Dodge grantee, the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC), helps environmental commissions in New Jersey as well as individuals, and local and state agencies to preserve natural resources and promote sustainable communities. They are currently accepting applications for their leadership training program, Leading Green, for anyone who wants to create positive environmental change in the cities or developed communities where they live, work or play. The seminars will be conducted between April and September and focus on lobbying, fundraising and creating a promotional campaign.
“We’re looking for individuals who are truly passionate about the environment,” says ANJEC Urban Project Director Kerry Margaret Butch. “This is a unique opportunity to develop the tools, skills and knowledge to turn their passion into effective action and meet like-minded environmentalists from throughout New Jersey.”
Ideal candidates include people who serve on municipal boards and non-profits, committed college students, civic leaders and retirees looking to increase their knowledge of the environment and create workable solutions to environmental issues facing New Jersey, all while improving their leadership skills.
The program offers an overnight retreat and a series of Saturday sessions, each held at different New Jersey locations:
- The April 29th and 30th overnight session at the Kateri Environmental Center in Marlboro will focus on personal leadership style.
- On Saturday, June 4th, discussion topics will be land use and open space preservation and held in Paterson at the Great Falls.
- A Redevelopment session will be held in Asbury Park on Saturday, July 16th.
- Captain Bill Sheehan of Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc. will host an Ecotour of the Hackensack River on Saturday, August 6th.
- On Saturday, September 17th, a session on air quality and public health will be co-hosted by the Ironbound Community Corporation, a nonprofit offering programs and services to improve the quality of life for people in the Ironbound section of Newark.
The nominal tuition fee of $80 covers all five sessions of training, including meals and refreshments. Scholarships are available for those who are unable to pay. This program is made possible in part through a grant from The Fund for New Jersey.
The application deadline is Friday, April 15, 2011. Candidates will be notified for selection on Friday, April 22nd, 2011. For more information or to apply, visit www.anjec.org or call (732) 306-8701.
[In addition to ANJEC, Hackensack Riverkeeper and Ironbound Community Corporation are both Dodge grantees; we also fund The Hamilton Partnership for Paterson, who are focused on revitalizing Paterson with the Great Falls as a major focal point of their efforts. We’re delighted to see these collaborative efforts among our grantees.]