#SWEANews | #SWEA | #SouthWardEA | #SouthWardEnvironmentalAlliance | |
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Message from
Our Founder & Executive Director
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Welcome Women’s History Month!
Greetings South Ward Family,
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I want to acknowledge women leaders in the environmental justice field who have made a difference in the Newark communities.
Gratitude to Regina Townes, Asada Rashidi, Frankie Mo’Nay Walls,Chloe Desir,Tia Ryans, Melissa Miles, Maria Lopez-Nunez, Dr. Ana Baptista, Nicole Miller, Donna Kirkland, Cynthia Mellon, Elizabeth McGrady, Carla Robinson, Rhenotha Whitaker and Wynnie Hinds.
My favorite quote from Shirley Chisholm,”You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining, You make progress by implementing ideas”.
Thank you to the Unsung Sheroes for standing up. I see you, appreciate you and recognize the great work you are doing to clean the air, provide safe & affordable drinking water, ensure food justice, open space and healthy homes.
Let's continue the fight everyday, lifting up the voices of the voiceless. We can change our communities and live a healthier life free of pollution. Join us at the table, your seat is waiting.
Peace and Blessings,
Kim Gaddy
Executive Director
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Upcoming Events:
- SWEA Monthly Meetings
- Every 4th Wednesday
- @ 6pm-7pm
- Zoom Link
- Save the Date for SWEA's 2nd annual Environmental Summit
- April 22nd @ 10AM
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Click HERE for the registration link.
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We are excited to share the success of our youth retreat on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at The City of Newark's Camp Watershed. It was a fantastic event that brought together young people from the South Ward to learn, engage, and connect with their community.
We want to thank Kenya Travitt, the camp director, for allowing us to host our event there and leading a tour of Sun Tan Lake. It was an enriching experience for our youth to learn about the local environment and its importance to the community. The retreat was a collaboration with Parent Engaging Parents (PEPNJ), and we were delighted to have their participation. The panels and activities included workshops from our Executive Director, Kim Gaddy, and Retreat Coordinator, Terrance Bankston.
The workshops focused on various topics, including environmental justice, climate change, and sustainability. The young participants learned the importance of advocating for clean air, safe drinking water, and a healthy environment. They also explored the impact of climate change on their community and learned ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
In addition to the workshops, the retreat also included team-building activities and group discussions hosted by various members of the SWEA team. It was an opportunity for young people to connect with their peers, share their experiences, and build new friendships.
We are proud of the enthusiasm and commitment showed by the youth who participated in the retreat. The youth are the future of our community, and we are confident that they will become strong advocates for environmental, social, and economic justice. Once again, we want to express our appreciation to all who made this retreat successful. We look forward to more events like this in the future.
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SWEA Senior Advisory Board Member Highlight:
Minnie Green
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This month SWEA would like to shine the spotlight on another one of our community representatives. We are pleased to introduce Ms. Minnie Green of the Seth Boyden Elderly community. She has resided in this community for the past 16 years and has been an active participant in the resident leadership in this community. She has served on the tenant association board, worked with the community food bank and continues to assist her neighbors whenever she is needed. Ms. Green prides herself in being of service to her community and understands the need to provide opportunities and programs to better serve the many residents of public housing.
Ms. Green was born and raised in the City of Newark, attending Morton St. School and graduated from South Side High School (now renamed Malcolm X Shabazz High School). Her career began working for Prudential Insurance Company in several different capacities in the clerical field for 29 years. She worked in child care for several different day care centers which developed her love for children. Ms. Green, wife, mother of 8 children, and 5 grandchildren, understands the importance of family and raising them in a safe and healthy community. Her greatest concern is the demolition of the commercial and industrial buildings on Frelinghuysen Ave. and all of the debris dusting that is emitted into the air. Her community has to also deal with the voluminous commercial traffic of the trains, planes, buses and trucks all emitting diesel fumes that are impacting the health of her community.
We welcome Ms.Green to our SWEA family and look forward to her activism in supporting us for a healthier community.
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Spotlight for Women’s History Month Unsung Shero | |
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KIM GADDY is the National and New Jersey Environmental Justice Director for Clean Water Action. She has been advocating for communities impacted by industrial pollution and the goods movement system in Newark and across the country for 21 years. Kim develops and implements Clean Water Action/Clean Water Fund's grassroots environmental justice campaigns and coalition building efforts in New Jersey.
Kim was recognized as the 2021 Russ Berrie Making a Difference Honoree for New Jersey, 2021 International Black Women's Congress Oni Award Recipient, 2021 Weequahic High School Hall of Distinction, 2020 UUFaith in Action Environmental Justice Award, 2020 New Jersey Governor’s Richard J. Sullivan Environmental Excellence Award, 2018 Newark Women from Suffragettes to the Statehouse, 2017 selected as 100 People of Newark and a 2007 recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Environmental Community award.
Congratulations on your Women’s History Month recognition of Honor from the Greater Newark Women’s Assembly for your life-long service to the South Ward community. We thank you for your many contributions to the City of Newark, serving as the first female Chief of Staff for the Newark Municipal Council, Hon. Mildred Crump, the first African American Councilwoman elected to the Newark Municipal Council, first legislative Aide to work for three different Municipal Council members, the first Chair of the Newark Environmental Commission, the founder of the first South Ward Cultural Center and the founder of the first Environmental Justice Organization in the South Ward.
“I am thankful for being the first, but I want residents to remember me as a strong Black Woman from the Mighty South Ward, who showed up everyday as her true authentic self fighting passionately for environmental, social and economic justice for all people of Newark” stated Kim Gaddy, Founder and Executive Director, South Ward Environmental Alliance
We thank you Kim Gaddy and honor you as a true trailblazer training up and preparing the next generation of environmental advocates to Stand Up and Fight for our basic human Rights to breathe Clean Air and have access to safe affordable drinking water.
Power to the People!
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