Assisting Congress to Better Understand Environmental Justice - Spring

Advisor: Gail Suchman 

Low-income communities and communities of color in the United States are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards, often living near landfills, power plants, wastewater treatment facilities, and other polluting sites while lacking access to parks, recreation, and open space. These inequities stem in part from limited social and political capital, which reduces the ability of affected communities to advocate for environmental protections.

Founded in 1988, the community-based non-profit WE ACT for Environmental Justice has become a national leader in promoting environmental justice. In the past year, WE ACT expanded with a Washington, D.C., office to strengthen its federal advocacy efforts. This project supports WE ACT’s mission by developing educational materials for members of the House of Representatives and their staff to raise awareness of environmental justice issues.

The research team produced three primary outputs. First, they developed a model for preparing community case studies, which was used to screen 13 states and select three target communities for further study. Second, the team completed detailed case studies of these communities: the Manchester neighborhood in Houston, Texas, affected by industrial air pollution; the Elyria-Swansea and Globeville neighborhoods in Denver, Colorado, burdened by industry, highways, and Superfund sites; and communities in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico, impacted by uranium and coal mining and hydraulic fracturing. Finally, the case studies were distilled into concise one-page fact sheets to serve as accessible educational tools.

These outputs provide WE ACT with resources to educate policymakers, increase public awareness among affected communities, and support grassroots advocacy. By empowering residents and legislators alike, the project advances environmental justice and promotes policy solutions to mitigate environmental and public health inequities.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Capstone Workshop.