This week on “The Climate Divide,” we speak with the coordinator for the Anacostia Parks & Community Collaborative
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On this week’s episode of “The Climate Divide,” host Marcelo Jauregui-Volpe speaks to Brenda Richardson, the coordinator for the Anacostia Parks & Community Collaborative (APACC).
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Richardson has worked on D.C. environmental justice and health issues for decades. At an early age, she felt that the environmental advocacy space needed to be more inclusive of communities of color most impacted by environmental hazards.
“It was predominantly male and predominantly white. And it was interesting that folks who didn’t live in our community were advocating for environmental issues, but we were not at the table,” says Richardson.
Founded in 2015, APACC consists of a coalition of organizations, such as the Anacostia Riverkeeper and Anacostia Watershed Society, with the overall goal of making the Anacostia River and surrounding natural areas more accessible for residents in Wards 7 and 8.
In this week’s episode, Richardson expresses her concerns over a lack of funding for local climate programs and how the incoming summer heat could affect residents without air conditioning in their apartments. She also discusses the health of the Anacostia River, which has steadily improved thanks to initiatives such as DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project.
In her role at APACC, Richardson prioritizes providing residents in Wards 7 and 8 with clear information about environmental hazards, such as flooding and extreme heat, and ensuring that equity is at the center of all of her work.
“At the end of the day,” says Richardson, “the two things that matter to me are access and equity. If you don’t have that, you have a community that will continue to be on life support.”
About “The Climate Divide”
In this third season of “The Climate Divide,” we’ll cover solutions that foster sustainability and resilience in the District. Since environmental burdens aren’t felt the same, many people are working to ensure that the climate transition is equitable and that vulnerable residents have a healthy future and the resources to face natural disasters. Season three will examine how numerous grassroots initiatives, city government programs and federal grants will impact residents.
“The Climate Divide” is hosted, produced and edited by Marcelo Jauregui-Volpe. Claudia Peralta Torres provides additional editing and sound mixing support. Christine MacDonald is the series editor and executive director of Hola Cultura. Members of the Society and Culture team, part of Hola Cultura’s Storytelling Program for Experiential Learning, also contribute to this podcast. “The Climate Divide” is supported by Spotlight DC and the Pulitzer Center.
– Story by Marcelo Jauregui-Volpe
– Copy edited by Michelle Benitez
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