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EPA’s 2012 Southeast Regional Environmental Justice Conference
EPA’s 2012 Southeast Regional Environmental Justice Conference, “Promoting Environmental Justice through Effective Education, Collaboration, and Mobilization”
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Office of Environmental Justice hosted the Regional Environmental Conference on August 16-17, 2012. The conference was held at the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center in Atlanta, GA. The conference goals were:
- To develop tangible solutions to address environmental, health, and social impacts affecting communities with environmental justice concerns;
- To educate the attendees on the environmental, health, and social impacts affecting communities with environmental justice concerns; and
- To provide networking opportunities for environmental justice leaders and organizations.
Over 200 people, representative of all stakeholder groups, attended the conference and built relationships that will benefit their communities and promote sustainable growth. Workshops and sessions were led by experts in their field.
Purpose:
This conference promoted environmental justice by:
- Identifying the presence and impact of health problems in environmental justice communities;
- Increasing stakeholder understanding of the public health impacts of unequal distribution of environmental pollution;
- Helping stakeholders to identify their problems, develop and implement creative solutions and share project success stories;
- Identifying tools and strategies environmental justice organizations can use to sustain themselves once federal and state funding have ceased;
- Using environmental justice, within each state, as a theme to build partnerships with state and local government officials, community groups, academics, industry and others; and
- Providing technical assistance, such as grant writing training, to help stakeholders advance their environmental justice efforts.
Although the federal government has taken measures to ensure environmental equality, an effective strategy must incorporate perspectives from a diverse group of impacted stakeholders. This conference promoted education, collaboration and mobilization among environmental justice community groups; environmental organizations; federal, state and local government officials; academic institutions; and other interested stakeholders to help us all better identify and implement solutions for communities that are most overburdened by environmental pollution.
Presentations
Links to select conference presentations provided below will be available through November 5, 2012.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Achieving Environmental Justice: Past, Present and Future
- Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming, EPA, Regional Administrator
- Lisa Garcia, EPA, Office of the Administrator, Senior Advisor on Environmental Justice
- Dr. Mildred McClain, Executive Director, Citizens for Environmental Justice
- Mustafa Ali, EPA, Office of Environmental Justice
- Nataki Osborne-Jelks, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance
Environmental Justice, Health Disparities, and Policy
- Dr. C. Anneta Arno, Ph.D., MPH, Director, Center for Health Equity, Department of Public Health and Wellness
- Dr. Paul Juarez, Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Meharry Medical College
- Dr. Kathryn Martin, PHD, MPA, Associate Dean, Southeast Georgia Campus, Medical College of Georgia
- Dr. Stephen Verderber, Arch.D., NCARB, Professor of Architecture, Adjunct Professor of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University
- Arlene Lester, Regional Minority Health Consultant, U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, Region IV
- Dr. Wansoo Im, Assistant Professor, Meharry Medical College
- Dr. Sharunda Buchanan, PhD, Director, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Building Blocks to Sustainability and Environmental Justice (Capacity Building/Organizational Development)
- Azania Heyward James, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- J. Kyle Bryant, EPA, Region 4, Superfund Division
- Curtis Singleton, Attorney
- Dr. Yomi Noibi, Executive Director, EcoAction Network
Effective use of Large Scale use of Large Scale Campus and Community Projects to Engage Environmental Justice while Promoting the Green Economy
- Felicia Davis, UNCF, Green Program
- Art Frazier, Director, Facilities Management and Services, Spelman College
- Beth McMillan, Atlanta Beltline Project
- Paul Clay, Restoration Services, Inc.
Developing Sustainable Partnerships to Create Sustainable Communities
- David Hooker, University of Georgia
- Reginald Barner, Barner Group and Graniteville CDIC
- Deeohn Ferris, President, Sustainable Community Development Group, Inc.
- Sarita Turner, Fellow, PolicyLink
- Anne Keller, EPA, Region 4, Office of the Regional Administrator
- Sheldon Jobe, Sustainable Community Development Group
Breakthrough Technologies Needed in Environmental Jsutice Communities with Concerns
- Mark Mitchell, National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and
- Louisiana Sanders, Graniteville Community Coalition
- Reginald Barner, Graniteville CDIC
Bridging the Gap: Opportunities for Collaboration with Minority Serving Institutions/Minority Academic Institutions
- Michael Burns, Department of Interior, national Park Service
- Ty Couey President, National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Alumni Associations
- George Seaborough, Executive Director, Savannah State University Community Futures Corporation
Cliamte Change and Environmental Justice: Mitigating Challeges and Advancing Opportunities
- Theresa Dardar, Pointe-au-Chien, Louisiana
- Sharon Hanshaw, Coastal Women for Change
- Dr. Fatemeh Shafiei, Spelman College
- Jacqueline Patterson, Diretor, Climate Justice Initiative, NAACP
- Frances B. Roberts-Gregory, Student, Spelman College
- Jennifer Tlumak, Student, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
State Agency/Community Engagement Networking Meeting
- Gloria Tatum, Tatum & Associates, LLC
