Environmental Justice Voice Mid-Year Magazine 2025
MID-YEAR MAGAZINE
July 2025 Edition
IN THIS EDITION:
- Community & Partner Engagement
- Worker Training Program Graduation and Highlights
- Student Engagement
- Conference Recap Report
- AND MORE!
Join us for a Community Forum and Book Signing
Environmental Justice Pioneers and Torchbearers: Passing the Torch to Elevate the Voices of Emerging EJ Leaders
We are excited to announce the upcoming Community Forum titled “Environmental Justice Pioneers and Torchbearers: Passing the Torch to Elevate the Voices of Emerging EJ Leaders.” This forum, which will kick off our 10th Anniversary HBCU Climate Change Conference, is designed to be a collaborative space, reflecting the mission of the HBCU Climate Change Consortium in integrating grassroots voices with academic insights.
There will be a dynamic dialogue that harnesses the wisdom of seasoned advocates alongside the creativity and enthusiasm of our emerging leaders.
This event is free and open to the public.
Local media are welcome to attend.
Community Forum Panelists:
Environmental Justice Pioneers:
- Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO, National Newspaper Publisher Association
- Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder and Executive Director, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
- Dr. Robert D. Bullard, Founding Director, Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University
- Peggy M. Shepard, Co-founder & Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
- Vernice Miller-Travis, Executive Vice President, Metropolitan Group
- Donele Wilkins, Founder & CEO, Green Door Initiative
- Dr. Paul Mohai, Professor, University of Michigan, School of Environment and Sustainability
Climate Change Conference Student Alumni:
- Dr. Dominic J. Bednar, Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy, University of California, Irvine
- Dr. Michelle Dovil, Research Scientist, Adjunct Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology, Howard University
- Simone English, Community Resilience & Stakeholder Engagement Program Manager, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
- Dr. Alexandria McBride, Senior Program Officer, Waverley Street Foundation
- Dr. Regan Patterson, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
- Dr. Joy Semien, Founder, Leeding With Joy
- Steven Washington, Community Engagement Assistant Director, Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, Texas Southern University
Our evening will begin with an inspiring keynote address from Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., African-American activist, author, journalist, and the current president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. In 1981, Dr. Chavis coined the phrase “environmental racism” after he was arrested for protesting North Carolina’s decision to dump tons of toxic waste in poor, predominantly Black Warren County. The attention garnered by the demonstrations in Warren County laid the foundation for the environmental justice movement in the United States. Dr. Chavis remains active in the environmental justice movement.
We’ll also feature a spoken word performance by local poet Sunni Patterson. A New Orleans native and visionary, she is an internationally acclaimed poet, performer, workshop facilitator, certified spiritual life coach/consultant, and an initiated priestess and minister.
A book signing will immediately follow the forum featuring Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. (The Transatlantic Slave Trade), Dr. Robert D. Bullard and Dr. Beverly Wright (The Wrong Complexion for Protection).
Limited seating is available.
DATE: Wednesday, 3/5/2025
TIME: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
LOCATION: JW Marriott – 614 Canal St.
New Orleans, LA (Vieux Carré- Level 3)
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, in collaboration with the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University, will host the 10th Anniversary HBCU Climate Change Conference, happening in-person from March 5 to 9, 2025 at the JW Marriott in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Media please RSVP to:
Ginger LeBlanc
media@dscej.org
Questions? Conference Contact
Mary I. Williams
hbcuconf@dscej.org
DSCEJ Welcomes New Director of Community and Partner Engagement
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Ragan Collins as the new Director of Community and Partner Engagement at the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice.
With a rich background in community organizing and advocacy, Ragan brings a wealth of experience that perfectly aligns with our mission to uplift marginalized communities and drive systemic change.
Ragan’s expertise in building strong community partnerships and fostering collaboration will be instrumental in enhancing our outreach efforts. Her passion for health equity and environmental justice, coupled with her commitment to empowering local voices, will significantly strengthen DSCEJ initiatives aimed at creating sustainable practices within communities across the Gulf South.
Ragan’s appointment, with an eye towards her leadership capabilities, is a pivotal step towards reinforcing our dedication to advocating for those who have been historically marginalized and underserved, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued in the struggle for environmental and climate justice.
Welcome aboard, Ragan! We will make a difference together!
Environmental Justice Voice Newsletter Year-End 2024
YEAR END 2024 Edition
Read Our Year-End Newsletter
IN THIS EDITION:
- Worker Training Program Report
- Grant & Funding News
- Student Engagement News
- Community Engagement & Advocacy News
- Team DSCEJ Highlights
- Navigate NOLA Update
- NBEJN Report
- Dr. Wright’s Travelogue
DSCEJ Launches Environmental Justice Data Action Portal
Portal Advances Democratization of Data
NEW ORLEANS, LA) – Today, the Environmental Justice Data Action Portal (EJ DAP) was officially launched at a press conference where attendees received a live demonstration of the portal’s features and capabilities. Designed to empower communities and policymakers alike, the EJ DAP is an innovative tool providing access to critical environmental and social justice data through an intuitive, interactive platform.
The EJ DAP, developed in partnership with Intellectual Concepts, LLC, combines extensive datasets on pollution, toxic chemicals, health outcomes, and demographic information, creating a user-friendly and accessible hub of vital information for communities impacted by environmental burdens. With a few clicks, users can access insights into pollution types, sources, and toxicity data for over 150 chemicals. Additionally, the portal’s integration of demographic and socioeconomic indicators enables users to see where environmental impacts intersect with social vulnerabilities.
Empowering Communities through Data and Transparency
The portal is designed to help users identify and address specific environmental challenges within their communities. With the ability to run localized queries based on ZIP codes, users can easily locate pollution sources, understand chemical compositions, and view community-specific environmental and health data. Through this data, community members, policymakers, and industry leaders are better positioned to communicate and collaborate on meaningful action toward environmental justice.
Key Features of the EJ Data Action Portal:
- Localized Pollution and Health Data: Users can explore data on pollution levels, sources, toxic chemicals, and health impacts specific to their local areas.
- ZIP Code Search and Interactive Dashboards: Users can enter their ZIP code to access data tailored to their location, including environmental burden rankings and socioeconomic indicators.
- Regular Data Updates: With ongoing data updates, the EJ DAP ensures users have access to the most current information available.
During today’s press conference, EJ DAP developers provided a live demonstration of the portal’s functionality, showcasing how users can navigate its features and apply its data in real-world contexts. The live demo highlighted how the portal’s data can aid in identifying environmental disparities and informing policy decisions that promote environmental justice.
“The democratization of data is crucial for the success of EJ communities as it will empower them to tell their stories, show injustices, and to convince administrators and other stakeholders that what they are experiencing is real. The DSCEJ’s goal with the EJ DAP is to provide the tools and resources that will allow communities to become confident, competent data champions.” said Dr. Beverly Wright, DSCEJ Founder and Executive Director.
CLICK TO VIEW THE PRESS KIT
The EJ DAP is a collaboration among experts and stakeholders in the environmental justice field, integrating insights from the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), and Environmental Justice Index (EJI). This central resource aligns with the national commitment to promoting equity, health, and environmental justice, offering data transparency and empowering communities across the nation.
The Environmental Justice Data Action Portal is accessible at https://www.ejdap.org/.
About EJ DAP
The Environmental Justice Data Action Portal (EJ DAP) is committed to providing reliable, accessible environmental data to strengthen community-driven efforts toward achieving health equity and environmental justice. Through the portal, EJ DAP supports informed advocacy and policy, contributing to a more equitable future for all. This project was made possible by a grant from the Windward Fund.
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