ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
EJ in New England
EJ SHOWCASE
EJ Showcase
Community Pilot
U.S. EPA | ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AT EPA NEW ENGLAND
EPA NEW ENGLAND'S ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE PROGRAM works to protect all people, regardless
of race, color, national origin or income, from environmental barms and
risks, and to involve all citizens in making decisions that affect their
environment The program is designed to ochieve enwranmentof and public
health improvements for communities disproportionately burdened by the
impacts of pollution.
INTRO:
EPA has committed $1 million to address EJ challenges in 10 communities across the nation to help alleviate the
environmental and human health challenges feeing American communities. The EJ Showcase Communities effort brings
together governmental and non-governmental organizations and pools their collective resources and expertise on the
best ways to achieve real results in communities. EPA New England selected the city of Bridgeport, Conn, as its EJ
Showcase Community Pilot The region plans to develop projects focused on improving indoor air quality, increasing
community capacity for green jobs, increasing recycling rates, and reducing asthma and toxic exposure.
OVERVIEW:
Bridgeport, Conn, was chosen to be EPA New England's
Environmental Justice Showcase pilot mostly because
the region had existing relationships with the commu-
nity. Programs were already in place to address indoor
air quality, green jobs, recycling asthma rates and toxic
exposure in schools and homes. The region's Office of
Civil Rights & Urban Affairs partnered with the region's
Urban Environmental Program as well as community
organizations to design and implement this pilot.
Funding from the EJ Showcase Community Pilot went
to the tity of Bridgeport, the Connecticut Coalition for
Environmental Justice, Groundwork Bridgeport, Rhode
Island Legal Services, and the Connecticut Section of
American Water Works Association. The Bridgeport
Board of Education and the city are using their grant to
pilot a recycling program at two local schools. This pilot
program is the first step towards comprehensive recy-
cling and will serve as a model to all other Bridgeport
schools. The Connecticut Coalition for Environmental
Justice is using its grant to continue reducing asthma
in Bridgeport by holding a community fair focused on
asthma, which will also bring together organizations to
share their strategies to reduce asthma rates. Ground-
work Bridgeport is using its grant to improve water
quality in Long Island Sound by training 20 youths on
water resource protection and marking street drains that
must be kept clean. Rhode Island Legal Services is orga-
nizing the New England Environmental Justice Forum
in an effort to gather together advocates working on
EJ throughout the region. The Connecticut Section of
American Water Works Association's partnered with
the Water and People program and the Aquarion Water
Company to develop a Water Boot Camp designed to
prepare young people for careers in the water industry.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The city of Bridgeport has made a commitment to be
a leader in addressing environmental issues. The city
has seen a 70 percent increase in recycling rates in its
East End neighborhood since the Board of Education
and the city began their pilot program on recycling in
public schools. Through the Connecticut Section of
American Water Works Association, a successful two-
week summer program trained 18 public school students
on the water treatment process. This training is part of
an effort to prepare young people for water industry
careers. The EPA funded projects in Bridgeport align with
Mayor Bill Finch's &Green 2020 project frGreen 2020
is a comprehensive program in Bridgeport to decrease
carbon emissions, green the city, promote green jobs
and technology, and ensure improved social and health
benefits to its communities.
KEY CONTACTS:
DEBORAH BROWN
EPA New England
Special Assistant, Office of
Civil Rights & Urban Affairs
(617)918-1706
brow ri, d e bo rah @e pa.gov
STACEY JOHNSON
EPA New England
Urban Environmental Program,
Team Leader and Connecticut
Program Manager
(617)918-1552
johnson.stacey@lepa.gov
GENERAL INFO:
EPA NEW ENGLAND
5 Post Office Square
Suite 100
Boston, MA 02109-3912
(617)918-1111
www.epa.gov/region1/
TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-888-EPA 7341
LEARN MORE AT:
www.epa.gov/compliance/
ej/ grants/ ej-sh owcase. html
United States
Environmental Protection
I Agency
B printed an 100% recycled paper, with a minimum of 50% pMtcanwmtr watSt, udng v*g«tabl»Jacu*d Inlet
EPA-901-F-11-002
April 2011
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