DETROITERS WORKING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Workforce
Education
Policy
Detroit Environmental Agenda
Detroit Climate Action Collaborative
Where we work
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Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice (DWEJ), founded in 1994, is Michigan's first environmental justice organization, dedicated to improving the environmental and economic health of metro Detroit. DWEJ envisions Detroit as the global model of a vibrant urban center where all thrive in environmental, economic and social health. We champion local and national collaboration to advance environmental justice and sustainable redevelopment. We foster clean, healthy and safe communities through innovative policy, education and workforce initiatives.
In a city that includes five of the top-ten most-polluted zip codes in the state, DWEJ is a voice for cleaner, safer, healthier neighborhoods. Historically, minority and low-income communities have suffered disproportionately from environmental burdens, including heavy industry, high truck traffic, toxic facilities, and contaminated abandoned land—often because they have the least capacity to respond.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Using our proven approach of community engagement, DWEJ developed the Detroit Environmental Agenda by connecting with residents and community stakeholders through a partnership of over 50+ organizations and institutions and, with their feedback, created a unifying vision in one document published in 2013 that identifies the interlinked environmental, economic and social challenges Detroit faces and recommends strategies to address them.
With the DEA as our guide, DWEJ both carries out some of the recommendations and leads and facilitates our partners to bring their strengths to the effort.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Use planning and zoning to ensure that land use, transportation, utilities, and waste management work together to create healthier, more vibrant communities
Keep the public informed and equipped to help maintain strong, healthy neighborhoods
Leverage economic development and jobs in cleaning up and restoring the city's environment
Engage residents and especially youth in creating beautiful, natural recreational areas that we can be proud of
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
DETROITERS WORKING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Board of directorsas of 09/23/2020
Maureen Martin
Carey Stanton
National Wildlife Federation
Gary Wozniak
Recovery Park
Maureen Martin
Foundation Relations & Program Initiatives
Ritchie Harrison
Saundra Little
Sandra Turner-Handy
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes