Environmental Justice Leadership Forum

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign. [00:00:18] Speaker B: Welcome to Uptown Chats, a podcast where we share stories about environmental justice by and for everyday people. I'm a guest host, Tali Natter I'm the Research Coordinator here at We ACT Today. I'm talking about the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum and our annual convening. While we act is based uptown, our fight for environmental justice is national and even global. A key part of our work is advancing environmental justice advocacy locally and federally by supporting organizations from across the US The Environmental Justice Leadership Forum, or the EJLF for short, does exactly that. Hosted by WEAct, the EJLF is a national coalition of 42 organizations across 24 states and D.C. who work to ensure that a diverse grassroots perspective is reflected in federal, state and local policy decisions. Within our member driven coalition, grassroots advocates and experts facilitate peer to peer learning exchanges to build expertise, address inequitable public health policies and resolve environmental injustices. Organizations are based in red, blue and swing states across all regions of the country. Members represent blacks, Latinx, indigenous and low income communities. Varying from large cities to rural areas. These groups are actively working together to advance key climate, justice and environmental policies. They work to ensure the protection and advancement of communities facing environmental injustices all throughout the country. Throughout the year, the organizations meet to take actions on issues that matter in their communities as well as federal issues impacting all of the groups across the country. They also meet around key shared campaigns like protecting the right to clean air, air quality monitoring and fighting data center buildouts. Once a year we convene in person with a co host organization. This year the convening was co hosted by People for Community Recovery in Chicago, Illinois with the theme Frontline Organizing for Environmental Justice. Organizing is at the core of what we do, which is why we gather annually in person to honor the movements and ancestors who fought for our rights and organized to win. We come together with a renewed dedication to move progress forward and protect the environment. I recorded interviews while at the convening, but let's start with a conversation with Denise Patel who coordinates the forum. She and I spoke shortly after the event and reflected on its success. I'm here with Denise Patel. Please introduce yourself to the listeners and tell them about your experience with the EJ Forum. [00:02:51] Speaker C: Hi, I'm Denise Patel. I'm the National Organizing Director at We act for Environmental justice and I organize our Environmental Justice Leadership Forum. The Environmental Justice Leadership Forum is a national coalition of 42 grassroots environmental organizations across the country. They are based in 24 states and and Washington D.C. which will hopefully be a state one day and they work on a variety of issues that really impact their local environment. So what we do with the EJ Leadership Forum is support grassroots groups across the country to be able to be impactful in their communities. We do this in a couple of different ways. We support them in capacity building, which you'll hear a little bit more about as we continue our conversation. We help them establish themselves within their communities as nonprofit organizations or as volunteer organizations that can actually build and wield power through organizing. We provide policy expertise both through our work at We ACT for Environmental justice, but also by connecting them with each other. We act as a Harlem based organization. We know our issues here in New York City and we work on a lot of things, but we don't work on everything. And our members range from communities that are very rural and might be working on a county basis or very local, hyperlocal basis. Some of them are based in other cities that are much smaller than New York City and have different issues. So we want to make sure that those folks are able to connect with each other and and are able to learn from each other and understand what could be really impactful for their community and how to address their local problems. We also work really hard to help them communicate their stories. We do everything from supporting them on narrative building, providing data and research that supports their cases, presenting those in a lot of visual ways. It's something that TALI works on and also is a way for policymakers and other decision makers to understand what the real environmental impacts are on communities and the people who live in them across the country. Then the other thing that we do that's very unique to We ACT is we have a Federal Policy office based in Washington, D.C. our members are able to work with our federal policy team and connect with their members of the Congress. We organize advocacy days where we bring folks to D.C. to bring local examples of impacts of how federal policy or federal legislation that's being developed in Washington D.C. is affecting communities across the country. [00:05:44] Speaker B: Great. So we recently traveled to Chicago for the annual EJLF convening. Can you tell me any highlights from the event? Any favorite panels or conversations that you heard that came out of it? Just your experience at the big in person convening that we have every