The South Ward Environmental Alliance (SWEA) embarked on a 7-day trip to Long Beach, California for an environmental justice youth convention. During the trip, staff members met with Angelo Logan, director of the Moving Forward Network (MFN) and co-founder of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice (EYCEJ). Logan provided an overview of his work within the environmental justice movement by reflecting on childhood experiences of witnessing the mistreatment of minorities in overburdened communities. He affirmed that industries “use race to make money off the oppression of the poor.” 

To combat such environmental injustices, Logan revealed “organizing efforts should bridge intergenerational gaps and involve the community.” He placed an emphasis on oral history and dialogues through storytelling and study groups as ways to engage the community. Logan affirmed that the most important keys to strategically organizing are relevance, usage of time and joy factor.” He reminded SWEA to address the community using the correlation between profit and policy and the role race plays in the development of polluting facilities. 

SWEA also had the opportunity to meet with Taylor Thomas, Co-Executive Director of EYCEJ for a tour of ports, parks and community spaces overburdened by pollution. SWEA saw the LA Port, which is the largest in the nation and the Long Beach port, which is the only port in the nation to be 100% electrified. During the tour, Thomas disclosed that communities consisting mostly of people of color bear the brunt of poor air quality, underfunded parks and overall unsafe livable conditions. Both ports are in close proximity to frontline communities burdened with crime, overcrowding and limited resources. Despite this bitter reality, Thomas enlightened SWEA about EYCEJ community victories, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. EYCEJ opened their facilities to provide meals, masks and medical supplies for individuals to help with basic living essentials. 

SWEA staff are glad to have met Logan and Thomas of EYCEJ. We are encouraged to continue collaborating around policy changes needed to liberate us all. Power to the people!

Images taken by Frankie Walls

Newark's Office of Sustainability invited Asada Rashidi to speak to the Climate Justice Youth Ambassadors about the air quality in Newark and provide them with a real-time hands-on activity that allowed them to understand the impacts air quality has on the health of residents and why it’s so vital to engage the next generation of environmental advocates. Additionally, Asada and Yaritza discussed the Stop Dumping on Newark campaign to stop Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) from building a new fracked gas power plant in the already overburdened Ironbound community, an issue that would impact their wellbeing and health in Newark. 

In addition, Kim Gaddy, Executive Director, South Ward Environmental Alliance participated in the Environmental Justice tour of the South and East Wards for the Climate Justice Ambassadors. She highlighted how the Dayton street neighborhood is surrounded by industry, railroads, highways, a superfund site, brownfields and the largest metal recycling facility in the world. She encouraged the students to take a survey of their neighborhoods to determine what polluting facilities exist and seek to change the situation. Gaddy concluded, by requesting the youth to take ownership of their neighborhood and demand a seat at the table and meaningful participation in the discussions regarding development and siting of unwanted facilities in their community.

Pictured above are the first recipients of the Sonny William Gaddy Jr. college preparation baskets. (From left to right; Michael Marotta, Ka-Niesa Anderson Blackshear & Zaire Johnson)

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