This person or group’s work advocates for equitable and fair involvement of marginalized communities in their environment.

Philadelphia’s SustainPHL Awards highlights and celebrates these community changemakers. Join us to honor them and announce the recipient at the SustainPHL Awards on October 19th at the Academy of Natural Sciences. 

Veggie Mijas

Veggie Mijas is a collective of people of color dedicated to raising awareness about the limited access to healthy resources in underserved communities, animal liberation, and environmental justice. Their focus revolves around creating more opportunities for their community to connect with nature and access green spaces. This includes engaging in activities like garden work at Las Parcelas community garden, organizing hiking trips, hosting foraging events, and more.

The Philadelphia chapter of Veggie Mijas actively promotes sustainability through various programming and events. Past activities have included garden clean-ups, book swaps, and clothing swaps, aiming to provide opportunities for members to participate in and learn about sustainable practices. You can find more information about Veggie Mijas and their initiatives on their website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.

John Armstead

John Armstead serves as the Chairman of the Philadelphia Environmental Justice Commission and brings extensive experience from his 42-year career as a Senior Executive Service Director at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region III office. Additionally, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at Villanova University, specializing in environmental sciences.

In his role as Chair of the Philadelphia Environmental Justice Commission, John is leading efforts to provide grant opportunities to local environmental justice communities within the city. His commitment to environmental justice extends to his personal interests, as he is actively involved in introducing inner-city youth to swimming and water-related activities.

John Armstead’s distinguished career and dedication to environmental justice make him a significant contributor to Philadelphia’s efforts in this field. You can find more information about his work on his LinkedIn profile and the provided links.

Korin Tangtrakul and Taylor Quinland

Korin Tangtrakul and Taylor Quinland are spearheading the “Eastwick: From Recovery to Resilience” initiative within the Office of Sustainability. Over the past year, they have excelled in collaborating with community groups and coordinating efforts with various partners, including USACE, FEMA, PEMA, EPA, and the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge. Their proactive pursuit of federal funding aims to address issues related to flooding and environmental justice.

Their approach involves engaging the Eastwick community in both short-term and long-term solutions while empowering them to participate in decision-making. Their efforts are directly benefiting Eastwick residents by helping them build resilience against flooding while prioritizing environmental justice and transparency.

Korin and Taylor’s dedication to community-led solutions is evident in their hard work and passion for making a positive impact on the Eastwick neighborhood

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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