year? [00:06:01] Speaker C: Sure. This was the third convening that I organized for the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum. It has been getting bigger every year and we've had really active membership both at the convening and then outside of the convening. One of our goals for the convening is to create that in person Space for people to meet each other and be able to develop their networks and see each other and understand that although they're working in their local community, the environmental justice movement is incredibly expansive. And I think people feel a real sense of solidarity when they come and meet in person with other people who have similar struggles to them. They're able to talk shop in a way that's hard to do over a zoom call, over a phone call during the rest of the time of the year. Then they're able to also engage in some in person trainings and hear from other folks and get a deep dive into issues that are happening in the communities. This year, I think we had two sessions that were really hot topics that had everybody really engaged. One is, as I mentioned, we try to support our members in capacity building. And we developed an entire afternoon session around financial planning and operations for our members. We're doing this because we know that over the past couple of years, not only have federal funds that support community development that a lot of our members are relying on, were pulled back by the Trump administration and were previously promised under the Biden administration. This was a big hit for a lot of our communities. But the political environment has also pushed a lot of foundations away from what they're calling DEI work. And there has been a broad, I think, loss of funding for the environmental justice movement in general. We want to make sure that these folks, who a lot of them started out as volunteer organizations in their communities, they have been working for years to really become an institution in their own right in those communities and be able to build power for the folks who are really impacted by pollution. And the loss of funding has had a tremendous impact over the last couple of years. But we don't want those organizations to just go away, obviously. And we want to be able to support them in a way that teaches them how to navigate through difficult times, how to manage finances as a nonprofit. Imagine if you're a lot of folks, this is not their professional background, but they've learned on the job. And we definitely want to make that a skill that they're able to develop so they can maintain their staffing, they can maintain their organizational work and continue to work for their communities. So that was a big one. I think we had a lot of really insightful questions from our members and people really learned a lot during that session. The other one, which is probably a topic that folks have heard a lot about, is data centers. We have so many members of our 42 organizations. Almost every member is somehow interacting with or impacted by A data center. They either have data center companies that are trying to develop in their own backyards or are working to support other communities in their counties and in their states who are fighting data centers and the development, rapid development of data centers, or are really just trying to figure out what to do now that a data center has come into their community and how can they make sure that their community is benefiting from them. So there's a whole range of issues. And we developed a panel and around those experiences from our frontline community members to talk about what's been happening and really give folks a deep dive into those experiences of folks who've been working to address those issues. Then we had a strategy session. We asked our members, as a network and as a collective coalition, what do you want to be doing to address data centers? How can we act, support your work? And we've had some really great strategic takeaways from that. And it really gave us some insights on how to continue to support our members. [00:10:13] Speaker B: Yeah, those were two incredible sessions, I'll add. One that really stuck out to me was when we looked at all of the principles of environmental justice and different groups and folks sorted themselves based on the principles that their orgs are working on or the principles they want to be working on and how can we kind of continue work and ground ourselves in the principles? I think that was really powerful to see. You know, we're all environmental justice organizations, but what does that look like based on where we are or what our priorities are and who we have on staff? So, yeah, a lot of wonderful sessions. And when I interviewed people at the event, they all had different favorites and different takeaways. And so that was also very special to hear that, you know, the wonderful programming you put together there was something for everyone. [00:11:01] Speaker C: I just wanted to jump in on that. I think one of the things that the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum and something that I really try to aim to do during the convening is to create an intergenerational space. One of our rules about the EJ Leadership Forum is that every organization can send two people. We always ask that one of those people be an executive level person who can do the nonprofit management trainings, and one of those people be an organizer. The way that usually works out is that you've got a younger person and an older