The People’s Senate

A Model for Transforming Toxic Communities from the Ground Up

Hazardous Waste and Race: A Toxic Legacy

Toxic Communities Today

The Environmental Justice Conundrum:

• Siting inequalities stem from structural racism and systemic forces, but. . .

• Community-based environmental justice advocacy is inherently local. • Local campaigns address community priorities and build community power.

• Advocates responsive to residents and do not set the agenda.

• If we focus on the local ramifications of larger structural inequalities, we won’t fix the root problems and will expend a great deal of resources in the process.

• Can we, as a movement, improve our use community-based advocacy to address systemic inequalities?

Yes!

• Identify systemic barriers to just outcomes

• Build relationships across communities

• Understand shared problems to develop shared goals

• Use political momentum to create opportunities

• Increase capacity through experiential learning

The Problem – Department of Toxic Substances Control

• Conflicting and unclear agency mission

• Lack of strong and consistent agency leadership

• Industry capture

• No governing board or other systems of accountability and transparency

• Unchecked agency discretion; no standardized criteria

Developing a Shared Vision

• Nominate representatives from impacted communities across the state

• Relationship building

• Visioning workshops

• Recognizing shared concerns

• Developing shared solutions

Identify Opportunities

• Legislation

• Oversight hearings

• Meet with DTSC leadership

• Senate Confirmation process

• Media

Experiential Learning

What Next?

• Grow to represent more areas of the State

• Engage in DTSC policy development and implementation

• Pass legislation

• Develop the criteria upon which to assess new director

• All communities engage in coordinated local advocacy efforts

Questions?