Propelling Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Work Forward

This first appeared in the River Network blog.

For the last five years, the Choose Clean Water Coalition has demonstrated our commitment to protecting communities facing environmental injustices. At the core of our work is supporting our more than 270 member organizations to become more diverse, equitable, and culturally inclusive. As a first step in this work, we created the DEIJ in Action Guide, a comprehensive tool for organizations and funders to advance their DEIJ goals. We've organized and shared statements condemning acts of racial injustices against Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and denounced attacks on our democracy. We spoke in solidarity for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and the countless lives lost at the peak of the pandemic to include Asian American and Pacific Islander people. If you're asking yourself why this work is relevant to our work for clean water, it's simple—there's a longstanding history of racism in the environmental movement.

History shows us that inequalities in policy and decision-making have resulted in historically underrepresented communities suffering disproportionate impacts from pollution. To help foster a safer, more equitable Chesapeake Bay, the Coalition has provided trainings, educational opportunities, and safe spaces to discuss challenges and identify solutions. At the federal level, we've advocated for the passage of the Environmental Justice for All Act and continue to coordinate transparent discussions with members of Congress dedicated to this work. We've pushed Coalition members to unpack how we, as environmental organizations, need to take responsibility for owning our impact.

Each day, we use our voices to dismantle harmful misconceptions about our relationship with the environment and advocate for reinvestments in BIPOC communities. From our work to reduce stormwater pollution and runoff from agricultural lands, we have the ability to ensure we are protecting everyone's wellbeing. We're identifying opportunities in policy making to prioritize green infrastructure projects in cities most impacted by heat island effects and climate change. We advocate for equitable grant making, increased access to green spaces, and connect Coalition members with initiatives that liberate Black communities through land ownership.

And while our external DEIJ work is critical, our internal work to unpack white supremacy culture within our organizations is just as important. Oftentimes, our BIPOC colleagues carry a disproportionate burden to lead DEIJ efforts. As a Coalition, we are investing in BIPOC colleagues by creating safe spaces to network, share challenges, learn, build professional development skills, and find healing. Our Young Professionals of Color Mentorship Program is one of the only spaces in the Bay community that provides free customized trainings and mentorship to BIPOC colleagues.

While we have made great strides to embody the principles of DEIJ, much work remains. We look forward to continuing these efforts in collaboration with many key partners including the River Network and our sister coalition, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. If we are to reach our collective clean water goals, we must prioritize our DEIJ work and not rest until all communities can enjoy the multitude of benefits from clean rivers, streams, and Chesapeake Bay.