Environmental Justice isn’t going anywhere: using our history to fuel our future
By: Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome, CEO/Founder
It’s been exactly one month since I resigned as the first Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, where my job was to help execute the most ambitious environmental justice agenda our federal government had ever seen under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris.
So you might understand my sentiments when I say it has been beyond difficult to witness the actions of the current Administration to remove any signs, evidence and residue of the groundbreaking environmental justice work that was implemented to address the reality of environmental racism. A form of racism that - for decades - has allowed air and water pollution, mismanagement of resources, lack of enforcement of environmental regulations, intentional un-engagement of Indigenous, communities of color and poor communities to keep our communities sick, unsustainable and in some cases, unrecoverable.
One of the many lessons I learned while working in the White House – and really in life – is that the measure of a person (in this case, a movement) is not how we lead when things are going great; but it’s how we lead when everything is pushing against us. When we literally feel like we are in a valley. In this moment, that proverbial valley equates to having all of our environmental justice websites taken down, our executive orders revoked, grant monies frozen from the Inflation Reduction Act, and the job stability of many civil servants literally placed on a tight-rope. But despite the valley we are in, I remain more determined and hopeful that the collective movement to eradicate environmental racism will continue, and be even stronger. You know why? Because our history won’t let us be weak. Our history fuels our future!
I come from a long line of fighters, advocates, educators and human servants. Black History Month is always a time of reflecting on my history, and the contributions, sacrifices many African-American’s have made for this great country, and specifically, the environmental justice movement. I remember being a freshman engineering student at Northwestern University, dabbling as a journalist that allowed me the great fortunate to speak with Hazel Johnson, the mother of Environmental Justice, about her work and advocacy in Chicago. I later worked under the tutelage of the late, great Cecil Corbin-Mark of We Act for Environmental Justice, in Harlem, New York as he guided me in leading the first Washington DC based policy office managed by an environmental justice organization. And the sacred practice of acknowledgement and remembrance that has shaped my life, was taught to me by the great water warrior of Detroit, Mamma Lila Cabbil. The history these great EJ ancestor-warriors shaped me and further solidified that justice would be my fight, and my ministry.
Whether you google or check out an encyclopedia, history tells us that every generation has its own fight for the right for clean air, potable water and safe spaces – free of toxic chemicals - to live, work, play, pray and pray. While they were crafted over 30 years ago, it is imperative that we take a fresh look at how the 17 Principles of Environmental Justice – created at the First National People of Color Summit in 1991 – can be activated and supercharged as we move into these next four years. As the second Principle reads: Environmental Justice demands that public policy be based on mutual respect and justice for all peoples, free from any form of discrimination or bias. Upholding these principles requires action from institutions outside of the federal government. This work to advance environmental justice did not start with the federal government nor will it end with the federal government. Our history tells us that this work started with THE people. And every person, within these types of institutions, should be fired up about how they can help keep the movement going forward!
But I am also cognizant that we MADE some new history in the last Administration. We put together a body of work with the goal of eradicating environmental racism. We worked hard to mitigate the impact of decades of air and water pollution, weak, unenforced environmental regulations, and ignoring the communities that have been underinvested in and ignored for decades. And now that the Biden-Harris Administration is a part of history, we have to use our history, the foundation created over the last several decades, to push us forward. We all have a role. I truly believe this is the time, as our country enters the second month of this new administration, for philanthropy, local/state government, and private corporations to be bold and brave. I’ve been asked for my advice many times over the past couple of weeks about what leaders in these sectors can do. Well, I’m glad folks are asking, and happy to share a couple of near-term steps for each sector to consider:
PHILANTHROPY
Financial support: There is a clear need for the philanthropic sector to step up and provide both short term and long term financial support. This current Administration is making it extremely difficult for organizations to pull-down the funds they were obligated to receive. There is a clear need for immediate rapid response funds to support to community-based organizations so they can sustain operations, pay staff and engage in legal defense. If you have not already, ask your grantees WHAT they need and HOW they need it. Reassure them that you are committed for the long haul.
Flexible process: Foundations have the capacity to be nimble. History tells us – at the height of the COVID pandemic – the sector was able to relax certain requirements, not be as rigid with the process and guardrails, and meet organizations where they needed to be met. It’s time to be flexible and responsive. Let’s think about how the sector was able to respond during the heights of the COVID pandemic…and embrace those best practices!
Friendly peer pressure: The power of philanthropy goes beyond the dollars. Encourage not only your philanthropic peers but also other key decision-makers to not backslide, or adopt a new strategy that dismisses the work of your current grantees that might be focused on justice and equity. Additionally, re-engage and leverage other key players at the state and local level, to hold fast to policies and practices that will maintain environmental and health protections. While we cannot depend of that same level of prioritization and protection at the federal level, we must use our power and privilege to hold our state and local leaders accountable.
PRIVATE INDUSTRY
Revisit your corporate responsibility goals: Some companies and corporations have developed goals on sustainability, based on the pillars of environmental, social and governance, better known as ESG. While these goals are typically focused on minimizing waste, conserving resources, reducing emissions, and increasing transparency in business practices, there is an opportunity to strengthen the social pillar, particularly as it relates to operationalizing Environmental Justice. From an industry standpoint, operationalizing environmental justice can take many forms: making investments the COMMUNITY has asked for in the places where your company has a footprint; backfilling and supporting projects that could potentially be stalled or not implemented due to the monies being withheld by the federal government; developing mechanisms to track environmental protection and accountability across various sectors. Or, taking a first step, like Waste Management, that has analyzed their footprint and works to expand their playbook to include stronger partnerships and center community concerns and needs in the places they operate. Another notable effort is Apple's 2024 Environmental Progress Report that describes how they have expanded their Strengthen Local Communities grant program, supporting local, under-resourced organizations world-wide. You no longer have to be the first - but you definitely do not have to be the last!
LOCAL/STATE GOVERNMENT
On day one of the Biden-Harris Administration, the federal government was on a strong path, with bold initiatives: the Justice40 Initiative that resulted in not just 40%, but 71% of the grants, resources and loans that landed in ALL types of communities – including Red, Blue and Purple communities; multiple Executive Orders on equity, sustainability and environmental justice; and many formal recommendations from our federal advisory council. Beyond the frozen funds, the Executive Orders, climate resilience plans, science and resources, and many of the formal recommendations from the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council have been preserved, and can be a great foundation for local and state governments that are committed to advancing environmental justice at the state and local level. Use them as a guide.
Also, real-life models exist of cities and states that were very successful in translating “federal work” to state and local work: New Jersey's Landmark Environmental Justice Law works to prevent help mitigate more pollution and burdens in already overburdened communities. The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico became the first city to prepare and implement an Executive Order for Equitable and Just Implementation of Justice40, an effort in which the community and City collaborated and prioritized environmentally safe investments in historically under-resourced communities. These are concrete examples and models that can be utilized throughout the country.
This is a call to action, for philanthropy, private industry and local and state government. Those that are committed to this movement know that the fight for environmental justice does not stop with the end of an Administration. It just shifts. So let’s continue to make NEW history – because we ALL have a role in this movement.
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