May 23, 2021 | The Latest News
The Pleasantville neighborhood on Houston’s east side provided Black servicemen an opportunity to own their own homes—something that was hard for them to come by in 1948 due to pervasive housing discrimination. What was designated as a residential area attracted numerous Black families—but it wasn’t long before the neighborhood of opportunity became home to several chemical and manufacturing plants, metal recyclers, and salvage yards, with freight trains and a steady stream of trucks trekking in and out of the residential area, polluting the air and compromising the health of its residents. Yes, things were bad—but just how bad remained a mystery.
Until Bridgette Murray was introduced to the concepts of citizen science and community-university partnerships.
Believing that more data was needed to empower and protect her community, the retired nurse and resident of Pleasantville founded Achieving Community Tasks Successfully (ACTS) in 2012. The Houston-based nonprofit is a grantee of the Women’s Environmental Leadership Fund, (WE LEAD), a Tides Foundation funding initiative that launched in 2020 with an explicit focus on addressing historic inequities by directing resources to Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) leaders and BIWOC-led climate justice organizations.
Since its creation, ACTS has been focused on three core areas: community-led air monitoring, food insecurity, and emergency response.
May 21, 2021 | The Latest News
New Orleans is now on the map as a city that requires renewable energy. The Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard, passed by the New Orleans City Council, mandates that all electricity Entergy supplies to New Orleans comes from renewable and carbon-free energy by 2040, with maximum allowance of 10 percent offsets. The law also requires Entergy to eliminate oil, gas and coal from electricity supplied to our city by 2050. Unfortunately, the law allows Entergy to continue supplying nuclear energy, which is not “renewable” or “clean,” and disproportionately harms Black and Indigenous communities.
The progress achieved by the Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard moves our city forward on avoiding power plant pollution, cutting electric bills, and growing local jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency. This is the result of a more than two-year campaign by the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice and partners in Energy Future New Orleans – Alliance for Affordable Energy, Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance, 350 New Orleans, Audubon Louisiana, PosiGen, Sunrise Movement New Orleans, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, Vote Solar, and sheroes Ms. Dawn Hebert and Ms. Katherine Prevost.
We thank residents across the city who participated in educational symposia, attended town hall meetings, signed petitions, joined virtual Energy & You conversations on Zoom, and made their voices heard this week at the meetings of the City Council and the Council Utility Committee. We appreciate the City Council for taking this step with us.
May 21, 2021 | The Latest News
Today, the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice and groups around the state called on Governor Edwards to set a moratorium on permitting oil, gas, and other industries that release toxic pollution and greenhouse gases in Louisiana. Our letter recognizes that this call has gone unanswered for decades as Black and Indigenous communities in Louisiana have been harmed and displaced by these industries.
This week the International Energy Agency joined the call with a warning to governments and investors to stop new fossil fuel projects in order to avoid the worst of climate change. The time is now for us to center equity in the transition to renewable energy and electrification.
“There can be no climate action without environmental justice. Whether it’s shutting down the Dakota Access Pipeline or making communities greener and healthier, our work with advocates around the world shows that the power for change is in our hands. As a leader in both climate and toxic pollution, there is much we have to do in Louisiana for the people and our future,” said Dr. Beverly Wright, DSCEJ Executive Director.
Read the letter by DSCEJ and groups to Governor Edwards
May 19, 2021 | The Latest News
We will soon have the opportunity to set a new direction for renewable energy in New Orleans that lowers electric bills, creates jobs, and avoids the pollution that harms our neighborhoods and warms our planet. On May 19, 2021 at 10:00 am, City Councilmembers on the utility committee will hold a public meeting to hear residents’ input on the draft Renewable Portfolio Standard or RPS.
Read more on the Council’s draft RPS – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and what you can do to have your voice heard.
Fill out the Public Comment Form and submit it between Tuesday, May 18th and before 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.
May 4, 2021 | The Latest News
PROGRAM MANAGER POSITION
Worker Training Program (WTP)
Position Description – Program Manager
The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice is seeking an experienced Program Manager. We are interested in hiring a highly motivated person who can perform day-to-day administrative duties including tracking data, writing reports, attending WTP meetings and trainings, tracking WTP graduates’ progress, and processing contracts and invoices.
About the Organization
The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families harmed by pollution and vulnerable to climate change in the Gulf Coast Region through research, education, community and student engagement for policy change, as well as health and safety training for environmental careers.
Currently, the DSCEJ employs 13 people. The DSCEJ directs projects involving universities and community-based organizations in seven states.
The DSCEJ was founded by Dr. Beverly Wright in 1992 in collaboration with community environmental groups and universities in the Southern region to advance environmental justice. Since this time, the DSCEJ has become a powerful resource for environmental justice research, education, advocacy, as well as health and safety training for environmental careers.
The DSCEJ provides opportunities for communities, scientific researchers, and decision makers to collaborate on projects that promote the rights of all people to be free from environmental harm as it impacts health, jobs, housing, education, and quality of life. A major goal of the Center continues to be the development of environmental justice leaders in African American and other communities of color along the Mississippi River Chemical Corridor and the broader Gulf Coast Region.
Position Responsibilities
· Incumbent must be experienced in and demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills. The position requires significant report writing, data collection, and communicating with community partners and employment agencies.
· Incumbent will report to the Assistant Director for Training and Operations implementing day to day administration and program activities including tracking data, writing reports, attending WTP meetings and trainings, tracking WTP graduates’ progress, and processing contracts and invoices.
· Requires in-depth knowledge of WTP regulations and laws as well as knowledge of effective case management procedures. The ability to analyze data, problem solve and understand complex situations. The ability to communicate orally and in writing. The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employment agencies and other partner agencies. Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Skills and Qualifications
· Bachelor’s degree in counseling, social work, or a related field.
· Minimum of five years of experience.
· Excellent time management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
· High work ethic and integrity.
· Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel programs, and Google platform.
· A flexible, creative, entrepreneurial spirit and a shared mission, vision, and values of the DSCEJ.
· An approachable nature and ability to handle questions and requests timely.
· Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
· Ability to work independently and complete tasks.
· Ability to contribute and collaborate with the team and across the organization.
· Strong analytical and organizational skills.
· Experience working with diverse constituents, teams, and colleagues.
· Ability to employ flexibility and creativity in the face of ambiguity and challenge.
· Organizational and program management experience.
Salary & Benefits
Competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with qualifications and experience. Salary range: $55-65K.
It is the policy of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
HOW TO APPLY: Please email a detailed cover letter highlighting your interest, your resume and three professional references in Microsoft Word to maryw@dscej.org. Please include the Program Manager Position in the subject line.