person who end up coming to the convening. And one of the really big pieces of feedback that I heard from the session on principals was that a lot of the younger staff members or the younger members of the EJ Leadership Forum really appreciated hearing how those principles were developed and hear the stories about what actually happened from the people who were in the room to write them. And I think that's an opportunity that not a lot of folks get to have, and it was really cool to be able to provide that. [00:12:03] Speaker B: Yeah, definitely. I felt in my years of going to the EJ forum, you're seeing a lot of new faces. Of course the executives might stay the same, but I think the different organizations are excited to bring new people, younger people or newer staff members, people who are newer to ej, into the space and meet and connect with other people. I think that's, you know, an informal part of the convening. That's just as important is the socializing and networking, for lack of better word, and the times when we can hang out and chat in between sessions and really get to know one another. My next question is similar on that note of as we look back on the convening and the sessions and the conversations, what are you going to take with you as you continue to strategize for the next year of the EJ forum? Are there any, you know, issues that now, you know, people are interested in or types of work that folks want to do or other ways that you're going to build off of the great event into the work that you're doing right now? [00:13:05] Speaker C: One of the things that happens during the convening that you can only do in person is development, network and building relationships one on one. I had a lot of time this year to be able to sit down and talk with folks about what their goals are for their organizations and really understand what they're planning for for the upcoming year. All of that feedback helps me develop the programming for the for the upcoming year. So we have a working group on data centers. That's when that one is going to continue. It provides a great space for networking, resource sharing, information sharing amongst our EJLF members. We have Air Quality working group and we know that at least a dozen or so of our members have air monitoring programs in place in their communities or are interested in learning how to do more air monitoring. I think that's going to be a really cool place to be able to continue to develop. For me personally as the national organizing director and thinking a little bit more long term, I'm going to be digging in in the upcoming year more on developing some curriculum and training for folks who are want to learn from we act and want to learn from others how to make their organizations more sustainable as a nonprofit or as a Volunteer organization to be able to continue to do the work in their community and make sure that they leave a really strong legacy behind. [00:14:37] Speaker B: Great. And my final question is, can you tell me about the theme, frontline power, Organizing for Environmental justice? What does frontline power mean to you and how does that show up in your work with the EJ Forum? [00:14:51] Speaker C: All of the work of the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum is really focused on building and supporting, supporting the groups that are that frontline power. All of our core members are grassroots organizations. They work in their communities. They're deeply involved in all aspects of their community. They're developing programs and policies that improve the environment, improve health in their community, help support people from all walks of life who live in their towns, who live in their cities, and even just in their neighborhoods to make sure that we are trying to address all the injustices, the environmental injustices of the past. But what they're actually doing is they're also building economic power, they're building political power as they do that. And that's really what developing that frontline leadership is all about. And we can best do that through organizing. So that's the theme of the year. [00:15:58] Speaker D: Great. [00:15:59] Speaker B: Thank you so much. In addition to panels and workshops, a key part of the convening every year is the host city, Toxic Tour. We drove around the south side of Chicago to learn more about the issues facing the EJ communities, as well as the work being done by local organizations. [00:16:14] Speaker E: Originally, PCR was created as a like a family, family works kind of thing. And then she shifted our focus to environmental justice. PCR officially incorporated as a non for profit, which actually, you guys are so lucky. We made 47 years today. [00:16:36] Speaker C: Beautiful. [00:16:36] Speaker F: 47 years. [00:16:38] Speaker E: 47. I can't wait to the 50th we having a party. With Hazel serving as the president and executive director. During the next several decades, PCR would wage the environmental justice war on multiple fronts and secure key victories for all Gale residents. Extending water and sewage services, a new health clinic, asbestos and PCB removal, lead abatement, and a moratorium on new expanded landfills in Chicago. So right now we're getting ready to pass the facility that we have been talking about all week. It's a place where Hazel Johnson had envisioned where she wanted to take this building and recreate it. She stopped 47 dump trucks from entering in the community. And also that's what started the fight to close down these giant