according to bridgers, he felt motivated to pick up agricultural work after witnessing several grocery stores close in the area. he wanted to provide his neighbors with what those store closures took away from them: nutritious fresh food.

today, bridgers works as a farm manager just yards away from his childhood neighborhood for an urban farm created by dc greens called the well at oxon run.

“i’m truly grateful to have the opportunity to come back home, come back to my community and be a steward of this space,” bridgers said.

dc greens is a non-profit that focuses on elevating health equity by increasing the accessibility of healthy foods. one of the ways they have pushed towards this goal is through the establishment of the well — a community farm focused on giving away healthy foods at no cost, teaching residents how to grow their own produce, and connecting the community to nature.

in 2018, dc greens lost their k street urban farm to the establishment of a pepco electrical station. in response to the loss, the organization began planning for a bigger, multi-use community farm called the well. three environmental non-profits — dc greens, the green scheme, and friends of oxon run park — began fundraising for the space. 

with the help of local donors and d.c.’s department of energy and environment, the well opened for its first growing season in june of 2022. the well harvested 4,000 pounds of fresh food in 2023 and reopened for its third growing season in march 2024.  

the project was in response to ward 8’s growing food insecurity issue. d.c.’s southernmost district offers only one full-service grocery store for its nearly 90,000 residents — down from three in 2016. lack of access to fresh food can contribute to health issues such as diabetes. in ward 8, residents are four times more likely to have the disease.

this scenario is often described as being a “food desert,” however staff at the well reject this term, instead calling it, “food apartheid.” 

“a desert is naturally occurring,” bridgers said. “this is more systemic, structural and man-made. food apartheid speaks to the intentional segregation of access of resources to a group of people.” 

the term “food apartheid” was first coined by political activist karen washington. washington noted the term “food desert” ignores the systemic racism which affects a community’s ability to access a healthier variety of foods.

many in ward 8 face compounding issues in attaining fresh foods from the lone giant food grocery store on alabama avenue se because of financial and transportation concerns. 

david outlaw, a resident of ward 8 regularly shops at the sole grocery store. outlaw said he had never heard of the well but thought it was similar to martha’s table, another program he participates in.

for residents like outlaw who have never heard of the well, its location is easily accessible as the farm sits at the intersection of the bellevue, congress heights, and washington highlands neighborhoods. 

bridgers compares the well to a “lighthouse” as its location attracts residents towards each other. 

“we use food as an entry point to connect with community members,” bridgers said. 

melanie guerrero works as the program coordinator for the well. guerrero knew she wanted to both work outside and within the community. she jumped around working with different farmer’s markets before landing a home at the communal farm.

“i knew i wanted to be around people who wanted to be outside,” guerrero said, chuckling. 

guerrero explained that the farm engages in regenerative agriculture to grow its foods. this means the urban space uses no pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or machinery to upkeep the space. 

the farm boasts about not ordering anything from suppliers like amazon or home depot. instead, farm manager bridgers creates natural fertilizers and insecticides from organic material already at the farm.

beyond growing food, the farm hosts events like yoga, painting parties and environmental education classes to engage residents with their community. guerrero added that the well is more than an opportunity to learn about agriculture and access food.

“i would really describe this space as a healing opportunity inside and out,” guerrero said. “it’s an opportunity to learn about how food is grown and access fresh food, but then also do something for yourself spiritually, mentally, physically.”

charles rominiyi supervises operations at the well. he shared that community members expressed a desire for a safe, multi-use, natural space comparable to a public library or recreational center. 

“the well is an answer, or a response, to a community need,” rominiyi said. “everyone knows the statistics about grocery stores in ward 8. you see how that barrier disrupts the everyday lives of people living in this community.”

before rominiyi got involved in the well, he found his love for community engagement when he was an americorps volunteer for metro teenaids — a nonprofit in washington, d.c. focusing on youth aids and hiv prevention. after that, he maintained school gardens for the dc office of the state superintendent of education. 

when he saw that he could combine his interest in gardening and love for community engagement, he too hopped on the well bandwagon. 

“the well is a beautiful concept,” rominiyi said. “i feel most alive when i’m doing community work.”

bridgers, rominiyi and guerrero have all dedicated their time to community building at the well. they find exceptional meaning in their work and feel “blessed” to be a part of it. 

one of bridger’s favorite parts of the job is handing out homegrown pumpkins to families at the well’s fall festival.

“being able to shift people’s mindsets about their interactions and processes with food is a pleasant thing,” bridgers said. 

guerrero mentioned that picking just one of her favorite instances is like going through a “cabinet of memories.” she mentioned a grandmother who routinely brings her two grandchildren. 

