The Challenge

For decades, environmental justice (EJ) movements have fought to protect communities disproportionately affected by pollution, climate change, and other environmental harms. While many activists engage with government agencies to push for policy changes, others argue that working within these systems can slow progress or even reinforce existing inequalities.

The reality is more complex—change happens in different ways. Some strategies challenge the system, others work within it, and many combine both approaches. The key question is: How can we create policies that truly reflect and empower frontline communities?

A Local Approach to Change

In South King County, Washington, grassroots advocates helped establish the Community Engagement Specialist (CES) role, a position designed to ensure historically marginalized voices shape environmental and climate policies. Instead of government officials making decisions in isolation, the CES framework integrates lived experiences into policymaking, addressing critical issues like housing, public health, and climate resilience.

This approach goes beyond just having a "seat at the table"—it builds new tables where communities drive the conversation.

What We’re Studying

Our research explores how environmental justice activists—both inside and outside government—view efforts like the CES framework. We want to understand:

• What works: How have policies like this made a difference?

• What’s challenging: What barriers exist when community-driven policies become institutionalized?

• What’s next: How can other communities replicate and adapt these strategies?

We’re interviewing people deeply involved in this work to capture their experiences and insights. By highlighting successes and challenges, we aim to inform future efforts that balance immediate harm reduction with long-term systemic change.

Why It Matters

Community-led environmental justice efforts show that meaningful progress happens when power is shared. Our research seeks to document and amplify these strategies, ensuring that policies designed for the community are also created by the community.

Recent news: This work has been accepted for presentation at the 2025 Engienering Project Organization Conference (Chennai, India)!