Grassroots Power: Mobilizing Communities for Environmental Justice
April 23, 2025 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Grassroots Power: Mobilizing Communities for Environmental Justice
Speaker
LaTricea Adams
Founder CEO & President of Young, Gifted & Green
Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking workshop aimed at understanding the vital role of grassroots movements in the fight for environmental justice. As environmental degradation and social inequalities continue to intersect, the need for community-driven solutions has never been more pressing. This session will explore how local communities can harness their collective power to advocate for sustainable practices, combat pollution, and influence policy change.
During our time together, we will delve into real-life, on-the-ground case studies that highlight successful grassroots efforts across diverse communities. Participants will explore:
– Case Study Analysis: Learn about inspiring initiatives such as the fight against lead water in Flint, Michigan; community-led resistance against harmful carbon projects; fighting for lead free drinking water in DC schools and more. Each case study will illustrate how grassroots mobilization not only addresses environmental challenges but also empowers marginalized communities.
– Interactive Breakdown: Workshop participants will engage in energetic discussions that dissect the strategies employed by these movements answering questions like:
- What strategies have proven effective?
- How do these communities build coalitions and engage stakeholders?
- What lessons can we take away for future initiatives?
The main objective of the workshop is for attendees to both understand and apply the intersectionality of environmental issues with social justice, health disparities, and economic inequalities, as well as how to create inclusive spaces for dialogue that amplify the voices of those most affected.
LaTricea Adams is a proud native of Memphis, Tennessee and is the Founder CEO & President of Young, Gifted & Green, a national environmental justice and civil rights organization with the purpose of bringing like-minded organizations together to collectively take action and advocate against the crisis of lead exposure and environmental injustice in disadvantaged communities. LaTricea was the youngest African American woman appointed to President Biden’s White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) where she served as Co-Chair of the Executive Order on Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All Working Group as well as the Co-Chair for the Carbon Management Working group. LaTricea is the former President of the Memphis & Greater Washington Urban League Young Professionals and a former member of the American Bar Association’s Environmental Justice Task Force, the first ever and current Chair of the Shelby County Lead Prevention and Sustainability Commission, a member of the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) Water Infrastructure Advisory Committee, and TDEC and Shelby County’s Emissions Reduction Planning Advisory Committee (ERPAC), Tennessee State Legislative Appointee for the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, Inaugural Board Member of the Memphis Metropolitan Green Financial Corporation, and DC Public Service Commission Equity Advisory. Ms. Adams is also a member of the Board of Directors for Protect Our Aquifer and the American Public Health Association’s Environmental Health & Equity Collaborative, and the National Black Environmental Justice Network. Prior to LaTricea’s career in environment, she served 16 years as a K-12 public school educator and district administrator. She was also honored as the Child Health Advocate of the Year by the Children’s Environmental Health Network, the University of Memphis Black Alumni “Memphis State 8” Awardee, American Public Health Association’s Inclusion & Diversity for Equitable Advancement in Environmental Health Award, and many other accolades. LaTricea is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
