Academic Institutions - Communities - Agencies Network (ACA-NET) was a multi-year, colloborative research effort that provided technical assistance to environmentally impacted communities of color. The development of ACA-NET led to the creation of a strategic community, capacity-building model for environmental justice communities regarding the assessment and remediation of threats from the release of hazardous substances to human health. Throughout its existence, ACA-NET convened hundreds of environmental justice stakeholders from across the nation to,
- conduct research;
- develop a model to enhance citizen participation in Superfund related decision-making;
- collect and analyze data;
- identify existing and relevant federal partnerships;
- research barriers to effective interagency coordination;
- conduct a research colloquirium to identify resources;
- research and evaluate the effectiveness of computer technologies in networking with people of color communities; and
- compose environmental reports.
The ACA-NET partnership supported the prime value that (1) every human being has the right to live in toxic-free environments that included sustainable economic development practices; and (2) every person had the right to the benefit of clean air, clean water and a healthy environment at home, work, play and places of learning. ACA-NET was the result of the necessity to develop mechanisms for communities to respond to environmental hazards, problems, contamination, health impacts, public decision-maing and problem-solving without maintaining a staff and a budget. ACA-NET was about leveraging resources, building partnerships, solving problems and revitalizing neighborhoods.
Mission Statement:Our mission is to enhance the capacity of and build lasting partnerships with historicall Black colleges and universities and minority institutions (HBCU/MI) with the support of federal agencies to implement environmenal justice, public health and economic redevelopment initiatives through a nationwide network that will provide education and support to impaired and disadvantaged communities of color.
Emergency Communities:
- Stamps Pride Addition Community - Stamps, Arkansas
- East Side Community - Warren, Arkansas
- Crownpoint Community - Crown Point, New Mexico
- Burgaw Community - Burgaw, North Carolina
- Baltimore City - Baltimore, MD
- Hudson Hill Community - Savannah, GA
Former ACA-NET Consultants/Staff:
- Uzenzile Robinson
- the late Dana "Omawalie" Edwards
- Dr. Kyle Bryant