Committee will take steps of addressing enviromnetal justice and creating a resilient future.

The City and Office of Sustainability announced the launch of its first Environmental Justice Advisory Commission (EJAC), including the 17 residents selected.

The Environmental Justice Commission began in 2019 with legislation to provide recommendations to the Mayor, City Council and Office of Sustainability to address environmental justice issues in Philadelphia, from neighborhoods to the waterways.

Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson worked to get funding for the Commission, to the tune of $206,000. “That’s how you truly address environmental justice communities, by involving and centering those who are most impacted by the built environment and all the inequities that created,” explained Gilmore Richardson.

As EJAC member and Adjunct Professor of Villanova University John Armstead explained, it’s important that everyone is at the table, especially around in regards to zoning and urban planning.

“You got to have a conversation with the community to understand what’s happening around them and the impacts of the past decisions,” said Armstead. “How do we address those (impacts) going forward?”

Members of the Environmental Justice Advisory Commission

• John A. Armstead
• Nahdir Austin
• Radika Bhaskar
• Paul Devine Bottone
• Carlos Claussell
• Mariel Diana Featherstone
• Ebony Griffin
• Terrill Haigler
• Joyce Lee
• Su Ly
• Carolyn Moseley
• Kermit O
• Gabriella Gabriel Paez
• Tyler Ray
• Kinteshia Scott
• Jerome Shabazz
• Syreeta Thomas

In addition to the resident-led group, the City announced the creation of an Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice, and a community resilience and environmental justice grant fund to pursue environmental justice.

Here’s a few clips from the press conference:

@greenphilly Philadelphia is addressing environmental justice. Here’s how. #environmentaljustice #phillytiktok #phillytok #greenphilly #phillypeople ? Comfort Chain – Instupendo

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher