Equity Challenge Day 11: Environmental Racism Something to Consider:  Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, an Associate Professor at Michigan State University, used science to prove that children in Flint were exposed to lead and went public with her findings to bring light to the crisis. Her book, What the Eyes Don’t See is her first-hand account of how the crisis unfolded. Watch her TEDMED talk to learn more.

What is Environmental Racism? Despite wanting the best for their families, people with limited means are often less geographically mobile and have fewer affordable choices when deciding where to live. This has led to residents with low incomes, and often also people of color, living in areas with high rates of air and water pollution, such as in industrial areas, near highways, or in close proximity to toxic waste sites. Allegan County is no exception-- PFAS has been a main environmental topic in recent years, as shown in the Ostego Area Study - Community Meeting presentation. Pollution and particulate matter exposure have been linked to asthma, low birth weights, high blood pressure, and other adverse health outcomes. This is environmental racism. Share your reflections on today’s topic on social media using the hashtag #unitedforequity and tag @AlleganCountyUnitedWay.

Today’s Challenge Option 1:  Read The Atlantic’s coverage of the EPA National Center for Environmental Assessment’s 2018 report that showed how people of color are more likely to experience exposure to pollutants. Option 2: Have you heard of environmental racism? Watch this 3-minute video on how numerous systemic issues contribute to differences in exposure to potentially harmful environmental conditions. Option 3: Check out the Principles of Environmental Justice developed at the National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit with help from Dr. Dorceta E. Taylor, University of Michigan professor and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for The School for Environment and Sustainability. Option 4: Read about how University of Michigan students are designing solutions to address lead contamination in the Flint water system utilizing research and an algorithm built by Ross School of Business Professor Eric Schwartz that uses data to determine which houses may have lead pipes. Learn more about the research here.