Jan 8, 2025 | Community Engagement News, DSCEJ General News, Research and Policy News, The Latest News
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!
Dec 17, 2024 | CIRC News, Community Engagement News, Dr. Beverly Wright News, DSCEJ General News, Newsletter News, Research and Policy News, Student Engagement News, The Latest News, Worker Training Program News
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
READ MORE . . .
Nov 25, 2024 | Dr. Beverly Wright News, DSCEJ General News, Press Releases, The Latest News
(NEW ORLEANS, LA) – In response to numerous requests for interviews, Dr. Beverly Wright releases a statement to address questions on the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice’s work going forward.
“As the first and longest-serving environmental justice resource center in the nation, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice was founded more than 30 years ago to improve the lives of communities harmed by pollution and vulnerable to climate change.
DSCEJ’s commitment to environmental justice has remained constant during five presidential administrations and countless environmental statutes and policy shifts. We have known the hope of promises made, the joy of promises kept and the bitterness of promises broken.
As we prepare to usher in a new presidential administration, the mission of DSCEJ remains constant and our commitment to overburdened environmental justice communities is unwavering.”
Nov 8, 2024 | Community Engagement News, Dr. Beverly Wright News, DSCEJ General News, Funding News, Press Releases, Research and Policy News, The Latest News
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.
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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Nov 6, 2024 | Community Engagement News, Dr. Beverly Wright News, DSCEJ General News, Funding News, Press Releases, Research and Policy News, The Latest News
NEW ORLEANS) The DSCEJ will host a press conference to launch the Environmental Justice Data Action Portal (EJ DAP), an innovative, user-friendly platform that the DSCEJ has designed to consolidate key environmental and demographic datasets into a single, accessible hub.
During the demonstration, presenters will show how users can search by ZIP code to locate pollution sources, assess chemical toxicity, and view demographic and socioeconomic data to understand environmental impacts within specific communities. This powerful tool is designed to facilitate community collaboration, inform local and federal policies, and enhance transparency in environmental health data.
EJ DAP integrates data from key sources, including the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), and Environmental Justice Index (EJI), making it a comprehensive resource for those addressing environmental burdens and social vulnerabilities. This tool was made possible by a grant from the Windward Fund.
Date: Friday, November 8
Location: DSCEJ HQ – 9801 Lake Forest Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70127
Time: 9:00 AM
WHO:
- Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder & Executive Director, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
- Troy Carter, Congressman, LA-2 (invited)
- Oliver Thomas, City Councilmember, City of New Orleans (invited)
- Members of the EJ DAP development team
Members of the media are invited to attend, please RSVP to media@dscej.org.
Oct 21, 2024 | Community Engagement News, Dr. Beverly Wright News, DSCEJ General News, Funding News, LGCGP News, Press Releases, The Latest News
DALLAS, TEXAS (October 21, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Division is awarding the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) the Louisiana Gulf Coast Grantmaking Project (LGCGP) and $2.4 million. The Louisiana Gulf Coast Grantmakers Project (LGCGP) is designed to build the capacity of environmental justice communities in coastal Louisiana parishes to respond to the impact of systemic inequities, and the devastating impact of climate change and water quality/water justice issues in their communities.
“Since 1992, the DSCEJ has been working with community groups in Louisiana and beyond to bring environmental justice and climate resilience to Gulf Coast communities and we are grateful to see them continuing their great work,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “As recent events show, hurricanes remain a dangerous natural disaster and it is important we continue to strengthen our coastal communities in any way possible to mitigate disaster risks. I would like to thank the DSCEJ for their decades of environmental justice work and for their continued goal of protecting public health and the environment.”
“The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice has a history of ensuring equity environmental practices in disadvantaged communities,” said Marc Wyatt, U.S. EPA Region 4 Gulf of Mexico Division Director. Through DSCEJ’s commitment and hard work, this project will create a pathway for increased collaboration across community based organizations, various sectors of government, and the community at large.”
“Environmental justice is not just a goal, it’s a promise. A promise that every Louisianian deserves a healthy environment, free from the harms of industrial pollution and destruction from storms and flooding. Today, I’m excited to announce a $2.5 million investment from the EPA to help our community tackle critical water justice issues and improve overall quality of life. These projects will have a lasting impact on our environment and, most importantly, on the people who call these parishes home,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).
“Congratulations to the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice on receiving this $2.4 million award from the EPA to spearhead the Louisiana Gulf Coast Grantmaking Project,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “This grant will empower communities across the Gulf Coast region to address critical issues like water quality and climate resilience, ensuring that local organizations have the resources they need to lead impactful, community-driven projects. Our partnership with DSCEJ, especially through efforts like the Climate Action Equity Report and Project, has set a standard for inclusive engagement and meaningful change. We are proud to continue working together to build a stronger, more resilient future for all of our communities.”
“As we face an unprecedented hurricane season, it is more crucial than ever to support community-based organizations in their efforts to combat climate change and address water quality issues. The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice is thrilled to partner with the EPA to deliver much-needed funding to these organizations. Through the Louisiana Gulf Coast Grantmaking Project, grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 will empower 24 environmental justice champions to advance their visions for their communities,” said DSCEJ Founder & Executive Director, Dr. Beverly Wright.
Over a two-year period, through a competitive subaward process, the DSCEJ will provide $1.82M in subawards to approximately 24 selected Environmental Justice-missioned CBOs with awards of $50,000 to $100,000 to implement green projects to address one or more water quality issues and improve quality of life in their communities. The goals of each project will vary but will include mitigating flooding, reducing impacts from nonpoint source pollution, or improving stormwater management. The project will also provide technical assistance through a combination of existing programming and leveraged resources, helping sub-awardees to better plan and craft viable project proposals, for solicitations offered through this project, and others.
The DSCEJ will be focusing on aiding multiple parishes throughout the state of Louisiana. These parishes include Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, LaFourche, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Vermillion.
The Gulf of Mexico Division is a non-regulatory program of EPA founded to facilitate collaborative actions to protect, maintain, and restore the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico. To carry out its mission, the Gulf of Mexico Division continues to maintain and expand partnerships with state and federal agencies, federally recognized tribes, local governments and authorities, academia, regional business and industry, agricultural and environmental organizations, and individual citizens and communities. For more information on this division, please visit this webpage.
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