WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Wildlife Federation joined U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.),  EPA Mid-Atlantic Administrator Adam Ortiz, University of Maryland Professor Dr. Sacoby Wilson, and others to formally launch an effort to help communities in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware better access federal funds to address environmental and energy injustices. The event, held at Trinity Baptist Church in the nation’s capital, highlighted the National Wildlife Federation’s role as one of 17 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers throughout the country.

“This effort will help communities suffering environmental and energy injustices that have been revictimized by being unable to access federal grants and assistance to address the root causes and effects of systemic racism,” said Adrienne Hollis, vice president of environmental justice, public health, and community revitalization at the National Wildlife Federation, and co-director with Dr. Wilson of the EPA Region III Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center. “We are honored to help lead this important effort in the Mid-Atlantic to connect frontline communities with federal resources and to support their work to address environmental injustices and enduring public health problems.”

“We cannot address environmental injustice without ensuring everyone has access to clean water. The Choose Clean Water Coalition and our network of more than 290 nonprofit organizations in the Chesapeake Bay region is excited to partner with the National Wildlife Federation and others to provide critical resources that cultivate healthy communities and restored rivers and streams. We are fully committed to alleviating barriers facing environmental justice communities,” said Mariah Davis, deputy director for the Choose Clean Water Coalition at the National Wildlife Federation.