National, State Experts to Unpack Environmental Inequities in the U.S. in Season Finale of LSU Reilly Center Racism Series
April 11, 2022
BATON ROUGE—The Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication will host the season four finale of the Racism: Dismantling the System series on Tuesday, April 12, at 3:30 p.m. CT. “The Fight for Environmental Equity” will examine the history of disproportionate environmental impacts and the push for policies that support clean, healthy and thriving communities for all.
The most vulnerable and marginalized communities live, work and play in cities exceedingly affected by pollution and climate change. Local and national neglect and ineffective environmental policies and regulations place the greatest environmental burdens on the backs of poor and minority communities. In the season four finale, state and national experts and activists will discuss inequities stemming from environmental policies and practices and how they and others are working to rectify decades of damages.
“This episode exemplifies the extent of environmental racism in the U.S. Climate change and other environmental hardships are always framed as affecting everyone, but it disproportionately and deliberately impacts BIPOC communities,” said Kelci Sibley, program coordinator for the Reilly Center. “This conversation seeks to unpack the historical context of environmental policy and its effect and explore ways we can begin to alleviate the burdens placed on marginalized minority communities.”
Panelists are as follows:
- Charity C. Williams, Vice President, LSU National Association of Black Journalists; Senior, LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, Moderator
- Denise Abdul-Rahman, Special Project Manager, The Chisholm Legacy Project & Environmental Climate Justice Program Chair, Indiana State Conference of the NAACP
- Timothy W. Hardy, Partner, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P.
- Isaias Hernandez, Environmental Educator and Founder of QueerBrownVegan
- Charles Lee, Senior Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Environmental Justice
This event is in partnership with Southern University and A&M College's Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences, Louisiana Budget Project, NAACP Louisiana State Conference and the LSU Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
The episode will be hosted on Zoom and broadcast live on Louisiana Budget Project's Facebook page. Admission is free, but you must register in advance on Eventbrite to receive the Zoom meeting access code. The episodes will also be recorded and uploaded to the Manship School’s YouTube channel. For more information, contact acharbonnet1@lsu.edu.
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The Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs is partnership-driven, action-oriented and dedicated to exploring contemporary issues at the intersection of mass communication and public life. Its interdisciplinary approach draws together experts from diverse fields to advance research and dialogue. The intent is to inspire our communities to think deeply, take action, develop solutions and broaden knowledge. Underlying the Center’s endeavors is to strengthen and advance the Manship School’s national and state leadership in media and politics.
LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: master of mass communication, Ph.D. in media and public affairs, certificate of strategic communication, and dual MMC/law degree.
The Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences at Southern University aims to educate students who will matriculate with the spirit of service, superb competence and employability skills needed in a global marketplace. The College is located on the campus of Southern University and A&M College, the flagship of the only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) University System in the nation.
The Louisiana Budget Project (LBP) monitors and reports on state public policies and how they affect Louisiana’s low- to moderate-income families. Using research, outreach and advocacy, LBP educates policymakers, the nonprofit community and the public about the economic and racial barriers that Louisianans face each day, and looks for solutions that can create a more widely shared prosperity.
The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
The LSU Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a division of the Office of Academic Affairs and provides support, referral and information to students, faculty and staff on issues and concerns related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. For more information, please visit lsu.edu/diversity.