Rising Tides

In this episode, I speak with Christopher Chavez, Deputy Policy Director at the Coalition for Clean Air, about his journey from growing up in Long Beach to becoming a leading advocate for air justice in California. Drawing from personal experience in one of the state’s most polluted regions, Chavez shares what inspired him to enter public service and how his work today connects policy to the real-life impacts of air pollution.
...

In this episode, I'm joined by Chanell Fletcher, Deputy Executive Officer of Equity, Communities & Environmental Justice at the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Ms. Fletcher leads statewide efforts to ensure that all communities, especially those historically marginalized, have access to clean air and protection from climate harm.

We talk about how policies like redlining and zoning have created unequal air ...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Benjamin Pauli, Associate Professor at Kettering University and longtime environmental justice advocate, to unpack the Flint water crisis: what caused it, who was responsible, and how the people of Flint fought back. Dr. Pauli shares his insights as a researcher, activist, and Flint resident, tracing how unelected emergency managers made top-down decisions and how those decisions led to widespre...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Kimberly Jones about water justice in our communities. Dr. Jones dives deep into the pressing issue of water insecurity, exploring where our water comes from, who controls it, and the social, economic, and environmental factors that impact access to safe drinking water.  From the ongoing challenges of contamination and pollution to the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities, Dr. Jones ...

In this episode, Professor Clifford Villa explains what toxic waste is, how its disposal disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, and how the Superfund program aims to address these inequities.

Professor Villa served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for the EPA Office of Land and Emergency Management, where he led policy initiatives across a range of programs and supported the Biden Administration's goals...

In our first episode, Professor Running-Grass introduces the concept of environmental justice, reviews its origins and principles, and talks about the future direction of this movement.

Professor Running-Grass is an educator and a long-time social justice and environmental activist. His expertise spans several fields including multicultural education, critical pedagogy, and environmental education. He led the creation of T...