EPIP Chicago invites you to join us for an Environmental Justice Breakfast Discussion

As the climate crisis takes center stage in spaces like the recent Democratic Debates, we must remember that communities of color and under-invested communities are hit first and worst by climate impacts like heat waves and flooding. At the same time, communities advocating for environmental justice, such as Little Village and McKinley Park, are developing people-centered solutions to envision a more sustainable, just, and equitable world. Join EPIP Chicago on November 11^th at 8:30 am for a discussion with members of Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, Sunrise Movement – Chicago, and the local philanthropic community to hear more about the field of environmental justice and learn about issues in Chicago that intersect with everything we care about.

Light breakfast will be available.

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Panelists

Juliana Pino is the Policy Director at the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO). Born in Tuluá, Colombia, and raised in both Colombia and the United States, Juliana’s personal life is transnational and her background is interdisciplinary. At LVEJO, Juliana analyzes, researches, and advocates for environmental justice in local, state, and federal policy. LVEJO campaigns cross many areas of environmental policy, including energy systems, food systems, water quality, air quality, brownfields, toxics, land use, transportation, and others. Her work focuses on: advancing energy democracy and community self-determination in regulatory and policy arenas; creating just transition with meaningful collaborative and participatory management of shared environmental resources; and centering frontline community leaders as generators of transformative policy ideas and governance models. Additionally, Juliana is committed to facilitating and cultivating processes that promote social justice and public health, has experience in multi-party negotiation and mediation, and works to build robust decision-making frameworks that center the perspectives of those most affected by both broader structural oppression and the specific policies being deliberated.

In 2017, Juliana was recognized in Midwest Energy News 40 Under 40 for her work in the transition to a clean energy economy as lead negotiator for low-income programs in the 2016 Future Energy Jobs Act. In 2018, she was named one of Grist’s 50 Fixers for her work in making the world a more just and sustainable place for all. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Environmental Council, a statewide organization that promotes sound environmental policy and protections for land, air, water, wildlife, and human health. Juliana is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment (MS, Environmental Policy and Planning; Environmental Justice), the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy (MPP, Public Policy Analysis), and the University of Chicago (AB, East Asian Languages and Civilizations). Prior to joining LVEJO, Juliana has contributed to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Great Lakes Commission, and the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce, among others. Juliana is guided by anti-oppression, is invested in anti-racism movement struggles, and is a big fan of animals.

Dejah Powell is a 2018 graduate of Cornell University with a degree in Environmental and Sustainability Science and minors in Business and Community Food Systems. Outside of her full-time work as an analyst at Civic Consulting Alliance, working within the Economic Vitality platform area, Dejah is incredibly passionate about connecting students to urban agriculture. In 2016, she founded Get Them to the Green, an organization whose mission is to foster a love for the environment amongst youth across Chicago's South Side. In addition to her work with Get Them to the Green, Dejah is also the fundraising team lead in Chicago with Sunrise Movement, a youth-led movement mobilizing to stop the climate crisis. She is most excited about engaging more communities, especially black communities, on the climate issue.

Dr. Antonio Reyes López is an independent consultant, educator, and racial equity specialist.  Formerly the Executive Director of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) in Chicago, Dr. López now supports and advises philanthropy, non-profit, and university leaders working to achieve racial equity goals. His writings have been featured in academic publications, grassroots media, and online journals. Recently, Dr. López has published social movement case studies that feature organizing and policy campaigns for environmental and climate justice. Born in Gary, Indiana and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Antonio earned his doctorate in Borderlands History from the University of Texas at El Paso.

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Location & Transportation

This event will take place on the 15th floor of the 222 N. LaSalle St. building in downtown Chicago. It is accessible via public transportation. If you need assistance with directions, please follow this link.

Registration

To register for this event for free as an institutional or individual EPIP member, please do so here. If you are unsure of your membership status, email us at [email protected].

To register for this event as a non-member, please do so below. No one is turned away for lack of funds, so if the ticket price is a concern for you, please contact us at [email protected].