Resilience Justice Project

The Resilience Justice Project at the Brandeis School of Law empowers students to confront systemic inequality through legal research, advocacy, and community collaboration. Led by Professor Tony Arnold, the project focuses on how law and policy shape equity, environmental justice, and resilience in low-income communities—particularly communities of color. Through fellowships, internships, and academic engagement, students gain hands-on experience addressing real-world challenges while contributing to innovative solutions that promote justice and sustainability.

Overview & Objectives

The Resilience Justice Project at the Brandeis School of Law equips students to tackle legal and policy challenges related to environmental justice, urban resilience, and community equity. Directed by Professor Tony Arnold, the project focuses on how legal systems can be used to address longstanding disparities in access to environmental, economic, and social resources.

Through interdisciplinary research, policy analysis, and community collaboration, students explore how law intersects with issues like housing, infrastructure, public health, climate resilience, and disaster recovery. The project emphasizes systems thinking and structural reform, encouraging students to consider both legal frameworks and lived experiences when advocating for more equitable outcomes.

Resilience Justice work centers on historically marginalized communities—those that have been overburdened by environmental harms and under-resourced in public investment. Students contribute to legal scholarship, engage with community leaders, and help craft solutions that are both sustainable and just.

Resilience Justice Fellowship

The Resilience Justice Fellowship offers law students the opportunity to develop hands-on experience in public interest law, policy reform, and community-based research. Fellows work closely with Professor Arnold and community partners on projects that examine how the built environment, land use laws, and governance systems can be transformed to promote equity.

The fellowship is ideal for students interested in environmental justice, urban planning, civil rights, or systems-based legal reform. Fellows build expertise in legal research, community engagement, and public policy—and join a growing network of students and professionals committed to building more resilient, equitable communities.

Public Service Internships

In addition to the academic-year fellowship, the Resilience Justice Project offers short-term, pro bono internship opportunities—typically for up to three students each year. These internships often take place over winter break and allow students to earn hours toward the Brandeis School of Law’s Public Service graduation requirement.

Interns contribute to targeted research and policy projects focused on advancing equity in underserved communities. Students benefit from close faculty mentorship, team collaboration, and the opportunity to engage with real-world legal and policy challenges affecting low-income communities of color.

Participants may have the opportunity to:

• Co-author published research
• Contribute to community-centered reform efforts
• Deepen their understanding of systemic injustice and environmental equity
• Build valuable skills in legal analysis, communication, and advocacy

These internships provide a meaningful way for students to apply their education while making a tangible difference through public service.

Our Projects

The Resilience Justice Project supports innovative, student-led projects that explore how legal systems and policies shape equity, environmental justice, and resilience in underserved communities. These projects combine academic research with community partnership, giving students the opportunity to engage directly with systemic challenges while contributing to real-world reform.

Mill Creek Watershed & Community Report
One of the project’s major initiatives is the Mill Creek Watershed and Community Report, which documents environmental and community needs in Southwest Louisville. Based on interviews with local residents and in collaboration with community partners, the report identifies resilience barriers and informs regional watershed planning. A companion summary flyer is in development to make key findings accessible to a wider audience.

National and Local Impact
In addition to work in Kentucky, the Resilience Justice Project has partnered with organizations and government agencies in low-income communities of color across California, Washington D.C., Florida, and beyond. These collaborations have shaped policy reforms, governance structures, and community engagement strategies to advance justice and resilience.

Key Research Themes

• The impact of systemic injustice on a community’s ability to adapt and thrive
• The role of green and blue infrastructure—like parks, streams, and trees—in public health and resilience
• How social capital, trust, and grassroots activism increase community capacity
• The importance of inclusive, bottom-up governance and co-governance models
• Vulnerabilities to climate change, environmental degradation, and displacement
• Gentrification and green gentrification as threats to long-term community vitality

Featured Scholarship
The Resilience Justice Project has produced significant research, including “Resilience Justice and Community-Based Green and Blue Infrastructure” by Professor Tony Arnold and student researchers, published in the William & Mary Environmental Law & Policy Review (2021). This and other publications explore how law can be a tool for building stronger, more equitable communities.

Contact

For more information or to get involved:

Professor Tony Arnold
Director, Resilience Justice Project
tony.arnold@louisville.edu