Allegheny CleanWays acknowledges that the last few weeks of events have been horrific and tragic. We condemn the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, as well as the many other violent acts against Black lives. We know that we must do more to fight for social justice. Our staff and board remain committed to cleaning up litter and illegal dumpsites. We understand that the location of these sites is another symptom of racism in our county. The pattern of illegal dumping is evidence of an intentional system of oppression that can be traced to redlining and other policies that are decades old. We are committed to putting in the work needed to help dismantle these systems.
We realize that we have a lot of work to do as an organization. We must understand how we are complicit in structures of oppression and how we can better advocate for justice. As part of that work, we commit to the following:
Some resources for learning more:
We realize that we have a lot of work to do as an organization. We must understand how we are complicit in structures of oppression and how we can better advocate for justice. As part of that work, we commit to the following:
- Becoming better informed about matters of race, justice, and equity
- Providing anti-racism training for our staff and Board of Directors
- Providing a living wage to all employees
- Working towards a staff and Board of Directors that reflects the diversity of our community
- Advocating for and educating ourselves about relevant state/local legislation related to environmental justice
- Educating staff, board, and volunteers about how our work relates to environmental justice
- Making decisions through an anti-racism/social justice lens
Some resources for learning more:
- Mapping Racial Inequality in Place: Using Youth Perceptions to Identify Unequal Exposure to Neighborhood Environmental Hazards by Samantha Teixeira and Anita Zuberi
- Mapping software explores the legacy of redlining by Kian Nassre
- An Inconvenient Reading List: Racism and the Environment by Nicole Mulhausen
- How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin J. DiAngelo