Social Justice Activism

Mapping
USFS has established several Urban Field Stations, to research urban natural
resources' structure, function, stewardship, and benefits. By mapping urban tree
coverage, the agency hopes to identify and prioritize EJ communities for urban forest
projects. [community education, mapping, diet, improving health and safety, ej as
evaluation criteria]
Another initiative highlighted by the agency is the Food and Nutrition Service and
Economic Research Service's Food Desert Locator. The Locator provides a spatial view
of food deserts, defined as a low-income census tract where a substantial number or
share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store. It also
shows, by census tract, the number and percentage of certain populations, such as
children, seniors, or households without a vehicle, with low access to grocery stores.
The mapped deserts can be used to direct agency resources to increase access to
fresh fruits and vegetables and other food assistance programs, according to Blake
Velde, an agency scientist and spokesperson on EJ issues. [diet, mapping, improving
health and safety, study, ej as evaluation criteria, services and data available to others]
Rural Outreach
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has placed a clear emphasis on supporting EJ in rural
areas. Although "often the highest profile battles on [environmental justice] issue[s] are
waged in at-risk neighborhoods in major cities or at Superfund sites located near
populated urban and suburban areas" Vilsack highlighted the often overlooked rural
areas where environmental justice is largely ignored.
Through its Rural Utilities Service, the USDA supports a number of Water and
Environmental Programs. These programs work to administer water and wastewater
loans or grants to rural areas and cities to support water and wastewater, storm-water
and solid waste disposal systems, including SEARCH Grants that are targeted to
financially distressed, small rural communities and other opportunities specifically for
Alaskan Native villages and designated Colonies.; In his speech, Secretary Vilsack said
that the USDA funded 2,575 clean water projects in rural areas during a two-year period
to address problems ranging from wastewater treatment to sewage treatment. [water,
land use, compliance and enforcement, improving health and safety, pollution cleanup,
ej as evaluation criteria]
The USDA also supports the Rural Energy for America Grant Program. This program
provides grants and loans to farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses to finance
renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. [grants, economic
benefit, ej as evaluation criteria]
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