“her two granddaughters run to come and hug me,” guerrero shared. “those moments are really special. that i get hugs from community members is important,” guerrero said.

guerrero added she thought she would never find a job like her’s at the well. in college, she had a professor who told her she was going to have to “swallow” the fact she would have to work in an office cubicle.

“i’m just proving him wrong!” guerrero exclaimed. “my office is a farm!”

at the well, rominiyi formed a life-long connection with absalom jordan, the chair of friends of oxon run park. when they first met, jordan physically embraced rominiyi and gave him “wisdom” that he explained would last long beyond his days at the farm. 

“he always comes and calls me a brother and wishes me well,” rominiyi shared of jordan.

even though rominiyi believes the well has done a lot of work, he knows there is more to do. rominiyi said there must be stronger efforts to decrease food apartheid in ward 8 by opening more full-service grocery stores and other resources like the well.

“we feel good about what we’re accomplishing,” rominiyi said. “but ultimately we know that this work doesn’t stop.”

if you’ve been to washington, d.c., the capital of the united states, chances are you’ve explored prominent landmarks like the national mall, the library of congress, and various others. but have you ever ventured to anacostia park?

enriched with a complex and nuanced history, the contemporary anacostia river exhibits significant transformations from its earlier existence as a nacotchtank settlement between the 1000s and 1600s. enduring a series of ecological and social transformations over the years, including significant events like european settlement in the 1600s, the establishment of the district’s capital in 1790, the civil war from 1861-1865, and the civil rights movement from 1954-1968, anacostia serves as a compelling illustration of how historical events and exclusionary practices can shape a city.

the community endured several years of being used as both a human and industrial waste dump as discussed in madeleine dwyer’s “forgotten by the clean water act.” then, it faced significant changes with the desegregation of local schools and the construction of the anacostia freeway in 1957. these events have deeply influenced the community leaving a lasting impact that continues to affect future generations. bruce holmes, a lifelong resident of anacostia and community liaison at friends of anacostia park, is among those whose lives have been shaped by these events.  

despite the passage of the clean water act in 1972, the anacostia river, having endured years of neglect, continues to rank among the 10 most polluted rivers in the country. this stands in stark contrast to the potomac river, situated in affluent neighborhoods like georgetown, which is often regarded as a success story for the clean water act. the disparities between these neighboring water bodies underscore the ongoing challenges faced by anacostia and highlight the persistent environmental issues that demand attention and concerted efforts for remediation. 

in recent years, numerous organizations, including friends of anacostia park – a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the lives of dc residents by helping them build a stronger connection to the park and feel more empowered to use it – have played a crucial role in bringing attention to the anacostia river. by providing a range of recreational activities such as skating and fishing, they have contributed to the steady improvement in the river’s water quality, marked by its first passing grade in 2018, discussed in potomac conservancy report. 

while exploring the historical events that have shaped environments like anacostia, where residents have faced significant environmental injustices, maintaining a positive outlook is often difficult. this challenge is amplified by many developers seeking to profit from the river’s recent improvements. nevertheless, interviews with sophie liebel, americorps vista member at friends of anacostia park, and holmes challenge the notion that such historical events inevitably evoke only eco-anxiety.

liebel and holmes both said they are worried about the future of the park, but are also exemplifying eco-gratitude. signifying an individual’s appreciation and thankfulness towards their environment, kim-pong tam in his article on “gratitude to nature” explained how eco-gratitude involves recognizing the natural world’s inherent value by acknowledging the myriad benefits it bestows upon us and expressing gratitude for the ecosystems, resources, and biodiversity that contribute to a thriving planet.

practicing eco-gratitude can be difficult, however, holmes explained to me how showing our love and appreciation for nature can be as simple as knowing the name of a tree or the history of the land you are on. 

in weekly fishing lessons, holmes teaches fellow community members how to fish, his biggest joy in the park. during his lessons, he emphasizes the importance of knowing what kind of fish you are catching and teaching the history of the land to fellow community members. holmes “wants you to get to your recreational activities through information,” he said. when he isn’t teaching others how to fish, he said his second favorite activity is educating the public about the history of anacostia. 

in the future, holmes said would like to see the park focus more on the education of the land’s history and the public to see nature as “beautiful, powerful, and something that belongs to all.” he said doesn’t want anything decided for the park by just one person, rather the collective public needs to come together and decide what they all want as well. 

contemplating anacostia’s future restoration, including the opinions of residents like holmes, can indeed be daunting. liebel described this as she explained the hardest thing for improving anacostia will be incorporating all the good ideas.

