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Central California Environmental Justice Network Confernce
11/17 Breaking News! Central California Environmental Justice Network Formed! Read about the founding conference and the Fresno Bee story. Youth Speak Out at Environmental Justice Network conference! Read the great Fresno Bee story. For more information, contact:
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Report Back from Youth Workshop By Natalia
Bernal November 17th marked the historic launching of the Central California Environmental Justice Network, at a conference which attracted 100 participants from the valley and other regions. Natalia Bernal and Ariel Luckey from Greenaction's Inner Fire Project and Malaika Edwards from Village Rising facilitated a four hour arts-based, interactive workshop on environmental justice for 15 youth from Shafter, Bakersfield, and Fresno. The workshop curriculum included defining environmental justice and racism, a game called ToxiCity representing the unequal access people have to water, a hip-hop song called New World Water by Mos Def, and more. The workshop culminated in a 20 minute poetry, theater, and movement piece that the youth originated and performed for the entire conference. Their art expressed the injustice of environmental racism, the ill health resulting from living in toxic environments, the power of children and youth, and the importance of speaking out about these issues. For many it was the highlight of the conference reminding everyone that it's never too early to start educating and including our children in community issues that affect them. The children and youth proved to us that they are aware and capable of explaining the issues through artistic mediums to spark the transformation of our toxic world into a healthier future.
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