| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.06 |
| Liaison | Daniela Shebitz |
| Submission Date | Dec. 11, 2023 |
Kean University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Daniela
Shebitz Professor Environmental and Sustainability Sciences |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Local advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
The Center for the Urban Environment (CUE), which is located at Kean University (and Directed by Senior VP Joe Youngblood and VP Barbara George Johnson) works with politicians to endorse legislation to protect communities Of Color and low-income communities from disproportionately high amounts of pollution by addressing environmental justice (EJ) issues on the local, state and national levels. CUE works closely with the EJ advocacy community and is involved with important issues such as reducing particulate matter air pollution, climate change, energy policy, cumulative impacts, access to the natural environment and increasing the capacity of the EJ community to address these and other issues.
The Director of the Center for the Urban Environment at Kean University’s John S. Watson Institute, Nicky Sheats, Ph.D., received a 2023 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award, a premier honor recognizing outstanding environmental work in New Jersey.
Sheats was recognized for his instrumental role in the development and passage of New Jersey’s landmark environmental justice law, and his work establishing pollution reduction policies.
“His recent efforts seek to integrate environmental justice in climate mitigation policies called Mandatory Emissions Reductions (MER) that target reductions of associated co-pollutants, along with greenhouse gas emissions, and which impact overburdened communities,” DEP said in a statement.
https://www.kean.edu/news/nicky-sheats-phd-receives-governors-environmental-excellence-award
https://www.kean.edu/watson-institute/about-center-urban-environment
The Director of the Center for the Urban Environment at Kean University’s John S. Watson Institute, Nicky Sheats, Ph.D., received a 2023 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award, a premier honor recognizing outstanding environmental work in New Jersey.
Sheats was recognized for his instrumental role in the development and passage of New Jersey’s landmark environmental justice law, and his work establishing pollution reduction policies.
“His recent efforts seek to integrate environmental justice in climate mitigation policies called Mandatory Emissions Reductions (MER) that target reductions of associated co-pollutants, along with greenhouse gas emissions, and which impact overburdened communities,” DEP said in a statement.
https://www.kean.edu/news/nicky-sheats-phd-receives-governors-environmental-excellence-award
https://www.kean.edu/watson-institute/about-center-urban-environment
Regional advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
Kean University is home to the Urban Mayors Association, which is directed by Barbara George Johnson, Vice President of External Affairs and Urban Policy and Research at Kean University and Dr. Joseph Youngblood, II, the Senior Vice President for Transformational Learning and External Affairs at Kean University.
Established in 1991, the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA) is dedicated to working with state and federal lawmakers and officials to develop appropriate and effective public policy measures that benefit the state's urban centers and to help lawmakers understand how public policy affects New Jersey's cities and municipalities.
Recently, the NJUMA worked with the Governor's Office to address issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including access to testing and vaccines, ensuring educational opportunities in a new virtual learning environment, and finding ways to offer financial assistance to cities and their residents. The NJUMA was able to use this information to directly address these issues with the Governor’s Office. Currently, the NJUMA is working with the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission and statewide officials on establishing an equitable cannabis industry.
https://www.kean.edu/new-jersey-urban-mayors-policy-center
The policy advocacy from the Watson Institute has the implicit support of the institution’s top administrators and governing bodies.
Established in 1991, the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association (NJUMA) is dedicated to working with state and federal lawmakers and officials to develop appropriate and effective public policy measures that benefit the state's urban centers and to help lawmakers understand how public policy affects New Jersey's cities and municipalities.
Recently, the NJUMA worked with the Governor's Office to address issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including access to testing and vaccines, ensuring educational opportunities in a new virtual learning environment, and finding ways to offer financial assistance to cities and their residents. The NJUMA was able to use this information to directly address these issues with the Governor’s Office. Currently, the NJUMA is working with the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission and statewide officials on establishing an equitable cannabis industry.
https://www.kean.edu/new-jersey-urban-mayors-policy-center
The policy advocacy from the Watson Institute has the implicit support of the institution’s top administrators and governing bodies.
National advocacy
Yes
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
The President of Kean University, Dr. Lamont Repollet, sits on the Board of the African American Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Through this foundation, he has worked to endorse U.S. House of Representatives "Leading Global Innovation Resolution" to Address the Chinese Communist Party's 'Made in China 2025' Plan: A Bipartisan Call to Action for Congress, the Federal Government, and Private Industry to Bolster U.S. Innovation and Support Workers." Colloquially known as the "Leading Global Innovation Resolution” (Resolution), the Resolution condemns the unfair trade practices associated with the CCP's "Made in China 2025" (MIC2025) science and technology strategy.
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/AACCNJ-Endorses-U-S--House-of-Rep---Leading-Global-Innovation-Resolution-.html?soid=1103630347928&aid=2qw_PH2WXmM
In addition, in 2022, Nicky Sheats from Kean's Watson Institute (overseen by VP George Johnson and Senior VP Younglood) testified Before Congress in Support of Environmental Justice Bill that would protect urban and underserved neighborhoods from pollution.
https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/watson-institutes-nicky-sheats-esq-ph-d-testifies-congress-support-environmental-justice-bill/
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/AACCNJ-Endorses-U-S--House-of-Rep---Leading-Global-Innovation-Resolution-.html?soid=1103630347928&aid=2qw_PH2WXmM
In addition, in 2022, Nicky Sheats from Kean's Watson Institute (overseen by VP George Johnson and Senior VP Younglood) testified Before Congress in Support of Environmental Justice Bill that would protect urban and underserved neighborhoods from pollution.
https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/watson-institutes-nicky-sheats-esq-ph-d-testifies-congress-support-environmental-justice-bill/
International advocacy
No
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
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Optional Fields
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None
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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