A CLEAN, HEALTHY, JUST and EQUITABLE Environment for All Virginians!
The mission of the VEJC is to build the health and wealth of communities of color, low income communities, and communities overburdened by pollution in Virginia by reducing the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards through educating, empowering, and mobilizing grassroots organizations and individuals to speak for themselves and through building an alliance to advocate for equitable policies and practices.
VEJC Coordinator Queen Shabazz with former Vice President Al Gore at the Union Hill rally
Executive Order 73 Announcement - Present are VEJC Members Kate Boyle (Appalachian Voices), Angela Harris (Southeast CARE Coalition), Josie Mace (NVM), Beth Roach (ACEJ), Dawone Robinson (NRDC), Queen Zakia Shabazz (UPAL), Harrison Wallace (CCAN). Also shown: Quan Williams, Alden Cleanthes and Kate Addleson. Thank you Governor McAuliffe!!!
Kendyl Crawford (VAIPL), Queen Shabazz, Matthew Strickler (Secretary Natural Resources), Harison Wallace (CCAN),
Kevin Halligan (AMMD)
Air and Water Quality
As we address and clean up the Chesapeake Bay Watershed we must also acknowledge the Chesapeake’s Airshed which covers a much larger area than the Watershed itself. For several years Richmond, VA held the distinction of being the Asthma Capital of the U.S. The biggest offenders are pollution, particulates and poverty.
Environmental Racism
Environmental racism is a type of discrimination where people of low-income or minority communities are forced to live in close proximity of environmentally hazardous or degraded environments, such as toxic waste, pollution and urban decay. While other communities get to say
NOT IN MY BACK YARD.
Climate Change,
Flooding and
Sea Level Rise in VA
Climate change threatens serious harm to Virginia’s people, economy and its treasured natural resources. These threats cannot be avoided simply by denying that they exist.
As heat waves increase, the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths in Virginia will grow. Coastal flooding, which already threatens Norfolk and the Hampton Roads area, is likely to worsen as sea levels rise.