Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the Evanston Environmental Justice Conversation Series, co-sponsored by a coalition of civic and religious organizations (including Environmental Justice Evanston, a group which I am now supporting). Keynote speakers and panelists were folks with deep personal and professional experience in the impacts of racial injustice. One thread in my … Continue reading ‘Why is this happening to us? We know why it’s happening.’
Author: Jeff Merrell
Notes and quotes
A few notes and quotes from recent readings and research. The thread here is the power - and necessity - of connectedness. Environmental justice pioneer Hazel Johnson The arc of the story of environmental justice pioneer Hazel Johnson is instructive. As is the maturity of the organization she founded in 1979 - People for Community … Continue reading Notes and quotes
Happiness
I just returned from a 10 day trip, with my wife Jamie, along the coast of Maine. Our first visit to the state. In the final days of our stay I remarked that every Mainer we encountered just seemed so...nice. "I think they're just happy," Jamie said. And that was it. Folks just seemed happy. … Continue reading Happiness
Monthly update (September): Environmental equity, community listening and pedagogy that rhymes with design practice
I took a step back during the past month to reflect on what I am learning about environmental equity and community listening, and what each means to me. All of this is a learning work-in-progress. I am starting to frame environmental equity as a challenge consisting of two types of work: Repair work: Intentional re-investment … Continue reading Monthly update (September): Environmental equity, community listening and pedagogy that rhymes with design practice
Revisited: What if everybody’s job is to do repair?
I've been thinking about a post that I wrote earlier this year: What if everybodyโs job is to do repair? It's on my mind after several meetings with folks in my network and running across some new readings. It all points toward the lesson of be present and do stuff, but also, I now think, to … Continue reading Revisited: What if everybody’s job is to do repair?



