Each year the LWVE carries out a Local Program planning process. Members select issues for study, education, and possible action during the coming year. This local input is part of what makes the League a grassroots organization.
One current Local Program for the LWVE is Environmental Justice, with the goals of learning more about local environmental inequities (including the impact of the
Church Street Transfer Station, addressed in an earlier Intercom issue), educating our members and the Evanston community, and recommending advocacy as appropriate and consistent with League positions. As part of this effort, four LWVE members—Willie Shaw, Birch Burghardt, Elizabeth Bryant, and Michelle Parker-Katz—have been participating in the
Evanston Environmental Justice Coalition.
The Environmental Justice (EJ) Coalition meets the first Monday of every month. Currently two working groups have been formed to develop action items and a calendar of activities. Their goals are presented below.
Outreach Committee 2025 Goals–
Coalition membership:
Determine the process by which organizations are added as official “members” of the coalition, their primary contact, and what roles or expertise they may provide.
Event and resources outreach:
- Leverage the coalition’s membership to spread awareness about upcoming events and helpful resources for residents.
- Generate content and lead the design of a website that provides information, opportunities, and resources for advancing the cause of environmental justice.
- Draft and distribute via email a monthly or quarterly newsletter that provides updates on the progress of our initiatives.
- Expanding the EJ coalition and exploring regional partnerships beyond the City of Evanston, connecting in solidarity with other issue advocates and supporting initiatives that are compatible with environmental justice.
Advocacy Committee 2025 Goals–
Advocacy Tracking and Strategy:
- Track and develop the strategy for various advocacy opportunities at the city, county and state level, with a focus on systems change that addresses ongoing harms.
- Research and curate facts and data for supporting our strategic advocacy around EJ issues.
- Lead the effort to identify and engage with decision makers who influence public policy and funding decisions impacting environmental justice.
- Draft 3-5 well-researched white papers and press releases on critical issues impacting vulnerable populations in Evanston, which will comprise an EJ journal over the next few years.
Other Advocacy Committee initiatives:
- The Hazel Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance. This ordinance aims to address the disproportionate pollution burden experienced by some Chicago communities
- Letters to Evanston City Council members encouraging them to keep equity at the center of Evanston’s future.
- Letters to Evanston City Council members promoting the inclusion of the Environmental Equity Investigation and Environmental Justice Resolution in the Comprehensive Plan.
The LWVE has consistently supported environmental justice issues. In 2023 the Board approved becoming a member of the Evanston Environmental Justice Coalition. However the primary interest of the League at the time was long-standing issues with the Church Street Waste Transfer Station. In recent months the coalition has decided to broaden its lens to include other goals, including those listed above. A letter will be sent requesting the LWVE’s continued interest in being part of the coalition.