In 2025, Land Together and the Ella Baker for Human Rights Center will launch California’s first Prison Environmental Justice Advisory Board to build the capacity of people in prison and reentry to have a meaningful voice in government decision-making processes related to environmental and climate justice issues that directly impact their lives. The advisory board is part of a larger initiative that includes training and leadership development in 9 California prisons.

The Advisory Board's objectives over three years include:

• Raising awareness of the climate and environmental challenges faced by incarcerated populations. 

• Equipping those disproportionately impacted by environmental and climate hazards with the knowledge and skills to successfully engage in public processes.

• Creating actionable recommendations for leaders at all levels of government

  We’re recruiting for our inaugural cohort.

  
  
  Applications are due March 25, 2025, by 5 pm.
  

Why this work matters:
California faces severe climate challenges, such as wildfires, heat, and flooding, that disproportionately impact incarcerated individuals reliant on the government for their safety. Events like the 2025 Los Angeles fires and the 2023 Tulare Lake flooding highlight this urgency.California faces severe climate challenges, such as wildfires, heat, and flooding, that disproportionately impact incarcerated individuals reliant on the government for their safety. Events like the 2025 Los Angeles fires and the 2023 Tulare Lake flooding highlight this urgency.

Further, the environmental movement has largely overlooked the disproportionate effects of climate change and environmental injustice on incarcerated individuals. Advocacy for prison reform related to environmental hazards has often been overlooked by policymakers. Land Together's efforts to bridge gaps and educate stakeholders about the intersectionality of these pressing issues fill a critical gap.

More Information: For more information about the Advisory Board or to join our efforts, please email Eric Henderson. Stay up to date with the Advisory Board’s work by signing up for LT’s email list and following us on Instagram at @land.together