Introduction – Environmental Justice Leaders

In the pursuit of a positive environmental future, it is important to consider humans as a component of nature rather than separate of it. The field of environmental justice recognizes the integrated relationships between peoples and natures. Environmental justice leaders provide visions for a socially responsible futures where all peoples and ecologies can thrive. Environmental justice, as defined by EPA, is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no population, due to policy or economic disempowerment, is forced to bear a disproportionate share of the negative human health or environmental impacts of pollution or environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local and tribal programs and policies” (US EPA). Issues such as pollution are results of the intersection of historical injustice based on variables of marginality like race, class, and gender. Some of the most prominent types of environmental justice issues are uneven citing of environmental bads; lack of access to natural resources like water and green space; disproportionately slow or nonexistent access to disaster relief and prevention; food insecurity; among others.

The activists and leaders chosen for the “6th E Street” tunnels represent only a portion of individuals who have positively impacted their local communities and fought for environmental justice principles. Since this list is not exhaustive, some criteria were used to determine the list of individuals shown here. The criteria are as follows: the actions of these leaders are relevant to the aforementioned list of prominent EJ issues; they are individuals who engaged in active resistance within their respective activist groups; their work address multiple variables of marginality; and they are widely regarded as leaders in the EJ movement. Though only individuals are represented here it is import to note that they do not act alone. Often, these leaders work with or in larger grassroots organizations and communities. Additionally, though the scope of the piece is focused on the US, the birthplace of the academically recognized EJ movement, there are many other global leaders within this field, examples of those will be located at the end of each blog post. Future posts will detail short biographies of those chosen for the mural as well as more information about their respective movements and other individuals or organizations also deserving of recognition.