While at Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision (SDEV), I gained a profound understanding of what it means to listen to a community and make effective changes. My role allowed me to share community events on social media, engage with press outlets, conduct resident surveys through canvassing, and contribute to grant writing. These responsibilities showed me how vital communication and connecting are in advancing environmental justice. 

One project I particularly enjoyed involved creating a survey to address traffic violence on the streets of Clark and Toledo in Southwest Detroit. Traffic violence has been an ongoing issue in the city, and the survey responses were intended to provide data for the city of Detroit to advocate for speed bumps and improved infrastructure to reduce speeding. After canvassing and sharing the survey through social media, I was able to compile those responses and share the data with the organization.

A memorable part of my experience was assisting at the Air Quality 101 event last month, where residents learned about the health effects of air pollution and connected with local organizations and nonprofits to advocate for change. During the event, partnering organizations highlighted the chemicals emitted daily by nearby factories and vehicles, emphasizing their role in the rising cases of asthma within the community. They also stressed the importance of residents voicing their concerns to local government officials, providing opportunities for attendees to write letters to their district representatives. The event concluded with Just Air distributing personal air quality monitors to Detroit residents, empowering them to track and understand daily air quality levels.

I am excited to continue my work with SDEV next semester, focusing on the Southwest Detroit Chargeway land development project and other upcoming initiatives. This organization exemplifies what environmental justice means at a grassroots level, serving as a model for community-driven change.

Feel free to follow us on Instagram at @sdev_313!