Mission

The Sustainable Communities Leadership Program is an initiative of the Environmental Careers Organization, Inc (ECO). It focuses in California on fostering sustainable communities through developing diverse leaders through experience, mentoring, and shared learning. SCLP hosts fellows who work from three to six months on innovative sustainability projects with private, public and non-profit agencies focused on affordable housing, land conservation, urban sprawl, transportation and a range of other issues while receiving leadership training and building a learning community.

Issues

Affordable Housing, Land Conservation, Urban Sprawl, Transportation, Civic Participation, Community Economic Development, Environmental Justice, Marine Conservation, Water Issues, Brownfields, Smart Growth

Activities

Leadership Training, Networking, Education

Programs/
Projects

Some of the current projects in the Bay Area are focused on: establishing brownfield cleanup goals; providing outreach to Latino and Asian communities in building smart growth coalitions; researching the policy implications of California water planning to low-income communities of color, including environmental and drinking water quality, local economic and environmental sustainability, and access and management of water resources; developing an Equitable Development Toolkit that utilizes a race analysis of development decisions, promotes cultural continuity, and enables community residents and advocates to advance equitable development.

Constitutency

The Sustainable Communities Leadership Program works with organizations working on sustainability issues throughout California to build short-term capacity while developing long-term leadership in the field. Emerging leaders are currently defined as undergraduate and graduate students who show tremendous promise in the sustainability field. SCLP is also developing programs to work with young professionals already associated with organizations and communities.

Geographical Focus

Statewide

Staff

3

Volunteers

Volunteer research, education and outreach positions available.

Membership Base

Several thousand dues paying members. Dues are on a sliding scale, starting at $35/year

Publications

Monthly leadership tips and program news on-line; Twice yearly newsletter Connecting Communities in print and on-line beginning Fall 2002

Annuual Budget

$500,000 - $1,000,000

Year Founded

1999