Celebrating Environmental Justice Pioneer Dr. Beverly Wright: A Juneteenth Special Episode
In a recent re-airing of the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice podcast, Dr. Beverly Wright, the executive director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, discussed her journey as an environmental justice pioneer. The episode originally aired in June 2023 and was re-aired to celebrate Juneteenth, highlighting Dr. Wright’s work on justice and equity.
Dr. Wright shared details about two impactful projects at the Deep South Center. The first project, Justice40, aims to ensure that the billions of dollars allocated by the Biden administration address the environmental harm and climate change impacts faced by marginalized communities. The second project, Beyond Petrochemicals, focuses on addressing the proliferation of petrochemical plants in areas like Cancer Alley in Louisiana, where communities, primarily African American, bear the brunt of pollution and health risks.
She emphasized the importance of philanthropy and nonprofit support in sustaining environmental justice organizations like hers. Dr. Wright also highlighted the need to focus on the mission and ignore negative distractions to stay on course. She shared insights on navigating challenges and making a lasting impact in the environmental justice movement.
Dr. Wright also discussed international collaborations, particularly with African countries, and the efforts to connect universities and communities to address environmental issues. She mentioned upcoming initiatives to engage African students and faculty in climate change discussions.
In closing, Dr. Wright encouraged listeners to pay attention to emerging groups like the National Black Environmental Justice Network and the Solutions Project, recognizing their impactful work in the environmental justice space. The conversation with Dr. Wright provided valuable insights into the challenges and successes of environmental justice advocacy and the importance of staying focused on the mission despite obstacles.