Verde Advocacy Park Party Brings Community Together for Environmental Justice!
Written by Sentilla Hawley | June 2024
Verde’s Advocacy team hosted a vibrant and impactful Verde Advocacy Park Party on June 18th at Cully Park, a remarkable community space transformed from a landfill into a thriving park through Verde’s dedicated advocacy efforts. This event provided a dynamic platform for community members to engage with Verde's crucial work on energy, air quality, water, and transportation justice.
"The Advocacy Park Party was a vital and engaging event that allowed our Advocacy team to connect with the community on crucial issues of environmental justice. We provided essential information and resources on water, energy, air quality, and transportation justice, all while enjoying food, music, games, and activities. Importantly, this event created a platform for community members to share their feedback and insights on local and state policies, shaping the future of Cully together,” said Cheyenne Holliday, Verde Advocacy Manager
The event featured insightful presentations from Verde’s dedicated Advocacy team members, highlighting the organization's ongoing efforts and successes in various areas:
Energy Justice
Presented by Anahi Segovia Rodriguez, Verde Advocacy Energy Justice Coordinator, this segment emphasized the importance of transitioning to clean energy to safeguard human rights and ensure a healthy and safe environment. Attendees learned about Verde’s successful legislative achievements, including the passage of HB2021, the Healthy Homes Bill, the Solar Siting Bill, and the PDX Community Solar initiative.
Water Justice
Roselyn Poton, Verde Water Justice Coordinator, addressed the pressing issue of water access, noting that nearly 2 million people in the U.S. lack running water and basic plumbing, with approximately 20% in debt to their water utility system. Roselyn celebrated the recent legislative victory of establishing the Water Equity Fund, which allocates $1 million for clean water access and sanitation projects in environmental justice communities.
Air Quality and Climate Justice
Xitlali Torres, Verde Air Quality and Climate Program Coordinator discussed air and climate justice, the regulatory landscape, and Verde’s role in the Climate Protection Program (CPP) and the Multnomah County Climate Justice Plan. Critical successes and challenges
Successes were highlighted, including the Public Health Overlay Zone in Eugene, facility upgrades at the Owens-Brockway Glass Recycling Facility in Cully, and Community Air Action Planning Pilot Projects launched through DEQ.
Transportation Justice
Indi Namkoong, Verde Transportation Justice Coordinator, highlighted Verde’s commitment to challenging the status quo and addressing the root causes of transportation injustice within the community. Indi discussed the success of the Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities Rulemaking 2022-2023, which has been instrumental in promoting equitable transportation policies. However, significant challenges remain, particularly in securing adequate funding, navigating complex governance structures, and ensuring equitable investments. Verde continues to advocate for systemic changes that prioritize the needs and voices of underserved communities in transportation planning and development.
The event also saw participation from key partners and allies:
Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF)
PCEF team members attended, underscoring their significant role in supporting Verde’s initiatives, such as Community Solar, the Cooling Portland program, and the Ductless Heat Pump Program.
Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC)
Taren Evans, Environmental Justice Director at CCC, shared insights on Multnomah County's Multifamily Energy Reporting and Tenant Notice Proposal, which was open for public comment until June 14th. Taren provided valuable information on the proposal and assisted attendees in submitting their comments. Resources were available in both English and Spanish.
The Verde Advocacy Park Party was a celebration of Verde’s accomplishments and a testament to the power of community collaboration in advancing environmental justice. With food, music, games, and activities creating a festive atmosphere, the event fostered meaningful dialogue and strengthened community bonds, paving the way for a more equitable and sustainable future for Cully and beyond.
