer workshops rooted in favela culture, while at the same time creating novel, decolonial courseware based on contextualized science, i.e materials that use the context of marginalized societies as examples where we can understand, learn and make science. The material developed within the project will be shared as Open Educational Resources in several languages.

Barbosa Araujo, Claudio Alberto. 2023. "Closer to the Sky." In 4S Paraconference X EiJ: Building a Global Record, curated by Misria Shaik Ali, Kim Fortun, Phillip Baum and Prerna Srigyan. Annual Meeting of the Society of Social Studies of Science, Honolulu, Hawaii, Nov 8-11.

1. How does the organization intend to push the Inland Empire towards a zero-emissions, sustainable, regenerative society? What does this vision look like and how can we get there?

2. How does the organization approach diversity, equity, and inclusion issues within its own structure and in its work with external partners?

3. How does the organization balance its advocacy and direct service work?

4. How does the organization ensure transparency and accountability in its operations?

The CCAEJ addresses environmental injustices and promotes sustainability within the Inland Empire community. AAdvocating for these policies that promote environmental justice engages polluters to be held accountable for their presence. The organization can achieve a more just and equitable society beyond heavy industry. The CCAEJ work to empower residents to have a voice in the decisions that directly affect their health, well-being, and homes, promoting democratic participation and good governance.  

Past media coverage sportrays CCAEJ as a vocal and effective advocate for environmental justice in California, specifically for the Inland Empire region. Their website has a resource tab that features the organization's work covered in various news outlets, including local newspapers and national magazines. Some media reports include the organization's successful campaigns, such as the Indirect Source and Advanced Clean Truck Rule.

CCAEJ functions within the environmental justice movement, a sector that seeks to address the unequal distribution of environmental burdens and benefits that often fall along racial and socioeconomic lines. The organization is based in California's Inland Empire region, known for its heavy industry, poor air quality, and high rates of poverty and pollution-related health problems. Within this regional ecology, CCAEJ has established itself as a prominent community-based organization that advocates for the health and well-being of residents disproportionately impacted by pollution and other environmental hazards. The organization works closely with community members, government agencies, and other organizations to advance environmental justice goals and promote sustainable and equitable development.

 The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ) collaborates with various organizations, including labor, faith-based, LGBTQIA, immigration, and prison reform/abolitionist organizations. For example, the organization has worked with groups such as Sierra Club, Earthjustice, Robert Redford Conservancy for Southern California Sustainability, and the California Environmental Justice Alliance on various campaigns and initiatives related to environmental justice.

 CCAEJ is likely to face many challenges and concerns regarding the problem spaces in which they work, which would include environmental injustice, community health, and land use planning. Some examples might include lack of political will, limited resources, complex and interconnected problems, systemic barriers, and community engagement and empowerment.

1. This organization does not explicitly state that its approach to addressing environmental justice issues is unique; however, in this project and reviewing other organizations, I was surprised to see on their website they do outwardly believe in a zero-emission future and regenerative and sustainable economies. Given precedent, this could be perceived as quite a radical approach, especially to corporations or other stakeholders seeking to profit from the industrial landscape of the Inland Empire. 

The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice produces and shares a variety of data and research related to its focus areas, including environmental justice, community health, and land use planning. The organization conducts original research, partners with academic institutions and other organizations to produce reports, and compiles and analyzes data from various sources. The organization's approach to evaluating and monitoring the credibility of the information it uses and circulates likely involves a combination of internal review and external validation.

 CCAEJ engages in a range of initiatives to address environmental health and justice issues in California's Inland Empire region. Some illustrative examples of the organization's work include Environmental justice advocacy, community-based research, education and outreach, coalition building, and environmental health monitoring. CCAEJ's initiatives are designed to promote environmental health and justice in the Inland Empire by empowering community members, conducting research, providing education and outreach, building coalitions, and monitoring environmental health conditions.