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.
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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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.
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.
DALLAS, TEXAS (October 17, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance will be joined by Founder & Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ) Dr. Beverly Wright, Congressman Troy Carter (LA-2), Mayor LaToya Cantrell, and U.S. EPA Region 4 Gulf of Mexico Division Director Marc Wyatt to celebrate DSCEJ’s EPA grant of $2,499,616 to administer the Louisiana Gulf Coast Grantmaking Project.
Members of the media are invited to attend, please RSVP to R6Press@epa.gov.
Date: Monday, October 21st Location: Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St. New Orleans, LA 70130
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 AM
WHO:
Dr. Nance, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 6
Marc Wyatt, Division Director, U.S. EPA Region 4 Gulf of Mexico Division
Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder & Executive Director, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
Mayor LaToya Cantrell
Troy Carter, Congressman, LA-2
Oliver Thomas, City Councilmember, City of New Orleans (invited)
NEW ORLEANS – Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its appointees for the first-ever Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions Federal Advisory Council (HBCU-MSI FAC) naming DSCEJ Founder and Executive Director Dr. Beverly Wright as a vice chair.
The establishment of EPA’s HBCU-MSI Federal Advisory Council supports President Biden’s Executive Order 14035, which seeks to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) within the federal workforce. This Executive Order underscores the importance of a federal workforce that reflects the full diversity of the American people. The HBCU-MSI FAC aligns with this vision, ensuring that diverse voices contribute to shaping the EPA’s policies and practices.
“It is with great humility and enthusiasm that I accept the appointment as Vice Chair of the newly created HBCU-MSI Federal Advisory Council at the U.S. EPA. As a proud graduate of Grambling State University, I know the power of these institutions, the sense of duty and excellence that they instill in their students, and the way that they buttress their communities.” said Dr. Beverly Wright. “I am thrilled to be part of bringing that unique voice and knowledge to the EPA. I believe it will lend itself to inspired solutions for some of our biggest challenges and help us chart the course to an environmentally just future.”
The HBCU-MSI Federal Advisory Council is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader efforts to promote equity in economic and educational opportunities, protect public health, and preserve the environment.
Administrator Michael Regan selected 20 members who were chosen based on their specific expertise/experience and will serve as representative members of non-Federal interests, community-based organizations, research, and academia. Members will serve a two-year term from 2024 to 2026. The council expects to meet approximately 2 to 3 times a year for in-person or virtual meetings.
HBCU-MSI Federal Advisory Council Members:
Chair: Hilda Pinnix-Ragland, Managing Partner, AHK Global Resources
Vice Chair: Heather Himmelberger, Director, University of New Mexico Southwest Environmental Finance Center
Vice Chair: Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder and Executive Director, DSCEJ
Vice Chair: Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, President, California State University –Fresno
Abre Conner, Director, Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, NAACP
Andrew Kozich, Environmental Science Department Chair, Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College
Angelina Adams, Counselor – Career Services, Haskell Indian Nations University
Darryl Ann Lai Fang, Senior Director of Strategy Execution, UNCF
Eric O’Rear, Senior Research Analyst, Rhodium Group
Gail Bassette, Director of Economic Development/Strategic Engagement, Bowie State University
Jerryl Briggs, President, Mississippi Valley State University
Lena Rodriguez, Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
Mark Brown, President and CEO, Tuskegee University
Melva Wallace, Huston-Tillotson University
Michael Johnson, Chief of Staff, PROPEL Center
Mike Hoa Nguyen, Member, Board of Trustees, Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education & Assistant Professor of Education, New York University
Ray Shackleford, Vice President for Equitable Justice and Strategic Initiatives, National Urban League
Sharon Jones, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, university of Washington-Bothell
Vann Newkirk, President, Wilberforce University
Phil Weilerstein, President & CEO, VentureWell
Dr. Beverly Wright’s Bio:
Dr. Beverly Wright is an environmental justice scholar, advocate, author, civic leader, professor of Sociology, and the founder and executive director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. She is also a founding co-chair of the HBCU-CBO Gulf Coast Equity Consortium and the HBCU Climate Change Consortium. She received a BA from Grambling College and an MA and PhD in Sociology from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
She has received distinguished awards and co-authored numerous works highlighting the injustices of environmental hazards on communities of color.
