Agents of Change in Environmental Justice
Hosted by the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University
National (based in New York, NY)
Focus Areas: Environment • Health Equity • Narrative Change • Public Policy
Audience: BIPOC scholars • Public health professionals • EJ communities
Tools: Fellowship • Op-Eds • Podcast • Narrative Advocacy
Overview
Agents of Change in Environmental Justice is a national fellowship program that supports early-career BIPOC scientists and leaders to shape public conversations and policy on climate, health, and justice. By combining storytelling, research, and advocacy, it transforms who is seen—and heard—as an expert in environmental justice.
Why It Matters
Most environmental policies are shaped without the voices of communities most impacted. Agents of Change shifts that balance by empowering underrepresented scholars to lead in media, science, and policymaking—redefining power, participation, and truth in public health and environmental spaces.
How It Aligns with The Change Lab
Agents of Change in EJ models the civic transformation The Change Lab works to advance:
Equity in voice and leadership
Narrative change as a tool for justice
Systems thinking grounded in lived experience
Their work bridges research and reality, helping grow a democracy that listens, learns, and belongs to all.
Key Programs
Fellowship Program
A year-long experience supporting BIPOC scholars and advocates to grow their leadership, write with impact, and engage in public life. 👉 Meet the Fellows
Op-Eds & Essays
Original writing by fellows that blends personal experience and professional insight to drive change. 👉 Read Op-Eds
Agents of Change Podcast
Nationally recognized podcast featuring movement leaders, researchers, and policymakers in candid conversation. 👉 Listen Now
Strategic Alignment
Primary Domains:
🌎 Environment 🏥 Health ⚙️ Systems Change
Pathway Subjects:
🗣 Storytelling & Narrative
📢 Community Voice & Power
📣 Public Advocacy
Engagement Pathways:
• Share Your Story
• Join an Advocacy Campaign
Role in the Ecosystem
Lead Org – designs and runs national programming
Research Partner – bridges academia and public discourse
Community Ally – centers lived experience in public health
📶 Engagement Levels:
Level 2: Exploration & Expression
Level 3: Participation & Practice
Level 4: Advocacy & Accountability
Equity Lenses Applied:
• Intersectionality
• Belonging & Inclusion
• Civic Imagination
• Racial Justice
• Systems Thinking
Context
Geography: National (U.S.), hosted in NYC
Population Focus: BIPOC scholars, public health leaders, and EJ advocates
Stage of Relationship: Prospective
Notes: Strong alignment with Change Lab storytelling and advocacy tracks. Prominent voice in national EJ dialogue.
