What's Happening Now?

Newark, NJ (Building Resistance)

Building Resistance in a Burdened Community

A bird’s-eye view of some of the industry that sprawls through the Ironbound, including Covanta Essex incinerator. Courtesy of Joshua Kumar.

Upcoming Events & Programs
  1. Newark, NJ (Building Resistance)
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    54 Halsey Street, Newark, NJ

The Problem

The Ironbound is a “burdened community,” exposing residents to multiple sources of toxins at once. It houses the largest Superfund site in the US, the largest incinerator in the New York area, over 200 brownfields (contaminated sites), a facility that processes sewage from 3 million homes, and more than 14,000 trucks pass through daily.

The Roots

Ironbound is a community of 50,000 residents—predominantly African Americans, immigrants, and non-native English speakers with little political sway. It likely got its name from the railroad tracks and bridges around its perimeter, which have served industries that generated wealth for corporate titans while polluting the environs.

The Solutions

For 50 years, the Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC) has lead environmental justice and community mobilization. They blocked the building of several incinerators and fought for the designation of the Diamond Alkali plant as a Superfund site. ICC analyzes industrial permits, holds polluters accountable, and lobbies for green infrastructure.

2017: North Carolina Historical Marker in Freedom Hill, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources. Courtesy of Skanska USA—Portraits of Humanity, The Town of Princeville; photograph by Brain Crumb.
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2017: Flood damage to Princeville’s first church Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church, built in 1871. Courtesy of Skanska USA—Portraits of Humanity, The Town of Princeville; photograph by Brain Crumb.
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2017: A Princeville teen displaced from her family home. Courtesy of Skanska USA—Portraits of Humanity, The Town of Princeville; photograph by Brian Crumb.
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A glimpse into Princeville: Flood recovery and the spirit of resilience. Courtesy of Wellspring Creative; spoken by Commissioner Milton Bullock, Fire Chief James Powell, Commissioner Linda Joyner, and young student Seth Schenall; produced by Jessica Young; edited by Pete Herron; cinematography by James Milner.
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2017: Princeville residents coming together with hopes to rebuild and recover. Courtesy of Skanska USA—Portraits of Humanity, The Town of Princeville; photograph by Brian Crumb.
Princeville, North Carolina Anthem sung at Portraits of Humanity exhibit at UNCG. Courtesy of Marcia Rosalie Hale; vocals by Commissioner Linda Joyner.
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2016–2018: FaithAction ID Program Promotional Overview. Courtesy of FaithAction International House; photographs by Todd Drake.
Welcome to FaithAction International House. Courtesy of FaithAction International House; narrated by Executive Director David Fraccaro.
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2017: Newcomer receives a FaithAction ID Card in Greensboro, NC. Courtesy of FaithAction International House; photograph by Todd Drake.
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2018: FaithAction Downtown Unity Walk. Courtesy of FaithAction International House; photograph by Jorge Maturino.
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UNCG students learn art, history, and science through the Underground Railroad Tree. Courtesy of Sarah Seyler, UNCG Honors Student, Class of 2019.
Additional Media

Our Point of View

Before this class, most of us didn’t know what environmental justice was, let alone that we are located in an EJ community. This class was a wake-up call not only about the hazards of living in a burdened community, but also how our consumer society generates waste that is disproportionately dumped on low-income neighborhoods. Through first-hand reporting we gained a deep connection to the lived experience of people in the Ironbound, and we came to understand the systemic level of change that needs to happen in order to restore balance.

Rutgers University-Newark

Race and income are the most likely indicators of whether someone lives near toxic waste. For 50 years, the Ironbound Community Corporation has been resisting that trend. We fight for the rights of local residents to clean water, air, and soil, as well as affordable housing and early childhood education. We are committed to Just Transition principles that honor the earth and move us away from an extractive economy. We joined forces with HAL and the students at Rutgers University–Newark to educate, inspire, and amplify our story.

Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC)

Contributors

University Partners

Rutgers University-Newark

Faculty Project Directors
Heather Van Uxem Lewis
Mary Rizzo
Julie Winokur

Students
Yoo Ra Kim
Jay Kumar
Carmelo Ortiz
Kira Jones
Sarah Shah
Viridiana Villasenor
Alexa Sanchez
Chris Lantonnel
Yailine Mazariegos
Ashley Mendoza
Amanda Oliveira Fabri
Selena Caguana
Chris Cordero
Harry Sisco
Riley Dixon
Khyri Stewart
Shirley Cruz
Nichole Montanez
Nouran Ibrahem
Stephanie Alonso
Ramon Tavarez
Christopher Rua
Raphael Narty
Devin Michael

Community Partners

Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC)

Maria Lopez-Nuñez
Melissa Miles
Nancy Zak