“people don’t really realize how much knowledge there is within the community,” liebel said. however, eco-gratitude compels us to adopt a positive and appreciative perspective concerning the efforts and initiatives dedicated to enhancing the river’s condition and sustainability. this, in turn, fosters a sense of thankfulness for positive environmental actions and advances, even in the face of persistent challenges.

in 2021, the national parks service started to develop preliminary management plans for anacostia park. although the developed plans have yet to be released to the public, they rely on public input with public comments recently ending in december. these plans will offer a range of actions to improve access to trails in the park, support recreational and community use, and many other important aspects. additionally, external companies and organizations, such as rei, are working alongside friends of anacostia park on environmental restoration programs and helping to fund events such as late-night roller skating events.

moving forward, it’s crucial to acknowledge that not every environmental challenge should deter us. instead, we should embrace a perspective that combines gratitude with eco-anxiety, understanding that balance is key in all aspects of life. despite the overwhelming environmental issues and negative news, recognizing the positive steps taken and expressing gratitude for nature’s beauty is essential. holmes’ optimism and eco-gratitude toward his home provide valuable inspiration for future environmentalists confronting various injustices worldwide.

anacostia park has the potential to establish a precedent for addressing environmental injustices as community engagement continues into the future. it’s crucial to recognize, as exemplified by holmes’ inspirational story, that seemingly simple activities like fishing and appreciating the land’s history can serve as very powerful tools for practicing eco-gratitude. as efforts continue in anacostia park, holmes said he eagerly anticipates the day when the river will become both swimmable and fishable – optimistically aiming for this transformation within the next two years.

antonio has brought together researchers, elected officials, and community members to grow mushrooms to combat toxins in the soil from fracking waste. known as “mycoremediation,” the use of fungi to remediate polluted land has been shown to be effective at degrading waste. for antonio, the proximity of fracking operations, abandoned uranium mines, and coal mines to her community represent constant threats. rather than sit idly, antonio took action. listen below to hear the full story:

hip hop artist ietef vita, known as dj cavem, expresses his love for environmental justice through his unique approach to music, which he calls, “eco hip-hop.”

originally from denver, colorado, vita has expressed concerns about the tendency for hip-hop culture to shy away from issues that relate to health and the environment. in response, vita heavily incorporates advocacy for environmental sustainability in his lyrics.

this eco hip-hop-loving rapper has also been a part of several community initiatives including growhaus, a nonprofit education center for improving the community’s access to nutrition, a youth workshop that oversees 190 community gardens, and has worked with organizations that host health and wellness camps during the summer.

vita, who holds a ph.d. in urban ecology from the denver institute of urban studies, has performed his music on stage with nationally recognized artists such as public enemy, wyclef jean, 2 chainz, and questlove, not to mention that he was invited by first lady michelle obama to perform at the white house to publicize her let’s move plan. 

through his eco hip-hop, vita has been spreading awareness within his community to promote and support urban gardening. according to vita, the denver community is experiencing a lack of fresh food choices as processed foods dominate grocery store shelves in communities of color. vita is inspired by urban gardening and he believes that it can promote better eating habits, as well as erase trauma in the black community.

washington – when dr. lisa patel was working on a project for the environmental protection agency in 2005, she visited a children’s hospital for asthma in mumbai, india. after seeing the main parts of the center, she was surprised when the coordinators took her to a nearby gymnasium that had been converted to a children’s asthma ward. it was filled with even more children who were receiving care.

seeing an entire gymnasium full of child asthmatics struggling to breathe was moving for dr. patel, the executive director of the medical society 2022年世界杯亚洲预选赛结果 on climate and health. but the global climate crisis became much more personal when the california wildfires reached her own children almost a decade later.

“that’s when it became very concrete to me that no child should be breathing in this absolutely foul pollution that’s ruining their health,” she said.

according to a report by the harvard t.h. chan school of public health, children face disproportionate ill effects as a result of climate change, largely because they are actively developing both mentally and physically.

children are affected by both “indoor air” and their surrounding climate, executive director of the children’s environmental health network nsedu obot witherspoon said at a moms clean air force (mcaf) event about children’s health in the face of the climate crisis on feb. 8.

according to witherspoon, “indoor air” is impacted by a number of products including cleaners, toys, pesticides and other human-made items children encounter. “climate” encompasses air quality, water quality, pollution, natural disasters and any additional environmental factors. 

while everyone is impacted by these types of exposure, children are more likely to be negatively impacted.

