Health and Environmental Justice: FACES School

Health & Env Just.

    -- Education
    -- Public Policy
    -- Food Justice Now!

SVTC PROGRAMS
  Sustainable Production
  ICRT

Search svtc.org

SVTC HOME > TIERRA VIVA: HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROJECT > FACES

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOOL (FACES)

Tierra Viva has been engaging in education programs for the past seven years. Our main education program is called FACES - Family and Community Environmental School. The FACES curriculum is designed to teach people about toxics in their environment and how they can reduce exposure; introduce people to the environments in which they live; develop women's leadership; and promote creative solutions and collective action for social change.

NEW UPDATES:

Tierra Viva is publishing our FACES 2 Leadership Academy Curriculum Manual. This 8-week curriculum is designed for low-income Latina women immigrants to understand their environments, develop their leadership to organize for change and deepen their political analysis. Look for it this summer!!!
    To see sample curriculum - CLICK HERE!
    To download an order form - CLICK HERE!
    Note these are PDF files that require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Tierra Viva is revamping our FACES 1 curriculum to add updated information about toxics and the environment, include a deeper look at environments like our homes, healthcare facilities and food systems.

Tierra Viva is developing a Train the Trainers series to equip our members to facilitate FACES 1 series on their own! To get involved in this exciting project, (contact Luisa@lchavarin@svtc.org)

More about FACES:

"When I first came to the FACES Leadership Academy, I was not very optimistic about the problems in my community. As I participated in the class, my thinking began to change and I realized that it is when we get involved and start acting that we find solutions and take care of our communities."
(Cecilia Ceballos, FACES Leadership Academy Graduate)

The FACES training unfolds in two stages:

The first phase, knows as FACES I, is an 8-week, 20-hour intensive course designed primarily to teach community members to identify household hazardous chemicals and possible environmental sources of toxic exposure. The training moves through the different environments community members are likely to lead their lives in - including the home, street, neighborhood, health clinic and food stores. Through popular education techniques, FACES participants talk about the issues impacting their various environments, learn new information about pollution, inequities and health impacts and begin to think about collective solutions to social problems.

The second phase of the FACES curriculum is designed for FACES 1 graduates who are interested in developing their leadership skills further, interested in community organizing and ready to learn more. This 8-week FACES 2 Leadership Academy, uncovers different aspects of the community and looks deeper at the environments in which we live. Participants start by understanding immigration, and the history of the San Jose political system. They then delve deeper into themselves by thinking about the role of women, machismo and women's leadership in social change. Participants discuss their ideal leaders and begin to envision themselves as change agents. The curriculum ends with activities and discussions around community organizing and collective strategies for social change. Graduates of FACES 2 can participate in our Leadership body that meets every week to plan Tierra Viva's work.
FACES Successes
Leadership Academy Graduation
FACES First graduation

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition 760 N. First Street San Jose, CA 95112 Phone: +1 408-287-6707
Fax: +1 408-287-6771 e-mail: svtc@svtc.org
PRIVACY POLICY