2010 Annual Report - The Sierra Club Foundation

school—that is poisoning the neighborhood with mercury and lead. Club volunteers Ed McArdle,
Anna Holden, and Carol Izant pushed the city to sever its incinerator ties for economic reasons.
“Not only is the incinerator bad for our local community’s health,” said local Club organizer
Rhonda Anderson, “it’s not a sustainable, job-creating solution, either.” Anderson and her team
have been instrumental in starting two pilot recycling projects, with the goal of providing city-wide
curbside recycling—thus creating jobs while “starving” the incinerator. By organizing and attending
meetings with heads of key city departments, the Club helped increase the number of residences
served by the program while ensuring future funding. Anderson noted, “By converting to citywide
curbside recycling, we will create new, good, green jobs and healthier communities overall.”
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE PROGRAM NATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
■ Washington, D.C.: The Anacostia Coordinating Council contacted the Sierra Club to help organize a
forum on How Do We Create Vibrant, Sustainable East of the River Communities? Residents, public offi cials,
businesses, and community groups convened for the daylong event. Local Environmental Justice organizer
Irv Sheffey led the discussion about turning this underserved area—which contains highly polluted
waterways and neighborhoods—into a healthy, sustainable, and thriving community.
■ West Virginia: In November 2010, the Sierra Club co-sponsored The Toll of Coal: Cradle to Grave Impacts of
Coal on Human Health. Held in Huntington, West Virginia, the conference focused on the adverse health
effects and subsequent $96 million in annual health care costs that arise due to America’s coal dependency.
Rita Harris, the Club’s Environmental Justice organizer in Memphis, served as keynote speaker. The
conference also included educational workshops connecting grassroots workers with scientists, doctors,
and other coal experts.
■ South Carolina: Residents in a low-income African American neighborhood in rural Barnwell County, South
Carolina, suspected their backyard wells were being polluted by a nearby industrial facility. The Sierra
Club responded to their request for help, prompting the EPA to test the wells. The investigation revealed
contamination from mercury and other harmful toxins, and the Club succeeded in securing access to safe
drinking water through city water lines.
■ Puerto Rico: Since government protection of the Northeast Ecological Corridor was removed in 2009, the
Sierra Club has been fi ghting to reinstate it. By promoting local recreation and economic opportunities,
the Club is strengthen ing the connection of the community to the Corridor. Thanks to grassroots public
education efforts, Puerto Rican offi cials could no longer postpone the issue. In 2010, the government
made a new proposal and scheduled several public hearings in early 2011 on the new boundaries of the
ecological area.
ANNUAL REPORT 2010 | THE SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION
Good Jobs Green
Jobs Conference
With funding from The
Sierra Club Foundation,
the Sierra Club
sponsored fi ve youth
and adult community
leaders from the
predominately African
American Holy Cross
neighborhood and
the Mary Queen of
Viet Nam Community
Development
Corporation, Inc.—both
of New Orleans—to
attend the 2010
Good Jobs Green Jobs
National Conference in
Washington, D.C. The
conference is the nation’s
leading forum for
sharing ideas to increase
employment while
preserving our economic
and environmental
security.
environmental burdens, especially from pollution and health issues.
19