Measuring Community Capacity Using an Environmental Justice Lens

Abstract

Building capacity is fundamental for promoting development of local solutions and enacting broader policy change. However, in the field of environmental justice (EJ), understanding, measuring, and evaluating capacity from a theoretical lens are underutilized. In this study, we measure 10 dimensions of community capacity theory (CCT) and assess their salience in the EJ setting to influence policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) community change. Data for this study are derived from a larger programmatic evaluation of the U.S. EPA’s EJ Academy training program (n = 34; 2016–2019), in which all participants directly applied learned skills to implement a community change project. Participants completed a survey comprising continuous measures assessing each of the 10 dimensions of CCT (n = 55 items); and two categorical environmental change outcomes representing project goal achievement and PSE change. Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to assess the relationship between capacity dimensions and outcome measures. Findings reflect that both project goal achievement and PSE change were significantly associated with CCT dimensions of Resources [H(2) = 6.12, p = 0.05; H(2) = 7.54, p = 0.02] and Sense of Community [H(2) = 11.43, p = 0.00; H(2) = 6.31, p = 0.04], respectively. These dimensions specifically speak to the type of support structures that are instrumental to EJ advocacy work. This study is an initial step in comprehensively measuring 10 complex dimensions of community capacity, showcases the utility in applying a theoretical framework for understanding EJ community change, and can ultimately assist communities in the identification of priority dimensions of focus in working toward achieving PSE change.