DETROITERS WORKING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

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.

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.

 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