“their airways are smaller. they have developing immune systems,” dr. patel said. “so things like nox or pm2.5 irritate the lung lining and put children at higher risk for respiratory illnesses.”

nox, also known as nitrogen oxides, are “a group of highly reactive gasses, including nitrogen dioxide, nitrous acid, and nitric acid,” according to the arizona department of environmental quality (adeq). similarly, the adeq classifies pm2.5 as “the smallest, most harmful particulate pollution.” pm2.5 is a combination of nitrogen oxides and other harmful substances.

in the u.s., 49% of parents say climate change has affected their decision about having more children, according to a recent study conducted by morning consult on behalf of the technology company, hp. 

moreover, the study concluded that 91% of parents globally are worried about the climate crisis and have changed their purchasing habits as a result.

“i studied climate change in college and at the time, it felt like a calling, and it felt like something that i wanted to do,” dr. patel said. “but i think when i had my kids, it no longer felt like a choice. it felt like something that i had to do.”

even so, parents have little control over what substances their children come into contact with. with more than 12 million children under the age of five in the united states in some form of nonparental care, witherspoon said the industry lacks sufficient regulations, focusing on these “critical windows of exposure.”

prevention through policy

existing health and safety policy surrounding child care is largely centered around the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases and violence, though there are also climate-related regulations to highlight.

the national resource center for health and safety in child care and early education is the most prevalent organization setting health and safety standards for child care facilities. their resources give providers national and state standards to follow.

one national standard largely influenced by the clean air act stated that providers must check the air quality index before determining if it is safe for children to play outside. there are also established protocols surrounding natural disasters to keep facilities prepared to protect children in the event of an emergency.  

states can establish their own rules for child care providers too. for example, a 2018 california law required licensed child care centers to test their water for lead by 2023. 

after results found shocking levels of the poisonous substance in the water supplies, rep. katie porter (d-calif.) said california children’s lead exposure was alarming.

“one in four california child care centers has dangerously high levels of lead in their drinking water,” porter said. “children are our future, and we owe it to every american to protect all kids’ safety and well-being.”

in remarks made in pittsburgh on feb. 20, vice president kamala harris promised to eliminate all lead pipes in the united states, recognizing the impact that lead has on children’s health.

the biden-harris lead pipe and paint action plan “includes over 15 new actions from more than 10 federal agencies that ensure the federal government is marshalling every resource to make rapid progress towards replacing all lead pipes in the next decade.”

“when children drink toxic water through lead pipes, it has an impact on their learning ability, on their health,” harris said. “and for too long, this has been the case, that communities have been crying out for support to get rid of these lead pipes.”

there are also environmental justice concerns around the quality of drinking water, which porter alluded to in her remarks.

“many of the worst facilities for lead levels are in low-income areas or communities of color,” she said.

according to witherspoon, the child care industry is a space where environmental injustice is heightened because the profession is largely dominated by women, including women of color and women of childbearing age. she said there is a dual benefit of reducing the environmental hazards and limiting the negative health effects for both children and their care providers. 

exposure to plastic

another concern for children’s environmental health is exposure to plastics. judith enck is the founder and president of beyond plastics and a former epa regional administrator. her work focuses on the dangers of plastic pollution. at the mcaf event in early february, she cited how plastic emissions are replacing those originally produced by the coal industry.

“plastics is plan b for the fossil fuels industry,” she said. “all of us have microplastics in our bodies.”

microplastics are a particular danger because they are being found in a variety of organs, from livers to placentas. according to a study by a peer reviewed journal titled birth defects research, exposure to microplastics as a newborn “is linked to the development of multiple illnesses in adulthood.”

yet exposure can also occur before a child is born, “which may have the potential to cause harmful effects later in life,” according to a recent study by environment international.

while action has been taken against the rise of plastics, enck said she is still working toward more change.

in december, the epa decided that vinyl chloride, which has been a known carcinogen for about 50 years, will be among five chemicals that will begin the risk evaluation prioritization process under the toxic substances control act, enck said. “but that’s the beginning of a ten-year journey to ban vinyl chloride,” she added.

the mental health toll of the climate crisis

research shows that children’s mental wellness is also affected by the climate crisis.

“there’s actually some emerging data that early exposure to air pollution places children at higher risk for anxiety and depression,” dr. patel said.

dr. lise van susteren, a medical doctor and general and forensic psychiatrist, indicated the youth population is paying a mental toll for the climate crisis.

