Rooted in Connection, Rising in Power
Movement Building & Leadership Development
Our Philosophy
Environmental Justice Requires Relationship-Building and Power-Sharing Across Organizations, Networks, & Movements
We believe that isolated efforts, no matter how well-intentioned, cannot address the scale and complexity of environmental injustice. Instead, we focus on creating spaces where communities can build collective power, coordinate strategies, and leverage shared resources for greater impact.
By investing in community-defined priorities, we nurture the ecosystem of grassroots leadership already reshaping the environmental movement.
Our role isn’t to create something new, but to amplify, connect, and resource the visionary work already happening in communities across the country.
Community-Led
Initiatives
We support and spotlight community-defined priorities and approaches:
Regional Convenings: Gatherings where community members identify shared challenges and opportunities and develop coordinated action plans
Community Research Partnerships: Collaborative research projects that document community experiences and solutions, centering community knowledge as expertise
Storytelling Initiatives: Platforms that amplify community voices and wisdom about environmental justice to shift narratives and influence policy
Community Practice Networks: Learning communities where grassroots leaders share effective approaches and build collective strategy
Collective Action Opportunities
We create infrastructure for coordinated action across organizations and networks:
Resource Sharing Platforms: Tools for redistributing knowledge, funding opportunities, and other resources to build community power
Collaborative Campaigns: Joint initiatives addressing shared environmental justice priorities with coordinated strategy and messaging
Leadership Circles: Ongoing spaces for grassroots leaders to coordinate strategies and support each other’s work across organizations
Regional Advocacy Hubs: These hubs build local power by connecting community members, providing training in advocacy skills, and creating opportunities for collective action that transforms systems
Field Leadership Development
Justice Outside builds powerful networks of grassroots leaders who collectively reshape not just who leads environmental work, but how that leadership operates.
Because connected leaders drive systemic change.
Field Leadership:
Creating Connections That Drive Systemic Change
Who we connect and amplify
We connect leaders across silos, amplify their collective voice, and strengthen their capacity to drive systemic change.
The power of networked leadership
This networked leadership creates exponential impact. By fostering deep relationships across organizations and movements, we enable leaders to coordinate strategy, align resources, and catalyze change at a scale impossible through isolated efforts.
Transforming individual expertise into collective power
Our approach transforms individual expertise into collective power—the essential foundation for sustainable environmental justice movement building.
Justice Outside’s
Field Leadership Programs
Rising Leaders
Fellowship
Transforming Environmental Leadership From Within
This program equips environmental changemakers to shift organizational culture and build community power for systemic change in the environmental movement.
Network for
Network Leaders
Building Collective Power for Systemic Change
This program brings together environmental network leaders to advance equity in outdoor spaces by centering impacted communities, strengthening advocacy, and building meaningful peer connections.