UniEcoBudget Working Group

The resource for grassroots, community, environmental groups.

For Citizens, by citizens.

Together, at the grassroots level, we can achieve environmental justice.

The Buckeye Environmental Network (BEN) was founded in 1996 when environmental activists joined together in an effort to assist communities learn how to demand and achieve their rights to a safe and clean environment. BEN incorporated as a 501(c)(3) environmental organization in 1998.

BEN is a unique environmental organization. Unlike traditional environmental advocacy groups that define problems and set an agenda, BEN works with community groups to identify and solve the issues that are the basis of their concerns. We believe that local citizens with local knowledge must identify problems and drive solutions. We believe that communities can achieve lasting environmental benefits by having access to resources and participating in environmental decision making.

Our mission at BEN is to assist communities with their immediate environmental concerns and to leave those communities better equipped to deal with future environmental issues on their own.



BEN's mission is to assist grassroots community activists by doing the following:

• Educate citizens on their rights to and opportunities for participation in the environmental decision making process.
• Educate citizens on what environmental information is available and how to obtain it.
• Educate citizens on how to interpret data obtained through research.
• Conduct limited research and evaluation of the communities’ environmental problems.
• Build the capacity of grassroots neighborhood groups to take control of and affect solutions for environmental problems in their neighborhoods.
• Provide information and tactics that will propel local environmental problems to the forefront both within their community and in the media.
• Empower citizens to confront regulatory leaders and compel them to act positively to protect the community.
• Provide strategic planning by developing a positive plan of action that will create a safer environment for their community.
• Support communities in their efforts to eliminate environmental threats to public health.
• Work statewide to bring community groups together to share information, knowledge, and experience in order to encourage unity in combating dangers to public health.