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Environmental Justice Commission
Chair
- David Ruble - dnruble at deq.virginia.gov
Board Liaison
- Joe Heimlich
Members
- Jose “Pepe” Marcos-Iga
- Augusto Medina
- Teresa Mourad
- Jason Taylor
- Karen Cairns
Description
The EJC will examine
linkages among environmental justice (EJ), environmental education
(EE), and environmental health (EH) and explore how these fields
could collaborate to ensure a quality and sustainable environment for
all people. The Commission will serve as vehicle for networking with
these other fields and sharing knowledge among the fields. The EJC
will create a formal space within NAAEE for networking, information
sharing, development of conferences and other workshops, and
proposing and conducting special projects with an EJ, EE, and EH
focus.
Accomplishments
Many NAAEE members are interested in EJ, EE, and EH. The purpose of this commission is to facilitate active discussion between practitioners in the fields of Environmental Justice, Environmental Education, and Environmental Health. Specific areas of inquiry to inform these discussions will revolve around leading academic research, public policy, and best practices for building wholesome sustainable communities for all populations.
The “Wichita
Model” (Get the full story in the PDF here)
In 2008, the City of Wichita and Wichita Independent Neighborhoods through funding from the Kansas Health Foundation collaborated with the Environmental Justice Commission to host A Walk About in Wichita which engaged workshop attendees through a tour of Wichita to see urban revitalization efforts and have conversations with government representatives, business leaders, and elected officials. Highlights for the day included an afternoon facilitated session between conference participants and local leaders who are active in social justice issues.
2009 Wednesday Workshop
Currently, the EJC is collaborating with a local partner in Portland, Oregon, to provide another fantastic experience for conference participants at the 2009 NAAEE Conference. We are currently seeking and securing sponsors to explore the impact of sustainability projects and industrial environmental hazards on communities of color and low-income communities. This will include a tour of Brownfield & superfund sites, and a green-job micro-enterprise that supports community agriculture.
Many NAAEE members are interested in EJ, EE, and EH. The Diversity Committee, which is now one of the largest and most active committees, is evidence of that interest. However, the Diversity Committee was established to do the work of the board. As such, the Diversity Committee should focus its energy on ensuring that NAAEE policies, procedures, structures, and development promote cultural inclusiveness within the Association. In addition, it should coordinate diversity training for board and staff. While doing all of these activities, the Diversity Committee has in recent years also taken on the tasks of planning conference strands, reviewing proposals for the annual conferences, and promoting diversity projects, which are the work of commissions. The establishment of the EJC would allow the Diversity Committee to focus on board work while giving NAAEE members the opportunity to pursue EJ, EE, and EH issues of interest to them.
Reports & Other Materials
Environmental Justice Commission on Google Groups http://groups.google.com/group/ej-commission-naaee
Environmental Justice Report (Fall 07)
Listserv information
cmsn_environmental_justice@naaee.orgAnyone who is on this list can send email to the list.
