Environmental justice — making sure everyone, including generations yet to come, has access to clean air, pure water, and the other natural resources we all need to live, thrive, and raise our families — is a core commitment of SEIU 1021. At our 2021 convention, delegates voted by 94% to adopt environmental justice and climate action as a plank of the work we do.

There’s an exciting opportunity to work towards our goals this Saturday, April 15, starting at 9 a.m., with the SEIU Climate Jobs and Justice Summit. Click here to RSVP.

This is the third annual Climate Jobs and Justice Summit. It will feature remarks from SEIU President Mary Kay Henry and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, as well as many networking opportunities – because this work connects us all.

While the environment is important for all of us, there’s also a crucial racial justice component, because, as so often happens in our country, the worst effects are landing on communities of color and the poor.

According to a recent Post Newsgroup article, “More than 1 million Californians live near active oil or gas wells, potentially exposing them to drilling-related pollution that can contribute to asthma, preterm births, and a variety of other health problems. A new study appearing in the March 23 edition of the journal GeoHealth finds that these Californians are disproportionately Black, Latinx, or low-income, and Black Californians are more likely to live near the most intensive oil and gas operations.”

The urgency of this moment is undeniable. As SEIU 1021 Vice President for the East Bay Yeon Park said, “My union is committed to environmental justice and social justice. Environmental justice is a vital part of social justice, and you can’t talk about racial justice or economic justice without addressing environmental justice.

“We all know all the toxins and environmental hazards are getting dumped into communities with low-income families and people of color, predominantly Black and brown.”

So if you’re ready to do your part, click here to RSVP for the SEIU Climate Jobs and Justice Summit now!