A Call to Action: Southwest Detroiters Unite at Environmental Justice Forum

Monday, August 31, 2009

By Lori Ella Miller, Detroit LISC Scribe

The environment is a hot button issue, especially for the citizens who reside in Southwest Detroit, a community that boasts large-scale industry, as well as many transportation projects.

Newly elected State Representative, Rashida Tlaib, who represents Southwest Detroit, is taking some proactive steps to ensure that this important issue is not overlooked. Recently she organized an “Environmental Justice Forum,” assembling some 83 people at the Latino Family Services headquarters on Fort Street. The forum focused on several topics, from the expansion of the Marathon Oil Refinery to salt mine blasting by the Detroit Salt Co. to air quality and the impact of the proposed Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC) and Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT) projects.

Photo Credit: Lori Ella Miller

Photo Caption: Representative Rashida Tlaib welcomed Mary Szawala to the event. Szawala, "a legend in Southwest Detroit", has lived in the community for more than 80 years.

A mix of concerned citizens, business leaders, politicians, community organizers and health and medical professionals gathered to participate in a frank dialogue about the environmental issues facing this community. Representatives from local and state government offices were also on hand, including State Senator Hansen Clarke; Michael D. Mendez, Southeast Michigan’s Regional Director for the Governor’s Office; and Maria Ramirez, Legislative Assistant for City Council President Kenneth Cockrel, Jr.

The event was the brainchild of Representative Tlaib, who stated, “The environment is an important issue to our community. I was tired of other people speaking on behalf of the residents of Southwest Detroit. I wanted to give them a voice…..and a chance to create sustainable leaders and community champions.”

The daylong forum featured presentations by a variety of speakers, such as Simone Sagovac, of Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision (SDEV), as well as Scott Brines and Debra Williams, who are on the board of the Southwest Detroit’s Community Benefits Coalition (CBC).

The CBC, which receives funding from Detroit LISC through a grant to the SDEV, is a community-initiated organization that is actively working on behalf of hundreds of residents to identify the community's needs for mutually beneficial development in exchange for hosting the DRIC project. Williams and Brines, both residents of Delray, spoke passionately about their vision for a revitalized neighborhood.

The CBC views the DRIC project, which will be located in the gateway neighborhood of Delray, as a “win-win” development. Working with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the CBC has already secured nearly $2 million in federal funds to build 26 new homes, so that Delray residents wishing to remain in the area can relocate to affordable, energy efficient homes.

The forum also featured Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Steve Chester, who discussed Governor Jennifer Granholm’s executive order on environmental justice. Currently, Chester and his team are developing an Environmental Justice Plan for the State of Michigan. Chester invited the audience to voice their comments and concerns so that he could gather valuable public feedback and input.

Other speakers included SDEV’s Executive Director Lisa Goldstein, Tom Cervenak of People’s Community Services, Sierra Club Organizer Rhonda Anderson, Reverend Steve Archer of Trinity-St. Mark’s Church (also a CBC board member) and a host of residents and community advocates. One of those local advocates was 15-year-old Kendrick McPhail, a junior at Southwestern High School, who spoke about the impact of air quality on his school and neighborhood.

Southwest Detroit’s Environmental Justice Forum was more than an opportunity to “talk” about the problems and issues. The event was designed to allow the participants to exchange ideas and brainstorm. Collectively, the audience developed a list of solutions for positive change. The forum ended with a slate of strategies and action steps, among them: create a community-based organizing arm for environmental justice issues; write letters to the City Council regarding wastewater treatment plant solutions; rally public officials in support of the City of Detroit's green initiative; push for state legislation to strengthen environmental protection; join the Community Benefits Coalition; host community tours for the newly elected City Council members and reach out to media and editorial boards.

The Environmental Justice Forum was a starting point — a catalyst for creating a healthy, thriving environment for the citizens of Detroit. It was a “call to action.” Heed the call.

Photo Credit: Lori Ella Miller

Photo Caption: Tom Cervenak, Executive Director of People’s Community Services, (center) on hand to support the Southwest Detroit Environmental Justice Forum.