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Environmental Justice Network in Action
Recognition that a disproportionate share of environmental problems such as pollution, nearby industrial facilities, and unclean drinking water have been born by certain groups—racial minorities, women, economically disadvantaged persons, and residents of developing countries—has led to the environmental justice movement.
Environmental justice refers to an equitable distribution of the risks and benefits arising from decisions that affect people’s health and the environment. An environmental justice approach includes all affected parties in the decision-making process.
The Environmental Justice Network in Action, or EJNA, is a partnership between the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, community-based organizations, non-profit groups and government agencies. More than fifteen organizations participate as EJNA Partners.
EJNA goals
The EJNA works to develop reciprocal relationships between community-based organizations, or CBO’s, non-profit groups and government agencies. Specific goals include the following:
- identify the key environmental and health concerns of low income communities, people of color, and immigrant and refugee communities through jointly conducted needs assessments
- identify the public engagement strategies that work best for particular populations and share these
- improve the capacity of CBOs, non-profit groups and government agency partners to design, deliver and evaluate programs and services.
For more information about the EJNA, contact Michael Davis at 206-615-1376 or Michael.Davis@Seattle.Gov or Marcella Wilson at 206-386-4016 or Marcella.Wilson@Seattle.Gov.
EJNA accomplishments
EJNA is building capacity in community groups by creating reciprocal relationships between CBOs, non-profit groups and government agencies. EJNA partners contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of all projects.
EJNA is creating community assessments by asking people about the significant environmental health problems in their neighborhoods, about the cultural and family norms related to these, and about the most effective strategies for communicating with them. Community partners receive relevant training and are supported in outreach efforts within their particular communities.
For example, because EJNA has learned that many communities respond best to visual and hands-on activities, presentations are often paired with field trips: a talk about household hazardous waste may be accompanied by a field trip to the household hazardous waste facility, transfer station or landfill. In the same vein, outreach booths at events and festivals incorporate hands-on activities whenever possible.
Environmental justice resources
EJNA Partner List
Choosing and Working with Translators
Engaging Diverse Communities
Key Strategies for Engaging Diverse Communities
Public Engagement Consultants
Non Profit and Ethnic Media List
Translation and Interpreter Vendor List
Glossary of Terms
Demographics
Translated Material
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
