VIRGINIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE (PRC Oral Storytelling Project)

In this episode listeners will hear from the Executive Director of the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative, Queen Zakia Shabazz, who will share about their work to address the impacts of climate change and racial inequity on communities in the state of Virginia. 

The Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative (VEJC) supports frontline communities to address environmental justice issues. VEJC has converted the Beaux Twenty (a historic building) into a community solar resilience hub in The Heights community in Petersburg, VA. The resilience hub will be powered by solar energy through the placement of solar panels. The solar resilience hub is located in the center of The Heights and is accessible to many community members. In partnership with United Parents Against Lead (UPAL) and Morua Power, the Beaux Twenty Solar Resilience Hub will become a capacity-building opportunity for residents of The Heights and function as an emergency response center during climate impacts. VEJC will continue to work with UPAL, Morua Power, The Heights Civic Association, and the city of Petersburg to build out the solar resilience hub to continue to meet the needs and priorities of the residents of The Heights. Some of these priorities include food justice, multi-generational collaboration, and general community resilience. The solar resilience hub will have a kitchen/dining area open to community members and offer dietician programming, serving, and short-order cook opportunities.