ecoWURD Summit: Nature Can Fix a Violence Crisis
The 3rd Annual ecoWURD Summit in Philadelphia on 10.11.21 will highlight the convergence of violence and environmental justice, while preparing the region for climate crisis
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) – WURD Radio (96.1FM / 900AM / WURDradio.com / WURD TV / WURD app) will host the 3rd Annual ecoWURD Environmental Justice Summit at Bartram's Garden on Monday, October 11, 2021 at 1pm - 4pm. WURD’s “Reality Check” host and ecoWURD Managing Editor Charles Ellison will lead panels focused on how Philly must prepare for climate crisis, especially for hard hit underserved Black communities, and the relationship between violence and the environment. Zulene Mayfield, noted founder of Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living, will be the summit's keynote speaker.
With homicides and non-fatal shooting victims at record highs in Philadelphia, the ecoWURD Summit this year will stress how violence prevention must be centered in bold environmental repair and justice strategies. Recent research shows how major improvements in community habitat, living conditions and natural environment not only reduces violence substantially, but also provides major economic opportunities. Connecting distressed communities to green environments also leads to better public health outcomes and less violence.
“ecoWURD aims to explore the most pressing issues facing Black people locally, nationally and globally, illustrating the connection between environmental racism, climate crisis, economic opportunities and our communities,” said Sara Lomax-Reese, president and CEO of WURD Radio.
Philadelphia is the poster child for these issues. It remains the poorest big city in the United States, a majority-Black urban center of 1.6 million people where African American residents perpetually battle broader issues of air and water quality, residential displacement through gentrification, pollution, climate change and toxicity.
“These challenges both instigate and aggravate stubborn racial and socioeconomic disparities,” said Lomax-Reese.
The summit will be held from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 11 at Bartram's Garden (5400 Lindbergh Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19143) and will be free and open to the public. Masks are encouraged and COVID precautions and restrictions will be enforced. RSVP is required; tickets are available here. This event is free and open to the public. Masks are also required to attend.
Sponsors of this year’s ecoWURD Summit include: PECO, Bank of America, Keystone First, The Energy Co-op, Spectrum Health, Wells Fargo, Solarize Philly and Alliance for Watershed Education.
ABOUT ecoWURD …
ecoWURD is a multimedia environmental justice journalism initiative examining Black communities at the intersection of race, health, income & the environment. ecoWURD is a production of WURD Radio, with a mission to report on how environmental issues uniquely impact Black communities across the nation and the world. The ecoWURD team is comprised of a talented group of thought leaders, reporters and journalists who are tackling issues in places like Philadelphia and beyond through in-depth investigative articles, audio and video content and photography. For more information, visit ecowurd.com.