- Na'Taki Osborne Jelks, National Wildlife Federation
- Bobbie Paul, Georgia Wand
- Dr. Yomi Noibi, ECO-ACTION
- Bishop James Black, Center for Environmental and Economic Justice
- Vernice Miller-Travis, Vice Chair, Maryland State Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities
Effective Ways to Promote Environmental Justice: Table Topics Luncheon
- Mobilizing EJ Communities Using Social Networking Tools - Deirdre Couey
- Age Proofing EJ Organizations: Mentoring Youth and Developing New Leaders - Andrea Price-Lippitt
- Evaluating Organizational Effectiveness: How to Integrate it Into Daily Operations - Clara Axam
- The Grants Rut: Identifying Sustainable and Nontraditional Sources of Funding and Revenue - Tyrone Couey
- Continuing Education Opportunities for Grassroots Leaders - Clarence Williamson
- EJ Communities Organizing Around Nuclear Power Plants - Bobbie Paul
- How to Facilitate a Meaningful, Engaging Process? - Tonya Whitsett
- Updates on Plan EJ 2014 - Charles Lee, EPA, HQ, Deputy Director, Office of Environmental Justice
- Corporate Social Responsibility and How It Works for EJ - Laura Lee Bocade
- Addressing Health Disparities: National Initiatives and Priorities - Sonja S. Hutchins, Captain
- Preserving History and Culture in Communities with Environmental Justice Concerns - Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine
Friday, August 17, 2012
Achieving Environmental Justice: Best Practices and Success Stories - Collaborations Between Communities, Government Agencies, Business and Industry
- Dr. LaToria Whitehead, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health(NCEH)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry(ATSDR)
- Wynetta Wright, Chairwomen, Eastside Environmental Council Inc,. Jacksonville, FL
- Derrick Evans, Exectutive Director, Turkey Creek Community Initiatives
- Karen Sprayberry, Community Liaison, Environmental Quality Control Administration, SC Department of Health and Environmental Control
Representing Your Constituents and Advocating for Your Communities
- Harold Mitchell, Jr., Executive Director, ReGenesis
- Dr. Swannie Jett, DrPH, Executive Director, Bullitt County Health Department, Sheperdsville, KY
The "Whole Community" Partnership: Resources and Tools for Building Disaster Resilient Communities
- Ryan Jones, Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Department
- Bruce Jeffries, Georiga Department of Publice Health, Environmental Health Department
- Archie Hirschmann, Charleston County EMS
- Candace Burrell, Community Preparedness Officer, Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region IV
- Lynda Lowe, Senior Emergency Mangement Program Specialist, Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Mangement Agency, Region IV
- Terry Lunn, Director, Hazard Mitigation Division, Georgia emergency Management Agency
- Dee Langley, Planning Program Manger, Hazard Mitigation Division, Georgia Emergency Management, Agency
- Angi Whatley, Director, Public Assistance Program, Georgia Emergency Management Agency
- Jennifer Kline, Coastal Hazards Specialist, Georgia Department of natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division
Effective Ways of Engaging Communities in Environmental Justice while Promoting the Green Economy
- Garry Harris, Founder and President, Center for Sustainable Communities/HTS
- Von Nkosi, Founder and Principal, LIQUID Studios
- Janelle Williams, Cheif of Research, Evaluation, and Policy, the Center for working families
- Laura Lee Bocade, DIRTT Enviornmental Solutions
Understanding and Utilizing NEPA and Title VI
- Omega Wilson, Environmental Justice Consultant, West End Revitalization Association
- Patrick Moore, SC States Port Authority
- Herb Frasier Rahim, Community Member, Low Countries Alliance for Model Communities
- Naima Halim-Chestnut, Director, Office of Civil Rights, EPA, Region 4 (Invited)
- Wannetta Mallette, Project Manager, City of North Charleston, SC
- Stephen (Steve) Guranus, Community Stuides Team Leader & ICE Permitting Coordintor, North Carolina Department of Transportation
- Ntale Kajumba, EPA, Region 4, NEPA Program Office
Using Alternative Disptue Resolution Techniquies to Address EJ Concerns
- Lisa Ellis, Office of Environmental Accountability, EPA, Region 4
- Frank Dukes, Director, Institute for Environmental Negotiation, Universty of Virginia
- Suzi Ruhl, Senior Attorney Advisor, EPA, HQ, Office of Environmental Justice
Public Participation Using Geograpic Information System Tools
- Dr. Paul Juarez, Assistant Professsor, Meharry Medical College
- Dr. Wansoo Im, Assistant Professor, Meharry Medical College
Grant Writing 101: Preparing your Organization to Submit Effective Grant Proposals
- Sheila Lewis, EPA, HQ, Office of Environmental Justice
- Sheritta Woodruff, EPA, HQ, Office of Environmental Justice
- Cynthia Peurifoy, EPA, Region 4, Office of Environmental Justice
- Shirley Grayer, EPA, Region 4, Grants Management Office
Getting To Know Your Community: Learning the Tools to Conduct an Environmental Justice
Description: Participants will learn different aspects of environmental justice, assesments and how to access data from the US Census Bureau and other EPA assesment tools. This session is computer-based, interactive and will utilize a hands-on approach for participants to familiarize themselves with the capabilities and limitations of the different tools and databases.
- Kedesch Altidor Dorcély, EPA, Region 4, Office of Environmental Justice
CO-SPONSORS
We thank our co-sponsors for their support and for their assistance with the conference.
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Center for Sustainable Communities
Emory University, Office of Sustainability Initiatives
Restoration Services, Inc.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary for Health
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE
The conference planning committee was comprised of a group of individuals representing various stakeholder groups. The committee was instrumental in formulating and organizing the conference agenda.
Note: A link to the conference booklet has been added as a reference and will be available through November 5, 2012.