February Ivy Talk: Shaping Justice

In this talk, Dr. Kimberly Fields will explore the development and adoption of three mid-Atlantic states' first wave of Environmental Justice (EJ)-focused policies. Through these, she will examine the dynamic relationships between community activism, institutions, and the state's environmental justice efforts.

Drawing on several theories, Dr. Fields will analyze how grassroots activists shaped the content and form of these policies. She will look at critical moments when their efforts succeeded or faced limitations. This talk will illuminate the role of local, grassroots movements in influencing EJ policy, especially during the early stages of the policymaking process. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities for grassroots activism within the public policymaking landscape, and how these movements continue to impact environmental justice initiatives today.

Dr. Kimberly Fields is an Assistant Professor of African and African American Studies at the University of Virginia.