The South Ward Environmental Alliance (SWEA) is a coalition of residents and community-based organizations committed to advancing environmental justice in Newark’s South Ward. SWEA’s mission is to build healthy, vibrant neighborhoods by ensuring residents are informed, empowered, and engaged in decisions that affect their health and environment. Through advocacy, education, and community-driven research, SWEA works to reduce pollution, promote sustainability, and strengthen resident leadership. Rooted in the belief that every person, regardless of race, neighborhood, or income, deserves access to a clean and safe community, SWEA unites partners and residents under one vision: One Ward | United for Environmental Justice.
Public Awareness & Education
Focus Area: Public Awareness & Education
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The Environmental Health Coalition
National City, California
The Environmental Health Coalition works to confront the unjust consequences of toxic pollution, discriminatory land use, and climate change in the San Diego/Tijuana region. Founded in 1980, EHC organizes and advocates through leadership development and community organizing.
Little Village Environmental Justice Organization
Chicago, Illinois
The mission of LVEJO is to organize with our community to accomplish environmental justice in Little Village and achieve the self-determination of immigrant, low-income, and working-class families. The vision of LVEJO is to build a sustainable community that promotes the healthy development of youth and families, provides economic justice, and practices participatory democracy and self-determination.
Los Jardines
Albuquerque,, New Mexico
The purpose of Los Jardines InstituteTM (The Gardens Institute) is to build and support healthy and sustainable communities and workplaces. It does this by creating opportunities that promote multigenerational learning, sharing and movement building.
Recycle and Reinvest
Nashville, Tennessee
Based in Nashville, TN, Recycle And Reinvest empowers justice-impacted youth and underserved communities through educational and art-based programs focused on sustainability. By offering job readiness opportunities, the organization helps cultivate future leaders dedicated to environmental and social change.
Seven Directions of Service
Mebane, North Carolina
7 Directions of Service (7DS) is an Indigenous-led organization rooted in environmental justice and grassroots power, operating on the ancestral homelands of the Occaneechi-Saponi in rural North Carolina.
Our mission is to protect Sacred Places, advocate for the legal recognition of Rights of Nature, and establish a land, language, and cultural center grounded in traditional Yesah teachings. Through educational and cultural programming, community projects and civic engagement, 7DS is an essential force of coalition-building and cultural shift towards environmental justice and Indigenous visions of the future.
We are committed to serving as a powerful voice for the lands, waters, and the interconnected more-than-human world.
Sowing Justice
Memphis, Tennessee
Sowing Justice uses Environmental Justice principles, citizen science, and voter registration to foster civic engagement beyond voting, empowering communities to advocate for policies that ensure clean air, water, and soil, and to hold decision-making processes transparent and accountable.
https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2023/03/17/environmental-racism-memphis
Center for Earth, Energy and Democracy (CEED)
Minneapolis, MN
Working in collaboration with grassroots communities, policy makers and researchers, CEED conducts research and provides community education on important energy, environment, and development issues – so that all members of society may effectively participate in public decision-making.
Community In-Power & Development Association Inc (CIDA)
Port Arthur, TX
The Community In-Power & Development Association, Inc. empowers residents in low-income communities in Port Arthur, Texas to take action against neighboring chemical manufacturers, refineries and incinerator facilities. CIDA also works to transform dilapidated and underserved areas into desirable communities that have a strong economic base.
Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice
Hartford, CT
The mission of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice is to protect the health and welfare of urban centers by supporting efforts to reduce fossil power emissions in a responsible manner.
Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Inc.
New Orleans, LA
The Deep South Center for Environmental Justice is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families harmed by pollution and vulnerable to climate change in the Gulf Coast Region. Its work is focused on research, education, community and student engagement, policy change, and health and safety training for environmental careers.
Duwamish River Community Coalition
Renton, WA
Duwamish River Community Coalition monitors the cleanup of the Duwamish River in Seattle, Washington. DRCC also serves as a voice for the community in response to environmental, social and economic impacts of pollution.
Flint Rising
Flint, MI
Flint Rising works to provide accurate information and resources about the Flint Water Crisis. The organization is led by the residents of Flint, Michigan and partners with grassroots groups, volunteers, the labor movement and other allies to fight for justice.
https://earthjustice.org/press/2023/egle-epa-retreat-from-civil-rights-agreement-with-flint-groups
https://www.governing.com/infrastructure/why-is-there-still-lead-in-americas-water
Green Door Initiative, Inc.
Detroit, MI
The Green Door Initiative works to build environmental literacy and advance environmental justice for vulnerable Detroit residents, advocating for clean air, safe water, green jobs, and developing youth leadership in environmental advocacy.
https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2024/03/05/workforce-development-green-door-initiative
Green Latinos
South Whittier, CA
GreenLatinos is an active community of Latino/a/x leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation. Our vision is a healthy and equitable society where communities of color are liberated from disproportionate environmental burdens, free to breathe fresh air, drink pure water, access clean transportation, and enjoy majestic public lands, oceans, and waters.
https://citylimits.org/the-campaign-to-debunk-climate-lies-in-latino-communities/
Alaska Community Action on Toxics
Anchorage, AK
The Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) is a statewide environmental health and justice research and advocacy organization. ACAT believes everyone has a right to clean air and water and toxic-free foods. Driven by a core belief in environmental justice, ACAT empowers communities to eliminate exposure to toxic chemicals through collaborative research, shared science, education, organizing, and advocacy. ACAT works to eliminate the production and release of harmful chemicals by industry and military sources; ensure the public right-to-know; achieve policies based on the precautionary principle; and support the rights of Indigenous peoples.