Greater Newark Conservancy - City Gardens Contest

What is Environmental Justice?

Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all persons, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, programs and policies. Fair treatment means that no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences, be it from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations, or from the execution of state, local, or tribal programs and policies.

What Is the Greater Newark Conservancy Doing?

The Conservancy works toward the promotion of environmental justice through the Environmental Justice Program. Each year, the diverse groups and environmental concerns we endure continue to grow. We would like to keep that momentum. We have managed to address some of the major environmental concerns in projects such as brownfield redevelopment, Passaic riverfront revitalization, lead awareness and conservation of Newark's natural resources and open space.

One way we manage to reach such a large audience is through the success in facilitating the Newark Environmental Coalition. The Conservancy's main objective in initiating the Coalition was to provide an environmental justice forum for the core communities of Newark, and to raise awareness of and collectively act on Newark's environmental issues. The Coalition is comprised of close to sixty members including Newark residents, grass-root groups, community development corporations, business and academic professionals and continues to attract new members.

And Into The Future . . .

The process of revitalizing Newark is on the fast track and the Conservancy hops on for the ride every step of the way. Newark is committed to improving its environment and the Conservancy is a partner in this effort. Through efforts to help Newark residents and businesses in the Coalition and various working groups, the Conservancy is educating and stressing the importance of community involvement in the revitalization and cleanup process.

The success of the Riverfront symposium has emphasized the interest in the city and the Conservancy will continue to build on that. The symposium was hopefully the first of many public forums to come. Newark is not far from becoming an environmentally friendly, safe and healthy place to live.