Earth Month Strikes are Canceled but let’s focus on Education
By: Alexia Leclercq
Alexia is a 20-year-old environmental justice activist and student at NYU Gallatin where she is currently majoring in “The Politics and Economics of Inequality,” a concentration she created which combines the traditional fields of politics, economics, and environmental studies to look at the lasting effects of colonialism and how forms of structural oppression are perpetuated in our society.
Growing up I’ve always known about environmental issues, from my mom yelling at me for playing under acid rain to being consciously aware of the breadths of polluted air, increasing hurricanes, and heat waves every summer. At school, however, we merely glossed over the topic of climate change. It was not until I chose to take AP Environmental Science senior year of high school that I began to understand the magnitude of the climate crisis we all face. Even then, we only focused on the science aspect of the issues.
After moving to New York City for college I started learning about critiques of capitalism, structural inequality, and politics, and it became clear to me that the climate crisis is primarily a problem of our political economy. I started volunteering for progressive politicians, getting involved with Youth Climate Strike, and working for PODER, an Environmental Justice non-profit in East Austin. Now, thanks to funding from NYU Gallatin and NYU’s Office of Sustainability, I’m co-creating and implementing a project-based environmental justice curriculum at the High School for Teaching and Professions in the Bronx with my friend Kiersten Blake. The curriculum consists of interactive modules focusing on environmental racism, equitable and sustainable land use, climate and public health, and global systems of oppression. The program also features field trips, guest speakers, and internship opportunities. Additionally, with the students that are part of the sustainability club, we are creating a school garden where we will be growing strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, eggplant, spinach, lettuce, serrano peppers, and tulips. Kiersten and I decided to start this project because we observed the gross inequalities and inequities within the Bronx and saw an absence of conversations about environmental racism in New York City.
While I’ve only been working with the High School for Teaching and Professions (HSTP) for a little over a month, I’ve already seen the immense passion that teachers, administrators, and students have for sustainability and improving our communities. For example, the students within the Sustainability Club supervised by the Environmental Science teachers, applied for and won a grant from the NYC Office of Sustainability to introduce a school-wide recycling program. Small acts like these are what make me truly believe that the environmental and climate justice movement will and should be led by frontline communities such as black, indigenous, and other peoples of color who are most impacted by the crisis, as well as by everyday people who strive to improve their communities. Furthermore, their voices should be amplified, rather than silenced. Along these lines, I interviewed a few students from the program to understand why they were interested in participating in the EJ Curriculum Program.
The Sustainability Club is an asset to the school, but it hadn’t existed until recently. In fact, it was at the beginning of the 2019–2020 school year that Mr. Simpson, the vice-principal of HSTP, invited co-founders Aaliyah and Gabie to create it. Gabie recalled that Mr. Simpson saw that the students already exuded passion and care for the environment. Therefore, he wanted to encourage them to take action. Gabie, for example, had already been to the NYC Climate Strike and mentioned that she had placed climate memes in the school bathrooms. To her surprise, students weren’t aware of facts such as the glaciers melting and the effects. Thus, the sheer achievements the club has been able to accomplish has been truly remarkable.
In a little over a semester’s time, Aaliyah proudly stated that in addition to starting the club, she and Gabie installed recycling bins and started enforcing recycling policies in the school in addition to accepting a partnership with us to learn about EJ and build a school garden. Through the establishment of the club, they hope to educate other students about things like the amount of waste created, carbon emissions, and the importance of reusing. For these two co-founders, the climate crisis is more than just something to be talked about in the classroom. “Environmental justice relates to me because as a person of color[,] [me] and my community are more vulnerable to the negative effects.” Other students are also aware of such disparities, for example, Sustainability Club member Ranndy confided that he is aware of the prevalence of trash and trucks everywhere in the Bronx, hence, “I want[ed] to learn even more about how environmental racism and how politics come into play…I joined because changing the way society uses and reuses things and what [we] can do is very important to me. I’m a youth and it’s my future.”
The climate crisis is a current crisis, however, there is not enough education about environmental justice. Primarily low-income people of color are being forced to bear the environmental costs of maintaining clean, wealthy environments elsewhere, living in proximity to polluted waters, petrochemical refineries, and air-polluting waste incinerators. In the words of Dr. Richard Bullard, “In the United States, based on the color of your skin and the money in your bank account, you’re literally breathing different air.” Yet, big green organizations, politicians, and the mainstream media are completely ignoring the needs of frontline communities. This earth month, I challenge you to read about environmental justice and educate each other on this topic. You can learn more about my project at start-empowerment.org.
