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Hi {contact.email_greeting}, This month was full of environmental news. West Virginia news outlets were busy keeping West Virginians current on data center development, EPA rollbacks, energy investments, and other important updates. We’ve also included several articles from the Kentucky Lantern as they seemed pertinent to our communities, too; shared borders, shared problems.
West Virginia’s history as a state rich in coal and other natural wonders is stained with racism. Once called “Free McDowell”, the prolific county offered opportunities to newly freed Black families fleeing the South for safety and a chance at making a living. While it might have been better than where they came from in some ways, the communities were still rife with racism. In acknowledging the disproportionate impacts on BIPOC, the environmental justice movement must be built by those it aims to serve. We’ve also been granted permission to run a fantastic article from Black By God. “Earth Day in Black Appalachia: From Camp Nelson to a Sustainable Future” by Jim Embry is a powerful reflection on the legacy of Black Appalachia’s past and the challenges of the future. If you’re not already a reader, please check out their work. This month’s Green Pages installment was submitted by WVEC Treasurer Mike Jones. He has several excellent book recommendations. His picks are a mix of old and new, fiction and academic writing — there’s something for everyone! As always, we’re shining the spotlight on our members and environmental advocates. This time it’s a double feature! We hope you enjoy getting to know two of our own, Maria Russo and Dani Parent! If you know someone who you think deserves recognition for their environmental work, send us an email. To polish it off, you’ll find events, opportunities, and actions happening now and next month. Notably, we’re co-hosting a FREE screenprinting party at the West Virginia Citizen Action Group house this Friday, June 26th. Come with a garment to upcycle with a DIY anti-data center design. We also invite you to save the date for our annual retreat on October 3rd at the Black Water State Park Lodge. Enjoy this month’s newsletter. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any future publications. In the meantime, consider joining an environmental group near you and donating to keep the fight going. Click an article title or thumbnail image to read the full article (text below is only an excerpt). |
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Juneteenth was this past Friday, and we hope you joined the celebrations happening all around the state. In honor of the holiday, we’ve published an article on the importance of environmental justice as a movement led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). 