landfills. So in the far corners, I know you see these tall, tall mountain looking things. Those are not mountains. That's garbage. And they no longer operate shout out to pcr. They are regulated by the epa, but they no longer operate as a land. [00:17:52] Speaker B: Throughout the convening, I interviewed members about their experiences. [00:17:56] Speaker A: Introduce yourself. Adela Bass. I am the director of Health Equity and Community Engagement with People for Community Recovery. Great. So can you tell me about why you wanted to be a part of the EJ Forum and bring all of us to Chicago? I wanted to be a part to make sure you got a lived experience with someone that's born and raised from the community, still in the community. But also to educate you on what we've done so far and what we as the newly future of environmental justice, what we're up against. We also learn from our stakeholders and the pave. The waymakers. First thing. [00:18:30] Speaker G: Yeah. [00:18:30] Speaker A: And what do you hope is like one key thing that we all can take away from the tour or how we can get involved to help support your work here? One of the key takeaways is there's still work to be done. It doesn't stop here. It doesn't end here. Just because we have folks that are transitioning out, retiring, the torture is being passed and just learn from what they've done and continue the mission and the legacy of all of our wonderful EJ leaders. [00:18:56] Speaker G: Yeah. [00:18:56] Speaker A: One more question. So the theme of our convening is from frontline power. What do you think the frontline power of PCR is? Hey, young folks. Hazel spirit and the education of her daughter and how she educates us as the future. Can you please introduce yourself and your organization? [00:19:18] Speaker H: Yeah. [00:19:19] Speaker I: My name is Joseph and I work at the Duwamish River Community Coalition. [00:19:23] Speaker J: Great. [00:19:24] Speaker A: How long have you been a part of the EJ Forum? [00:19:27] Speaker I: It's been about two years now, approximately. Because, yeah, GRCC has been involved for a while now. So when I started working at drcc, I was quickly involved. [00:19:39] Speaker F: Great. [00:19:39] Speaker B: And what do you like about being [00:19:40] Speaker A: a part of the EJ Forum and attending the convening? [00:19:43] Speaker I: The convening specifically, I think it's really great to hear where people are at in terms of like all the different issues that are always very similar. I think when I introduce EJ to people, I'm like, oh, yeah, there's. It's hotter in our communities. There's more asthma hospitalizations in our community. And then the second thing I say is like, and this is true nationwide and across the world, there's always these communities that are facing the same things where there's these large disparities. And so it's great to see these people kind of Face to face and connect on those issues and strategize. [00:20:15] Speaker A: Definitely. And what are you going to take away from this convening back to your work at home in Seattle? [00:20:20] Speaker I: I mean it's funny because as people are talking I'm just like texting people at home like or some of our orgs and I'm like, oh, do you guys know about this? You guys know about this? I feel like I sent like like 20 texts today about like oh, just like as just like mental notes as well, because I do take notes but I. [00:20:40] Speaker A: The theme for this year's convening is Frontline Power Organizing for Environmental Justice. What does frontline power mean to you? What's your frontline power? What is the frontline power of the EJ Forum? [00:20:51] Speaker I: Frontline power? Yeah, I mean I just think of like organizing like working with as much people that are already doing like, like adjacent work as. As we're working. So there's like already like organizations doing like farm work and like activating people as well using like people have mentioned popular education. Just like ensuring people are like informing the curriculum that we're, we're building to ensure there's good buy in. And yeah, this is going to go somewhere that there can be some sort of like change. Yes, at the city, county or like state or federal level. But it was also very in line with what it is people are saying through whatever teach ins we're doing or community meetings we're doing. [00:21:34] Speaker G: So great. [00:21:35] Speaker A: Thank you so much. [00:21:38] Speaker J: Hello. [00:21:39] Speaker A: Can you please say your name and your organization? [00:21:42] Speaker F: Janelle Wright with West Atlanta Watershed Alliance. [00:21:45] Speaker A: Wonderful. So how long have you been a part of the EJ forum? [00:21:49] Speaker F: I think officially since 2022, so about four years now roughly. [00:21:53] Speaker A: Yeah. And what's your favorite part of the forum or the convening, broadly speaking? [00:21:58] Speaker F: I think the forum just building power across state lines in a lot of ways. And then also it's a chance for West Atlanta Watershed alliance for WAWA and I think a lot of other southern regional communities to learn more about what the policy structure has looked like in other places and maybe ways to kind of intervene in different ways more locally. So kind of bringing the kind of regional perspective also a little bit down to the more local perspective. [00:22:31] Speaker G: Totally. [00:22:32] Speaker A: And for this year is there a session that you're particularly excited about? I know you just moderated the data center panel