NEW ORLEANS, May 21, 2024 — Dr. Beverly Wright, the founder and executive director of the longest serving environmental justice resource center, will be honored by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Museum and Education Center which is hosting its grand opening today in Washington, D.C.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized in this permanent exhibit at the National Environmental Museum and Education Center,” said Dr. Wright. “This museum is an important reflection of the triumphs and challenges that I hope will educate and inspire more champions.”
Dr. Beverly Wright is a scholar, advocate, author, civic leader, professor of Sociology, and the Founder and Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ), the first-ever environmental justice center in the United States. Under the Biden administration, Dr. Wright was appointed to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, where she advises on how the federal government can address current and historic environmental injustices.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Dr. Wright has experienced and witnessed the polluting effects of Cancer Alley–an 85-mile stretch of land between Baton Rouge and New Orleans that is home to over 150 petrochemical plants and refineries– her entire life. She has dedicated over three decades of her life advocating for environmental justice and tirelessly addressing the disproportionate impacts of environmental issues on marginalized communities. Wright’s work has left an indelible mark on local communities, national policies and the international EJ movement.
The National Environmental Museum and Education Center, located at EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., which opened in April, held its official grand opening ceremony on May 21, 2024.
To learn more about Dr. Beverly Wright, please visit https://dscej.org/beverly-wright/
