Why Community Interviews?

Do you want real, actionable solutions to change-grounded in nonpartisan, informed dialogue?
Equal Planet brings together leaders in environmental justice, innovation, and policy to move beyond talk and drive change. Hear from Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome, fmr. Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer; Elijah Hutchinson, NYC’s Director of Climate and Environmental Justice; Suzanne McCormick, first woman CEO of the YMCA; & Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams. Join the team, asks questions, and more: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwctiyw4kgu0wxdv86Qg0djdrVnuFMeWqLNTUzfK0HeGrb!

The Roots of Environmental Justice: The BirthPlace of a National Movement in Warren County

Welcome to Equal Planet, where the voices of environmental and social justice legends come together to create real change!

Today's podcast explores the origins and ongoing impact of the environmental justice movement in the United States. We’ll journey to Warren County, North Carolina—the birthplace of a movement that shapes the way America thinks about race, the environment, and policy.

In this episode, you’ll hear from the pioneers standing on the front lines, from community leaders to government officials. Leaders including Dollie Burwell, the Mother of the U.S. Environmental Justice Movement, Elijah Hutchinson, the Director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, and Reverend William Kearney, a leader in the Warren County, protests share their firsthand accounts and insights. This episode unveils the challenges and triumphs of fighting against toxic waste and environmental racism, galvanizing a nationwide movement. Subscribe here [for free!] to continue learning about how we can continue prioritizing equity in climate action !

Thank you to our guests—Dollie Burwell, Elijah Hutchinson, and Reverend William Kearney—for sharing their stories and wisdom. And thank you for journeying with us to The Roots of US Environmental Justice. Please subscribe or follow for free to watch our next episode on your preferred platform!

We're deeply grateful to everyone who made this podcast possible. This episode was filmed and produced by Audie Waller, Laura Cai, and Durga Sreenivasan. Special thanks to Maxi Simbuwa, Devon Henry, and my friends and family. Some who made truly invaluable contributions to the creation of this podcast were our Duke professors, including Alison Jones, Lauren Henschel, Saskia Cornes, and Shep Moyle who have guided us. I also learned invaluable audio skills from workshops at Duke’s Dewitt Wallace Center, led by Professors Barry Yeoman & Stephen Buckley, and NPR’s Emily Feng. Thank you all for your wisdom and support! 

The music you hear in this episode is by composer Henry Lucas made for Equal Planet.