so you could talk about that or if there's one you're excited to listen to. [00:22:42] Speaker F: Yeah, I was really excited to see what came from the data center strategy session. It was Kind of fun to just talk that through with other folks and thinking about what power building can be done on the regional level. Because we've seen that Dr. McClain is here and we've seen that done through the summit that they have on an annual basis from the Southeast region. And so just thinking about just the creative ways that we can work across coalitions is really interesting to me. So, yeah, I think that's. That was a highlight for me for this year, definitely. [00:23:17] Speaker A: And my last question is, what are you going to take away from this convening back home to your work? [00:23:24] Speaker F: So much, I think, from that data center panel, thinking just about the ways and this was mentioned in the panel, but just like the specific intersections that are very hyper locally specific to the communities that we serve within and support within Atlanta, particularly who are. Have. Have intergenerational kind of interests in supporting, but are maybe not quite sure what approaches may be most relevant to what's going on. And so I think applying some of the lessons from North Carolina and other places in Atlanta will be, you know, just useful to use. [00:24:06] Speaker G: Great. Yeah. [00:24:08] Speaker A: The theme of this year's convening is frontline Power Organizing for Environmental Justice. What does frontline power mean to you? What's your frontline power? What's our collective frontline power? [00:24:19] Speaker F: I think our collective frontline power is really the unique kind of diversity of knowledge and expertise and perspectives that we just have within the forum, but also on the hyperlocal level that we bring and are willing to share and be open. I think because we've built relationships over the years, it's become this safe space and we feel comfortable enough to share and build what the future could look like. And I think power building happens in these incremental levels over time. And so I feel like over the past, past four years, I've sort of been able to see what that looks like. And I think that power is really built within individuals who come to together in that collective, in that physical space. And being together physically is also very powerful as well. [00:25:10] Speaker J: Definitely. [00:25:11] Speaker A: Thank you so much. Can you guys introduce yourselves? What are your names and what organization are you with? [00:25:20] Speaker H: Yeah, so my name is Doris Marivera. I am the community outreach organizer with teas Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, and we are based in Houston, Texas. [00:25:30] Speaker A: Is there a particular session that you're most excited about? Whether it's one that already happened that you particularly enjoyed, or maybe something that will happen later on? [00:25:39] Speaker H: I think one session that already happened that really spoke to me a lot was the Building Legacy Panel. Honestly, it Just really touched me just to see the work that Dr. Mlan, Cheryl and Peggy have done in their work. You know, it's, it's. It's beautiful stories that are being captured, that are being told especially to, like, us as, like, a younger generation and, you know, passing those stories on, like, whoever we meet in the EJ movement. I know something that Juan, Juan Paras, he is our director for Tejas. Something he always tells us is, you know, as you know, we're getting older, we're not going to be able to continue the movement as much. You know, we're Gonna like how Dr. McLean had said, we'll be in your. In the shadow of whoever's, you know, part of the EJ movement. But something Juan always tells us is that, you know, we need to pass the torch on to, like, those future generations, those who will carry that EJ movement. And something Anna always tells us too is like, you have to have the love in your heart to do this type of work. So just capturing everything that that panel was shared on, it was just something really beautiful and meant a lot to me. [00:26:40] Speaker G: So, yeah. [00:26:42] Speaker A: What is one thing that you'll take away from this convening into your work back in Texas? Is there something you learned or something you're excited to think more about or a connection you made? Anything like that? [00:26:54] Speaker J: Another, something that, as someone mentioned about, like, what the revolution looks like for you and then like, being intentional about, about that. So like, how. I guess for me it's like pushing myself how to be more creative with, with the revolution and bringing that home and then finding joy in, in that creativity as well. Because I know that in, in as we talked about some of the challenges that we face back home, the narrative that is leading by a lot of the industry and polluters is hard to sometimes navigate through. So it's very important for us to have narratives that also, like, are happy and joyful and that bring creativity and also that feed and influence young adults that have that talent. So I think for me, taking that back home is like ensuring that we're also continuing to support, support, like, those talents locally, because if not, AI can easily just replace us. And I don't want that for, like, future generations. Like, I don't want, like, like my nieces and nephews to be like, oh, I'm getting taught how to write perfect prompts so that I can generate this in this specific