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May 22, 2025 88 mins

Welcome to Compassiviste Dialogues. I'm Ali, your host, and my mission with this podcast is to shed light on critical social and environmental issues worldwide, exploring avenues for positive change.

ABOUT GUEST:

Rebecca Bratspies is a professor at CUNY Law and the founding director of the Center for Urban Environmental Reform. A scholar in environmental justice and human rights, she has published extensively in academic journals and public forums.

Her award-winning book, Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York Place Names, received the NY Public Historians’ 2023 Excellence in Local History Award, the NYC Big Book Award for History, and the 2024 American Legacy Book Award for US History. Her co-authored textbook, Environmental Justice: Law, Policy, and Regulation, is used in classrooms nationwide.

Rebecca also co-created (with artist Charlie LaGreca-Velasco) the EPA-award-winning graphic novel series The Environmental Justice Chronicles, which engages young readers in civic education through storytelling and visual art.

KEY NOTES:

The Intersection of Creativity and Academia: How Rebecca Bridges Both Worlds Understanding the Importance of Census Data in Shaping Policy The Role of FOIA in Promoting Government Transparency What Happens When Policy Fails the People? Closing the Gap: Can Policy Truly Amplify Marginalized Voices? Defining a Healthy Environment: What Does It Really Mean?

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Episode Trailer 01:30 – Intro 02:44 – What Sparked Rebecca’s Passion for Justice? 11:20 – Bridging Creativity and Academia 16:48 – What Is the Census and Why Does It Matter? 19:45 – Demystifying Census Data 22:38 – Can FOIA Ensure Government Transparency? 27:42 – What Can the Public Do When Policy Fails? 32:03 – Can Policy Truly Amplify Marginalized Voices? 36:53 – What Defines a Healthy Environment? 40:49 – Solving the Environmental Justice Placement Challenge 50:05 – From Privilege to Social Responsibility 58:17 – How Can We Spark Global Change? 01:02:59 – Why Do We Overconsume as a Society? 01:07:35 – Naming Gotham: The Stories Behind New York’s Neighborhoods 01:16:14 – Today’s Challenges in Justice and Environmental Law 01:19:51 – The Social and Environmental Crisis We Must Face 01:25:30 – Outro & Rebecca’s Book

THINGS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-bratspies-56b4078/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbratspies/ Website:  https://www.rebeccabratspies.com/environmental-justice-chronicles

TO LEARN MORE AND STAY CONNECTED:

🌐 Visit our website: https://compassivistedialogues.com/ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qt8cYHeIcDmDV8zPKNxMw 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/compassiviste-dialogues/id1735926709

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Compassiviste/61555898333856/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassiviste/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@compassiviste Twitter: https://twitter.com/compassiviste LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/compassiviste/

Tune in, follow, and embark on this insightful journey with us. Your vision's transformation begins now. 🚀🌟

#podcast #environmentalism #socialchange #civilrights #sustainability #technology #compassiviste #humanitarian #charity #nonprofit #podcasts #compassivistepublishing #compassivistedialogues #nonprofitstories #thelastofus #nationalgeographic #science #earth #climatechange #biology #education #humanrights #RebeccaBratspies #waste #wastemanagement #zerowasteriseandfall #plasticwaste #cleaning #planetearth #globalwarming #environment #ecosystem #greenenergy #pollution #climate

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