The DSCEJ Training Institute serves as the primary educational arm of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. Its mission is to build the legacy of DSCEJ as a leader in environmental justice education by creating learning content, supporting learner engagement, and implementing the Communiversity Model.

The Training Institute implemented a multi-pronged approach focused on infrastructure, instructional design, and inter-departmental collaboration.

• Centralized Infrastructure: The team adopted the Absorb Learning Management System (LMS) to store curricula, enhance learning through interactive features, and manage course enrollments.
• Standardized Instructional Design: To ensure high-quality content, the institute adopted the ADDIE model (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluation). This framework ensures that every curriculum is aligned with program goals and learner needs, from initial conception to final evaluation.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Success depended on tight alignment across the organization. The Training Institute collaborated with:

• • The Communications team to build branding strategies for course launches.
  • The Research department to ensure technical accuracy in curricula like Air Monitoring and GIS mapping.
  • The Evaluation department to track outcomes and learner progress in Salesforce.  

Key initiatives included launching the Environmental Justice Core Curriculum, revising the Water Justice Training Institute (WJTI) curriculum, and implementing webinars for Community-Based Organizations.

The Training Institute will continue to serve as a sustainable vehicle for learning that increases community capacity and self-determination. By prioritizing the development of the Environmental Justice Core Curriculum, the Institute is building the infrastructure necessary to support community-led advocacy for years to come.

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