DSCEJ Student Interns to Share Documentary Films at Katrina 20 Mini Film Fest
We invite you to attend DSCEJ’s Digital Storytelling session during the Katrina 20 Week of Action on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM. Our interns are participating in the K20 Mini Film Festival at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts, 1419 Basin St., New Orleans, LA 70116.
DSCEJ’s Digital Storytellers Internship allows youth to take on the role of a climate journalist to tell the stories of environmental and climate injustices occurring in their communities and interview people and organizations working locally in their region, on solving the climate crisis. High school interns representing the Gulf Coast region partner with regional experts in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine (STEMM) and environmental and climate justice organizations to chronicle stories of vulnerable communities adversely affected by climate change and environmental hazards.
Questions? Contact:
Mary I. Williams
maryw@dscej.org
This project is funded by the NASEM-Gulf Research Program.
HBCU students share community internship experience
Our 2025 HBCU Environmental Justice and Climate Corps Summer Interns had the opportunity immerse themselves in environmental justice advocacy and research with DSCEJ Gulf Coast community partners. The interns shared their internship experience during a Lunch and Learn held on August 1st.
The interns addressed key environmental priorities identified by DSCEJ partner CBOs, including collecting and analyzing data to support environmental justice reinvestment, reviewing state regulations and enforcement on landfills, conducting cost comparisons between incarcerating a child and investing in their future through environmental workforce training, teaching children in food deserts how to prepare nutritious meals, and educating summer camp youth about air pollutants and greenhouse gases that affect their communities.
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
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