Update on Our Justice Work: Environmental Justice Center

Our Environmental Justice Center has been busy pushing for stronger public policy to rectify long-standing injustices that disproportionately hurt People of Color and those at the margins of our society.

• We're fighting hard in Harrisburg for action on climate change. We're advocating for the implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which would force the reduction over time of carbon pollution from coal- and gas-fired power plants. Linda testified powerfully before the state on our behalf in December.

• Assuring safe drinking water for all is also a top issue for us. All hail the recent ban on fracking in the Delaware River Watershed, which includes roughly the eastern third of the state, a longtime priority of the Center. We continue to press President Biden and Congress to extend the ban nationally -- this will take all our prayers and much hard work to realize.

• Joy Bergey will meet with Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, who represents many in our congregation, on March 9 to ask her to cosponsor the Environmental Justice for All Act.

• We're also working on EJC's priorities for the next year or so. All are welcome to join us on zoom after worship on March 28. Issues we want to pursue include creating a clean energy plan for the church campus (solar panels, anyone?), exploring ways that we can better support environmental justice efforts in the Black community beyond our congregation, and continuing our public advocacy at all levels of government. Please join us on March 28 to learn more about our work, and perhaps get more involved.

Contact Joy Bergey with any questions or thoughts: joybergey@gmail.com 215-313-1311.