work. No, like, I want them to actually be able to use their hands and their skill sets as creatives, artists, artisans to produce and co create with communities. So, like, ensuring that we're being intentional. [00:28:18] Speaker A: So the theme of the convening is about our frontline power. So if you could share, what does frontline power mean to you? Whether that's your frontline power, Tejas frontline power, or the EJ forum as a [00:28:30] Speaker J: collective in mind, when I think about, like, frontline power and just collective power, as people were talking as the power of our ancestors, how everyone was speaking to other individuals and the work that they left as a foundation, and how a lot of us are able to work and navigate in these spaces because of that work. And oftentimes people throw that saying, like, you stand on the shoulders of giants. And it's true. We stand on the foundation. A lot of work, not just from elders in the EJ movement, but elders also from the civil rights movement and other movements throughout the history of this country. So I think when I think of frontline power, I think of our ancestral power and all of those individuals that have moved on to be ancestors now, like people like Cecil McCorbet or Representative Makich and Representative Kalva. And then at the local level, we have individuals like Sheila Jackson Lee and other individuals that have navigated spaces and have dealt with different struggles and issues that we may not be facing similar to how they did, but we might be facing different ones. But again, we were able to look back on. [00:29:40] Speaker H: On. [00:29:40] Speaker J: On their efforts and how they navigated and learned from those steps and lessons. [00:29:47] Speaker H: Yeah, I would say a frontline or, [00:29:50] Speaker J: like, a power that. [00:29:51] Speaker H: That the EJLF form has is that it is, like, intersectional. And I just wanted to, like, comment on that. I. I wanted to say it inside. But I do appreciate that the eglf, they allow for us, the youth, to be part of these conversations and to be able to share our stories and our experiences, but also, you know, learning from, like, our. Our own, our elders, our ancestors, too. And I guess, touching on Tejas, I feel like one of our, like, our powers would be that I feel like we're a community based on, like, care. Like, we care a lot about our community. Whether they have passed on or they are still here with us. We honor them either way. Like, we. We pass their stories, we pass their legacies, and we teach them. We go out into the community. We teach, you know, community about, like, who they were, and we do a lot of programming around it, too. So I would say that the power that Tejas has is that we're an organization based on, like, community care. Care a lot about our community. [00:30:47] Speaker A: And yeah, Those are great frontline powers. [00:30:53] Speaker D: Hi, my name is Beto Lugo Martinez. I'm with Riots for Environmental justice out in Kansas City. So a Midwest organization. I got involved with EGLF around 2022 upon moving to Kansas City from California. And the request came, I think, through Cecil Corbin and others in the ejlf. [00:31:15] Speaker A: And you were a panelist on the Midwest session. Are there any sessions that you particularly enjoyed or learned something new from, whether it was the panel you spoke on or any of the panels throughout the week? [00:31:28] Speaker D: I think I really enjoyed our panel just because I think one of the, the impetus of having that panel here was also part of just having the Midwest voice. Right. And so, you know, the, the panelists, the other panelists and I, you know, I think it's important to remember, like, you know, as I, I, you probably heard this before. For me, like, the Midwest needs, you know, to be also be seen and heard. Right. And they are, you know, we do good work out here. All the do good, amazing work. And sometimes it's just, you know, everyone's hearing it from the east coast and the west coast and anything really happening here. So I really enjoyed that panel. I really enjoyed, I mean, there's others I enjoyed. I just wanted to start there. You know, I also enjoyed, you know, we always enjoyed listening to Dr. McLean and Jose Bravo and Peggy. Right. And just the longevity of the, of the movement, how long they've been involved. And then specifically, you know, I really enjoyed the youth where they were speaking. I mean, there wasn't a lot of youth panels, but the youth in the context of on the air monitoring, there was a youth there. So I am sure that their perspectives are much different than the elders in that space. And sometimes, you know, that also creates a little bit of unbalance because they don't want to say things that may sound a little different or like, well, I don't agree. But it's not that they don't agree, it's just that we need to recognize that they are also going to be the ones that inherit this. Right. And so we, we also need to ensure that they have a voice. [00:33:12] Speaker G: Right. [00:33:13] Speaker A: And can you first introduce yourself and your organization? [00:33:16] Speaker G: My name is Rania Masri. I'm the co director of the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network. Great. [00:33:21] Speaker A: So can you start by talking about why you wanted to join the ejlf? [00:33:26] Speaker G: The concept of sitting together with other environmental justice leaders from across the country is fascinating. It's an opportunity for us to learn together, to