Dr. Wright is a member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council and serves on the Justice40 Initiative Workgroup and the Carbon Management Committee under the Biden-Harris Administration.
For more information about the HBCU-MSI Federal Advisory Council and the EPA’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, please visit their webpage or reach out to at HBCU-MSI.AC@epa.gov.
Memphis Town, previously a Superfund site, is being rewritten into a story of hope and renewal.
How big can you dream? Pretty big, you say? How big can a community dream? The possibilities are endless when you envision together. Pastor Leach, of Memphis Town Community Action Group (CAG), understood this truth and is on a mission to unlock the potential of Columbus, Mississippi. Memphis Town, designated a Superfund site, was a home of a former wood treatment plant that left toxic levels of creosote, the known carcinogen, in the soil.
After decades of living with the blight left behind, Memphis Town Community Action Group seeks to transform the site into a place of promise.
“After so many years of disinvestment, it is time to invest in the people, homes, and communities that have been left behind time and time again,” observed Pastor Leach.
Pastor Leach and his team, along with a spectrum of stakeholders from the community, spanning from Columbus, Mississippi Mayor Keith Gaskin to residents impacted by the Superfund site, have a plan to turn the site into a hub for vibrant community living and economic development. They envision a multi-pronged approach with many partners.
Housing: First, community members want to start where they live: their home. By definition, a home is a place that provides shelter and safety. This definition of a safe shelter includes access to safe water and sewage systems. This isn’t the case for the residents of Memphis Town, where approximately 120 homes in the Public Housing Authority and many additional single-family homes are affected by clay pipes causing wastewater issues during heavy rain events. CAG will work with local housing authorities to update these homes so families can live safely. The CAG is committed to ensuring that every home in the community is also climate resilient. That includes access to new energy-efficient windows and doors, and cool roofs to stave off extreme heat events. Finally, all new HVAC units installed will be electric heat pumps so that homes will meet weatherization standards.
Economic Mobility: Employment is also a critical part of community revitalization. Recognizing the high rate of people without high school diplomas in this community, CAG is partnering with local businesses, colleges, universities, and high schools to initiate an apprenticeship program to enter the green workforce. The program will offer installation and maintenance training services in solar, heat pump, and other technologies. Additionally, CAG wants to partner with local high schools and colleges to teach students to engage their public officials to make meaningful change in their community.
Community Spaces: At a community level, CAG aims to bring solar into a community park. From benches to charging stations, lighting, electric buildings, EV charging stations and more—they will partner with the Parks and Recreation department to see this vision come to fruition, all so that the people can enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation in the absence of harmful pollution caused by traditional energy sources.
The cornerstone project, and the most long-term vision, is the transformation of a 40-acre Superfund site. Pastor Leach, an engineer by training, originally wanted to further contain the site by layering on top a parking lot and then possibly adding green technology, like solar lights and a microgrid. But after engaging with several community members, stakeholders and local officials, CAG is now planning to turn this $8 million investment into a multiplex—for sports, concerts, and storm sheltering. It will also create jobs for local community members, from construction to concessions. Across the road, CAG envisions erecting a shopping plaza to bolster local economic development. The possibilities for the multiplex are endless, and will take a countless number of partners, investors, and stewards to see this vision to completion.
Pastor Leach and his team became members of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice’s (DSCEJ) Justice40 Accelerator Program in 2023. It was at a convening hosted by DSCEJ where they learned about the Capacity Building Roadmap, and then were able to fully articulate their vision to Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin using the roadmap as a metaphor. Since then, Pastor Leach says Mayor Gaskin has fully committed to the vision. Today, the CAG is part of the DSCEJ’s Technical Assistance for Thriving Communities program, also called the Community Investment Recovery Center (CIRC). Through their participation, the CAG team has had opportunities to hear directly from federal funders and received helpful insights into the application process they might not have received if applying without being part of the TCTAC.
Now Pastor Leach and his team are waiting to hear back from the Community Change Grant (CCG) they submitted for a whopping $20M. Projects under CCG aim to significantly improve environmental, climate, pollution, and resilience conditions affecting disadvantaged communities. They will continue to submit a handful of grants in the coming weeks. As excited as they are about the opportunity the submitted grants hold, they are equally eager to share what they’ve learned along the way with others. They see their success as a win not just for their community, but for environmental justice movements in communities across the nation.
