Environmental Justice Pathways (Beyond Toxics Webinars)

This Environmental Justice Pathways Webinar focused on the role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in data, research, and policy-making. The panelists–Tribal staff, knowledge holders, and scientists–discussed best practices when applying TEK in land stewardship, and how to avoid the misuse or exploitation of this knowledge.

Our featured panelists:
Wenix Red Elk, Public Outreach/Education Specialist, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Colleen Sanders, Climate Adaptation Planner, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Susan Fricke, Water Quality Program Manager, Karuk Tribe
Robert Kentta, Treasurer, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians

Moderated by:
Lara A. Jacobs, Mvskoke Creek Citizen, Forest Ecosystems and Society, Ph.D. Student, Oregon State University

This webinar focused on the intersections between environmental degradation and unhealthy working conditions experienced by frontline communities. Impacts are unique due to the type of work, place, ability, access, nationality and race and the application of workplace safety protocols.

Our featured panelists:
Martha Sonato, Political Director, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN)
Susan Sygall, CEO and Co-Founder of Mobility International USA
Ira Cuello-Martinez, Community Defense Coordinator, VOZ Workers’ Rights Education Project

Moderated by Kate Suisman, Attorney and Campaigns Coordinator, Northwest Workers’ Justice Project.

This webinar brings in diverse perspectives on what a Right to Clean Air means for our communities’ well-being and health. It sparks a discussion of the intersections between the current public health and social crises we are experiencing today, and how they are made worse by dirty and polluted air.

Moderated by Benjamin Duncan, the Chief Officer of Diversity and Equity, Multnomah County.

Panelists:

Tony DeFalco, Executive Director of VERDE
Mary Peveto, President of Neighbors for Clean Air
Ana Molina, Statewide Environmental Justice Manager for Beyond Toxics

See the related interview with Dr. Lauren Herbert , pediatric infectious diseases specialist, on YouTube about the connection between air pollution and COVID-19.

To provide space for creative and artistic responses to environmental injustices, we’ve showcased the talent of 4 young local artists. These artists use storytelling, photography, and cinematography to imagine relevant and accessible solutions to environmental, climate, and racial justice.

Environmental Justice Pathways YOUTH ARTISTS:

Paul Wilson, Video – “Rios to Rivers”: Paul is a photographer and cinematographer who uses storytelling to document the sovereignty of Tribal Nations and water stewardship.

Naily Nevarez, Video – “Homero Gomez Gonzalez”: Naily is a multi-disciplinary artist whose videos, animations and website design use storytelling as a tool to build empathy for the lived experience of marginalized communities.

Grace Burks, Poem – “from they who voicelessly screams.”: Grace, a poet and Honors Undergraduate at Oregon State University, will make attendees consider the future of mother earth and those who depend on it.

AWW, Poem – “Howling”: A.W.W., a young, non-binary individual will read “howling”, a written piece that challenges violent narratives through creative works, poetry, and performance art.

This webinar discusses the racial impacts of COVID-19, noting historical patterns observed during pandemic-like situations and how communities are shaping a caring response to a public health crisis in place of an efficient government plan.

Panelists:

Pradnya Garud
Pradnya is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Geography, Development, and Environment at the University of Arizona and holds a courtesy research assistant position in the Department of Sociology at the University of Oregon. She received her Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Disaster Preparedness and Response. Prior to starting the Ph.D. program, she worked as a research and advocacy associate at a human rights organization in New Delhi, India.She is an environmental justice scholar and currently serves as the co-president of Beyond Toxics. | (See Pradnya’s presentation, “Ecological Perspectives on Pandemics” – PDF)

Eric Richardson
Eric is the Executive Director of the National Association for
the Advancement of colored people Eugene/ Springfield Oregon Unit #1119: Before he was appointed as the Executive Director of the NAACP Eugene/Springfield Unit in 2019, Eric served as the president of the chapter for four years.

Dr. Eva Galvez
Dr. Galvez is a board certified family physician at Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. She has over 15 years of experience working in federally qualified community health centers. As a bilingual and bi-cultural clinician and growing up as the daughter of a Mexican immigrants and seasonal farm workers she brings a deep understanding of the health issues affecting this community. Her particular interests are in the health disparities that affect the Latino community, exploring the root causes, and finding ways to address them, so that we can strive for a more equitable Oregon.

Joel Iboa
Joel is the Coalition Manager for CAUSA Oregon, Oregon’s immigrant rights organization. Throughout his career, he has led coalitions defending against anti-immigrant and anti-muslim policies and ballot measures. He currently serves as the chair of the Eugene Human Rights Commission, and is the youngest person to be elected chair for the Oregon Governor’s Environmental Justice Task Force.

Moderator:
Haley Case-Scott, Climate Justice Grassroots Organizer with Beyond Toxics and the NAACP Eugene/Springfield.

BIG THANKS to our Sponsors: Meyer Memorial Trust, MRG Foundation, and Ceres Trust.

Experts in Oregon’s social and racial history, discuss historical intersections of race, economy, and environment in Oregon. The panelists framed how past injustices impact Oregon’s current environmental policy and what we must do to confront a pattern of injustice in our state.

Panelists:

David Harrelson
David is the Cultural Resources Department Manager and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer – Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

Gwendolyn Trice
Gwendolyn is the Founder and Executive Director of the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center. Gwen is a descendant of black families who moved to Eastern Oregon to join logging crews and contribute to Oregon’s timber economy. Gwen served on the Oregon State Advocacy Commission of Black Affairs for 5 years, and currently serves on the State Historic Preservation Committee.

Ramon Ramirez
Ramon is a Taconic Fellow of the Washington D.C based organization, Community Change; Founding member and former president of PCUN, Oregon Farmworkers Union. Ramon has provided strong leadership for Oregon’s Latinx community and has mentored new generations of young leaders for decades.

Linda Tamura
Linda is an author and Professor Emerita of Education at Willamette University and a co-editor-in-chief of The Oregon Encyclopedia. Linda is a descendant of Japanese families who moved to the Hood River Valley to farm and contribute to Oregon’s agricultural sector.

Moderator:
Laura Pulido: Professor and Department Head, University of Oregon Department of Ethnic Studies