“the extreme weather events they face not only bring – acutely – fear, anger, sorrow, etc. but over time, what happens is they become dispirited, even demoralized and feel potentially a feeling of abandonment and betrayal by their government,” dr. van susteren said.

while the public might differ over which initiatives to support, two-thirds of americans agree that the government should be doing more to solve the climate crisis, according to a 2020 study conducted by the pew research center. this support extends across partisan lines.

dr. van susteren said there should be more psychiatrists who specialize in climate mental health. this support could help improve the morale of a younger generation that feels a widening gap between themselves and their government.

at the mcaf event, she said it is important to consider a child’s particular age, behavior and the context in which they live before talking to them about climate change. supporting a child’s mental well-being is not a “one size fits all approach.” 

while some kids need more transparency, others need protection, dr. van susteren said. it is up to those supporting the children to assess what they need based on existing factors.

dr. van susteren said adults should also be aware of their own mental well-being. she wants people who are struggling mentally with the climate crisis to “recognize that it’s really our collective effort – individually counted, it’s just like votes on election day – but this is what ends up changing the course of our history.”

dr. patel said she feels a particular responsibility to protect her own children.

“i brought them into this world. and so it’s incumbent on me to make sure that this is a world worthy of them,” she said.

what if the future of air quality justice rested in the threads of a spider web?

in this original hand-drawn comic, climate cartoonist joy reeves explores a recent initiative in north carolina to use spider webs to monitor air pollution. spearheaded by the north carolina environmental justice network and a team of volunteer “funnel web finders,” the “spidey sens-r” project aims to measure heavy metal pollution on funnel weaver spider webs in greenville and goldsboro communities. the team hopes to use the metals collected on the webs to identify air pollution hotspots near polluting industries—especially in areas that lack government air quality monitors — in order to prioritize future testing in those areas and uphold environmental justice principles through community science. 

after moving to boston, ma from lahore, pakistan in 2023 to pursue a master’s degree in film and explore the intersection of sustainability and storytelling at emerson college, i realized the actual disadvantage of people who are living in places at the forefront of the climate crisis.  

boston, despite being a metropolitan city, has a significantly better air quality than any big city in pakistan. living without the need for an inhaler for the first time in my life opened up so many perspectives for me which i never even thought of when i was making films about climate change back in pakistan. but some of these perspectives gave me more anxiety than hope.

in “where’s my inhaler” i explore my relationship with my family ever since i have moved west and open up to my own guilt of breathing fresh air.

in 2018 the process started to return 1000 acres of land in upstate new york, previously owned by the honeywell corporation, to the traditional stewards of the land — the onondaga nation. even though the process of land reclamation and restoration is still ongoing, members of the local indigenous community are optimistic that the land will be healed once again. while there is still work to be done, the testimony in this video speaks to the importance of land returns for indigenous peoples.

traditionally, indigenous educational systems diverged from formal classroom settings. learning occurred through hands-on experiences within families and villages, under the guidance of mothers, elders, and fellow community members. indigenous youth acquired knowledge while participating in activities such as tending gardens and preparing hides. while both genders were afforded equal opportunities, girls were instructed in familial and gardening responsibilities under the supervision of women who managed the gardens. they learned the timing and techniques of planting, along with the accompanying gardening songs believed to ensure a fruitful harvest. on the other hand, boys received instruction in hunting and defense from their older brothers and other male figures within the community. this hands-on approach to learning surpassed traditional classroom methods in effectiveness, actively involving students, improving retention, encouraging practical application of knowledge, accommodating diverse learning styles, and fostering creativity.

in the hidatsa language, “maaʔabáari” translates to “to grow or to plant,” encapsulating the essence of traditional indigenous educational systems — nurturing the growth and development of the younger generation. however, the integration of westernized educational systems has fallen short for indigenous peoples. indigenous students who successfully complete high school often find themselves ill-prepared for further academic pursuits. high school experiences for indigenous students typically occur within underfunded institutions that fail to adequately equip them for successful college enrollment. this educational disparity affecting native american youth across the united states remains a significant issue.

“braiding stem” addresses systemic injustices faced by indigenous youth by exploring ways to empower them with the necessary tools to overcome these challenges, while considering indicators of success. at its core, indigenous cultures embody an intrinsic reverence for the earth, rooted in practices such as the concept of the seven generations, where decisions are made with future generations in mind. indigenous peoples are natural caretakers of the land, and it is imperative to nurture the growth of future stewards who will carry on this tradition.

click on the presentation below to view the whole story:

southeast washington d.c. is facing an environmental crisis. research has shown a number of harmful effects of pollution, both air and water, that impact the health of residents. four professors from american university, georgetown university, and the george washington university discuss their research and analysis of the issue and provide their insights on how it can best be addressed.