The Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship Program
Summary
In 2024, Black Girl Environmentalist (BGE) committed to the launch of its Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship program, named in honor of Hazel M. Johnson, also known as the mother of environmental justice. She is remembered for her groundbreaking work in addressing toxic pollution in marginalized communities within Chicgao. The 2025 program aims to grow its inaugural cohort from 14 to 18 fellows, with at least two new placements focused on grassroots, people of color-led environmental justice organizations. This 10-week fellowship is designed for early-career Black girls and gender-expansive individuals aspiring to enter the green workforce. The program offers comprehensive training, including hands-on experience in environmental advocacy, mentorship from leading professionals, and opportunities to build strong connections and community. By expanding the fellowship and focusing on grassroots organizations, BGE seeks to amplify the voices of those directly affected by environmental issues and foster a more inclusive and diverse green movement.
Approach
Black Girl Environmentalist (BGE) commits to launching the 2025 Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship program with a scaling effort to increase the inaugural cohort from 14 to 18 fellows, with at least two new fellowship placements supporting grassroots, POC-led environmental justice organizations. Additionally, six of these fellowship placements will be reserved for college students and recent graduates local to the Gulf South. In this critical geography for climate progress, many climate justice organizations lack the capacity and financial support to onboard interns or fellows.
This 10-week paid climate internship program is designed to increase opportunities for emerging leaders of color, particularly Black women and gender-expansive individuals. It aims to provide these leaders with the necessary funding, mentorship, and community support to learn about, engage with, and enter the environmental and climate sectors. The Fellowship targets rising juniors, rising seniors, and recent college graduates who have a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in these critical fields.
As part of this scaling commitment, BGE pledges to provide six grassroots environmental justice organizations in the Gulf South with the support of six fellows free of charge. BGE will cover the financial cost of the fellows, including an hourly wage of $20, a $5,000 living wage stipend, weekly professional development support, and an end-of-summer retreat. BGE will source the fellows and assist the organizations in obtaining additional financial support to extend the fellowships beyond the 10-week timeline. Lastly, BGE will collaborate with the six organizations to create mini videos showcasing the work of the interns at each organization.
Action Plan
College end dates for the spring semester vary. Because of these varied dates, the fellowship will have rolling start dates. The exact start and end dates will depend on the partner organization.
The earliest start for a fellow begins on May 28, 2025 and the latest start date will be June 10, 2025. All fellowships must end on or before August 16, 2025. November 18, 2024: Partner organization application opens
February 12, 2025: Partner organization applications close
February 16, 2025: Partner organization decisions made
February 19, 2025: Fellowship application opens
March 2, 2025: Prospective fellow webinar #1
March 19, 2025: Prospective fellow webinar #2
March 29, 2025: Fellowship application closes
April 1 – April 26, 2025: Fellow Interviews
April 30, 2025: Partner organizations select fellows
May 28 – August 16, 2025: Rolling fellowship program dates
Mid August: In-person fellow retreat
Background
The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that by 2030, the green economy could create 24 million jobs worldwide. Despite this growth, Black talent remains significantly underrepresented in the green economy, raising concerns of environmental justice. People of color constitute nearly 40% of the U.S. population, yet their representation in the green sector does not exceed 16%. Particularly troubling is the retention rate of Black women, which is the lowest of any group.
This underrepresentation is not just a statistic; it reflects a broader issue of inequality in environmental decision-making. To address this, the green jobs sector must develop and invest in workforce pathways that actively engage and onboard emerging climate talent of color. Confronting this leadership gap requires an environmental justice approach, ensuring that all communities have a voice in shaping the future of our planet.
In response to this challenge, Black Girl Environmentalist launched the Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship program in the summer of 2024, named in honor of Hazel M. Johnson, the mother of the environmental justice movement.
Progress Update
Partnership Opportunities
Black Girl Environmentalist will spend the next 6 months identifying financial partners to help actualize this commitment., Black Girl Environmentalist will be covering the full cost of six HMJ fellows at each partner organization. This includes their $20 per hour wage, a $5,000 living wage stipend, and costs associated with the in-person retreat. Additionally, the organization will lead the recruitment of the fellows and co-create digital assets that highlight the work of the organization on key social media platforms.