Background: WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a nonprofit organization whose work centers around three pillars: research, community organizing, and advocacy. Through long standing partnerships with academic institutions such as Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health and the NIEHS Center in Northern Manhattan, WE ACT has fostered opportunities for the translation of research conducted by both academic institutions and community members living in Northern Manhattan.

Methods: One tool that WE ACT uses to disseminate research is the Environmental Health and Justice Leadership Training (EHJLT) Program: a 10 week course where a cohort of 25 community members are introduced to environmental concerns affecting Northern Manhattan such as Clean Air Quality, Food Justice, Toxic Products, Affordable Transportation, Healthy Indoor Environments, among others. Guest presenters who are lead investigators or have expertise in the field are also invited to share their findings.

Results/Conclusion: Surveys collected at the beginning and end of the program demonstrated an increase in environmental health literacy. Graduates of the EHJLT program build upon the knowledge they gain by participating in campaign specific working groups, lobbying to pass statewide initiatives such as the Child Safe Products Act, and giving testimony at public hearings. Translating scientific evidence into sound policy is necessary for the creation and sustainability of healthy and equitable communities. Training programs similar to the EHJLT can be a helpful and replicable model in disseminating research and fostering capacity to decrease health disparities from the ground up.