Environmental Justice Campaign
Established in 2023, the Environmental Justice Table (EJT) aims to support Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC), and to include Aborigine Americans of the land residing in under resourced areas of Allegheny County, by advocating for their access to healthy environments, including clean air & water. The ultimate objective is to enable these individuals to attain optimal health, well-being, and equitable futures by providing them with the necessary resources and involving them in decision making processes that safeguard them from environmental health threats. The EJT is a resident/community-driven initiative that aims to address environmental injustice in marginalized communities across Allegheny County. As partners, we take a people-first approach to engage with community, meeting people where they are at. Our work is focused on co-developing community-driven campaigns that shape environmental justice policy, grow community capacity & build community resilience. We value community, inclusive language, going beyond a land acknowledgement, community organizing, intersectionality, and equity.
For more information please complete this form and/or contact Leslie Centola at leslie@upstreampgh.org
CAMPAIGNS
YES, RACE MATTERS (#YESRACEMATTERS)
We cannot move towards environmental justice without first acknowledging the disproportionate effects climate change has on BIPOC and Aborigine Americans in under resourced communities. This is often represented by inequitable policies, practices, and procedures. To implement this campaign, we are developing a community engagement process that highlights community and civic education.
WHY CAN’T WE DRINK OUR WATER? (WATER IS A HUMAN RIGHT)
The Flint water crisis is one of the most recent and noted examples of environmental racism in America. Historic policies that are rooted in racism have left BIPOC and Aborigine American communities to brave the disproportionate effects of industrial pollution, a lack of investment in improving infrastructure, lower quality, older infrastructure, and a lack of enforcement of our clean water laws. These communities are overburdened and underserved. To address this, we will develop a community engagement process that highlights community and civic education.
Partners
Funding
