Larry Charles, Sr'

1
EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• Larry Charles, Sr.
• Executive Director
• O.N.E./C.H.A.N.E., Inc.
• Hartford, CT

Sheraton Society Hill Hotel ? July 24, 2003
? Philadelphia, PA
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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• Agenda
• BACKGROUND
• Birth of A New Age
• Environmental Awakening
• Evolution of EJ Movement
• Race, Politics and Class Matters
• EMERGING PRINCIPLES
• KEY VALUES
• BARRIERS AND OBSTACLES
• Community
• Regulators
• Mediators/Facilitators
• Industry
• SETTING THE TABLE RIGHT
• BUILDING COLLABORATIVE
• COMMUNITY BASED EP

3
EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• BACKGROUND
• Birth of A New Age
• Environmental Awakening
• Evolution of EJ Movement

4
EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• BACKGROUND
• Birth of A New Age
• Labor Pains
• Old Rules/Approaches Dont Work
• Future Belongs To Ones Who Know

5
EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• BACKGROUND
• Environmental Awakening
• Inside Affected Communities
• Outside Institutions
• Public
• Private
• Foundation

6
EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• BACKGROUND
• Evolution of EJ Movement
• Conservation To Protection of
• Human Health
• Wilderness To Urban
• Remaining Relevant Is The Goal

7
EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• BACKGROUND
• Race, Politics and Class Matters
• Siting Decisions
• Reluctance To Enforce Regulations
• Regulators Are On The Hook

8
EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• EMERGING PRINCIPLES
• COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
• COMMUNITY CONTROL
• COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY

9
EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• KEY VALUES
• RESPECT!
• TRUST
• CREDIBILITY

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• BARRIERS AND OBSTACLES
• COMMUNITY
• REGULATORS
• MEDIATORS/FACILITATORS
• INDUSTRY

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities BARRIERS AND
OBSTACLES Communities

• Hopelessness and Helplessness
• Disconnected Leaders
• Community Division
• Poor Power Balance
• Poor Public Notice and Participation
• Maintaining Focus--Years
• Ignorance of Sovereignty Culture

• Racism
• Lack of Trust of Regulators and Scientists
• Its Their Problem
• Lack of Capacity
• Legal
• Scientific
• Procedural
• Financial
• Frightened Regulators

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities BARRIERS AND
OBSTACLES Regulators

• Trust/Credibility Deficit
• Current Regulations and Procedures Limit
  Flexibility
• Unsupportive Office
• Community Division
• Lack of Resources
• Poor Public Notice and Participation
• Ignorance of Sovereignty Culture

• Racism
• Diversify Institutions
• Manage Behavior
• Fear of Community
• Political Interventions
• Who is Community?
• Language
• Inflexible Work Hours

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities BARRIERS AND
OBSTACLES Facilitators/Mediators

• Racism
• Diversify Institutions
• Manage Behavior
• Fear of Community
• New Field of Study
• No Defined Terms or Procedures
• Too Soon To Tell What Works?
• Classical Conflicts Not Defined?
• Lack of Diversity In Defining This New Industry

• Who is Community?
• Trust/Credibility Deficit
• Current Regulations and Procedures Limit
  Flexibility
• Community Division
• Lack of Resources
• Who Pays?

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities BARRIERS AND
OBSTACLES Industry

• Trust/Credibility Deficit
• Lack of Creativity in Organizing Fair Host
  Community Benefits
• Poor Understanding of Financials of Zero Based
  Technology
• Community Division
• Poor Public Notice and Participation
• Ignorance of Sovereignty Culture

• Racism
• Diversify Institutions
• Manage Behavior
• Often Underestimates Community
• Ability To Understand Technical Processes
  Impacts
• Ability to Exercise Political Power To Stop
  Project
• Ability to Sustain Movement Through Multi-Year
  Process

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• SETTING THE TABLE RIGHT
• Who Is The Community?
• Who Is Missing?
• What Are Group Principles/Rules
• When Do We Stop? (Goal)

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• BUILDING COLLABORATIVE
• Seniors
• Parents
• Faith Leaders
• Youth

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• BUILDING COLLABORATIVE
• Seniors
• Establish linkage Between Poor Air Quality and
  Respiratory Problems
• Get Out of the Way
• Provide Transportation Meal

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• BUILDING COLLABORATIVE
• Parents
• Establish Linkage Between Chemicals and
  Particulates on Future Learning Ability of Babies
• Get Out of the Way
• Provide Baby Sitting Meal

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• BUILDING COLLABORATIVE
• Faith Leaders
• Faith Is A Proven Powerful Weapon In Fights For
  Justice
• You Serve A God of JusticeWhat Are You Gonna Do
  About This Injustice?
• Get Out of the Way
• Provide Meal

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• BUILDING COLLABORATIVE
• Youth
• Appeal To Idealism of Youth and Establish Legacy
  of Previous Generations of YouthAnti-War, Civil
  Rights MovementWhat Are You Gonna Do?
• Get Out of the Way
• Provide Transportation Meal

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• COMMUNITY BASED EP
• Matrix Approach
• Institutionalize EJ/EP
• Move From Policy To Law
• Elevate The Function In Organization
• Fund National Training Effort

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EPA Community Involvement Conference and Training
2003
Engaging Affected Communities

• ROLE OF TOSC/TAB ADVISORY BOARD
• Vision
• Principles
• Strategies
• Relevance
• Sustainability