Why it Matters

Social Entrepreneurial Leaders Enabling Climate Transitions (SELECT) fosters social and economic inclusion while strengthening community capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The impacts of climate change are unfairly and disproportionately experienced by those who contribute least to the problem. For example, racialized communities are statistically more likely to live in poverty, consume less, and therefore emit less pollution. However, these communities experience extreme weather while accessing fewer resources to both mitigate and adapt to climate impacts. The SELECT program enables communities experiencing multiple barriers to lead local climate solutions.

 

About the Program

SELECT leverages the green leadership potential of highly motivated organizers and social entrepreneurs from Ontario's diverse communities. The program builds the capacity of organizers to help their communities “select” their future by:​

• Bringing new voices into environmental discourse

• Slowing the pace and reducing the negative impacts of climate change

• Exploring new climate-ready jobs

• Strengthening friendships and social capital

 

SELECT is open to adults of any age and professional background in Ontario. We especially encourage social leaders from communities facing multiple barriers including Indigenous people, racialized people, newcomers, LGBTQ2IAA persons, and persons with Disabilities / Disabled people.

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“As a result of my participation, I met like-minded, passionate and ambitious community leaders while also receiving the resources, support and knowledge that I was looking for.” - Nicole Doray, SELECT Fellow

 

Program Objectives:

 

Strengthen Leadership Capacity - Participants increase their knowledge, confidence, and resources to integrate climate-focused initiatives into their community-based work. These leaders learn about climate justice, mitigation and adaptation concepts, and evidence-informed outreach tools.

 

Engage Community - Participants launch their own climate initiatives in their communities, accessing coaching for project design and implementation, and seed funds for project costs.

 

Build Peer Networks - Participants build a network within the program and with other program alumni. The program continues to invest as participant initiatives as they grow.

Key Dates

• September 24, 2018: Program applications close   **NEWS: Application due date extended 3 days from 21->24!

• September 28, 2018: Participants confirmed

• October 17, 2018; Mandatory: Launch and first session of SELECT (evening program)

• October 18-19, 2018; Mandatory: Two full training days of SELECT (daytime program)

• November 2018: Optional “deep dive” workshops

• November 2018 – April 2019: Participants carry out community project

 

Enviromentum collaboratively delivers SELECT with the School of Social Entrepreneurs Ontario (SSE). SSE hosted an information session on Wednesday September 12.  A recording of the info session is available here.

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SELECT is supported, in part, by The Atmospheric Fund and the Catherine Donnelly Foundation.