share resources together, to strategize together. So that concept I find to be wonderful. Great. [00:33:43] Speaker A: And now that we're at the end of the forum, were there any sessions or events that stuck out to you? I know you spoke on the data center panel, and there are a lot of wonderful conversations. So if you could pick out a [00:33:54] Speaker G: highlight, there's two that immediately come to mind. One, the strategy on data centers, what to do if we had a $3 million, I think is great. And I love that kind of question on every issue. And then let's figure out how to raise the money. And second is when we looked at the EJ principles and we each had to choose one and really break it down. And then we had to ask, okay, this is what we want from ijlf. I found that whole process to be wonderfully engaging and very respectful and the complete opposite of extraction. You know, here we have an organization that's asking its members, how can I do better? How can I walk the talk? And I love that. [00:34:34] Speaker A: Is there anything that you're going to take away back to your work home that came out of this week? [00:34:39] Speaker G: I have forgotten that it's been 35 years since the. The principles. We do our annual summit, and our annual summit happens to be in October, which is the 35th anniversary. So we're going to see how we're going to uplift those principles, most definitely. And yes, there's a lot of people I need to be in touch with to send the material on data centers, send those toolkits, and hopefully assist other states and organizing strategic convenings. Very cool. [00:35:04] Speaker A: And then finally, the theme of this week's or this year's convening was frontline power. What does frontline power mean to you, to your organization, and how did you see that manifest at the convening? [00:35:16] Speaker G: It means organizing to win. That's what frontline power means to me, means organizing to win. Not simply organizing to organize or organizing to mobilize or organizing to speak out. But we are organizing with the clear intention of winning, and hopefully we can get better people at position of power. Great. [00:35:34] Speaker A: Thank you so much. I'll start by introducing yourself and your organization. [00:35:38] Speaker G: Yes, I'm Valerie Ann Johnson, also known as Dr. V.J. with the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network. [00:35:46] Speaker A: Definitely. Now that the convening is over, what was a moment that stuck out to you, whether it was a panel, part of the tour, or even just a conversation that you had? If you could pick one. [00:35:56] Speaker G: Oh, if I could pick one. I think being introduced to the work that's being done in the Chicago area in The Midwest. And then having the tour to help us see, you know, what the extent of the work. I knew it intellectually of what Hazel Johnson had been doing, and I knew about the doughnut, but to see the doughnut, to experience it, to smell, even through my mask, I could smell the chemicals. Punctuated to me how important the work is, how important it is. We do it together in community. And so. And that we get the framing in the beginning of what is the work they're doing, what is the history behind that work? And then, of course, celebrating with them 47 years. [00:36:48] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:36:48] Speaker G: Today, 27 today. Yay. [00:36:51] Speaker A: Is there anything that you learned that you're going to take back with you back home in your work? [00:36:57] Speaker G: It's probably lost, I think the strategic planning sessions that we did. Part of it is important to have the thinking time and to kind of brainstorm, but then to do something tangible. It's given this amount of money, what would you do with it? What do you want as a member of ejlf? For ejlf to support and to do. And that was. That process to me was really important and the way we were able to interact. So it wasn't just, okay, I'm sending a panel, but you got an exciting panel, got charged up. But then you took that energy into doing something with it. And the same with the. With Jalon and having the framing of the principles. That was really nice. [00:37:49] Speaker A: Great. And my last question is. So the theme of this convening was frontline power. What does frontline power mean to you or mean to your organization? [00:37:59] Speaker G: It means being of support to the communities that come to us with. Because we're a network with issues, with problems and making sure that they're interconnected. And the other piece that came out of the EJ principles activity that I'm taking back is being more intentional about our connection with disability justice. I raised the issue, and I figured when someone raises an issue about something, you better be prepared to do the work that goes with it. So in community with our sister members, I would like to be more forward in our intentionality about disability justice. How do we do that in a way that's respectful, that isn't us dictating that we are truly in community with one another. Yeah. [00:38:53] Speaker A: That would be a great way for the EGLF to expand and work with allied organizations on that issue. [00:38:59] Speaker G: Exactly. And they're asking like our disability movements folk are asking, it's just how do. How do we make this happen in a way that's equitable, that isn't patronizing or any of the other negatives that being fully a part of the solution making. Well, great. [00:39:19] Speaker A: Thank you so much. You were great. It.