Rising Tides – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome for a powerful reflection on her journey into environmental justice and the experiences that shaped her work at the highest levels of federal policy. She walks us through the four cornerstone initiatives she helped lead at the White House: Justice40, the Environmental Justice Scorecard, the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, and the Environmental Justice Executive Order, and how her diverse background lets her see environmental justice from many angles, combining both science and community insight.

As we discuss the loss of federal support under the new administration, Dr. White-Newsome offers practical advice: stay connected, stay engaged, and keep pushing for justice. And for young people who might be feeling discouraged, she leaves a hopeful message about focusing on what it takes to build the world we want for the future.

Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome is an Associate Professor in the Environmental Justice Specialization at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability. She began her career as a chemical engineer and has worked across multiple sectors including grassroots organizing, philanthropy, state government, and academia. She founded Empowering a Green Environment and Economy, LLC to advance public health, racial equity, and environmental justice. From 2022 to 2025, she served as the first Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer, leading the White House Office of Environmental Justice and helping drive the Biden-Harris Administration’s equity and climate initiatives.

Learn more about Dr. White-Newsome here.

In this episode, I sit down with Isa Gaillard and Valeria Menendez from Equitable Cities, an organization with planners, researchers, and advocates transforming the way people move through their communities. Rooted in justice and lived experience, Equitable Cities addresses the inequities that have shaped America’s transportation systems, from highways that divide neighborhoods to underfunded public transit.

We explore why transportation is a justice issue, how historic policies and funding decisions continue to restrict mobility for communities of color, and what it means to design streets that allow everyone to move safely and freely. Isa and Valeria also share how Equitable Cities bridges the gap between community members and policymakers, and the transformative projects that are redefining access and opportunity across the country.

Check out the groundbreaking work of Equitable Cities at www.equitablecities.com and read more about Isa and Valeria below.

Isa Gaillard is a Senior Planner at Equitable Cities. He has experience in environmental justice, sustainable transportation, and capacity building. As an undergraduate student, Isa received a Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award for his efforts engaging diverse communities to promote cross-cultural collaboration. During his graduate studies, he developed a framework for how cities can integrate environmental justice into their planning processes. Prior to joining Equitable Cities, Isa developed and led the Towards Equitable Electric Mobility (TEEM) Community of Practice and supported the Greenlining Institute’s capacity building projects.

Valeria Menendez is a Senior Associate at Equitable Cities. She has an impressive interdisciplinary background, holding a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Planning. She has a comprehensive understanding of environmental and social dynamics, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration. Valeria is currently working on the Virginia Walkability Institute in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health, and with various communities around the country through the US Department of Transportation’s Thriving Communities Program.

In our first episode, Professor Running-Grass introduces the concept of environmental justice, reviews its origins and principles, and talks about the future direction of this movement.

Professor Running-Grass is an educator and a long-time social justice and environmental activist. His expertise spans several fields including multicultural education, critical pedagogy, and environmental education. He led the creation of Three Circles Center for Multicultural Environmental Education and is nationally recognized for his formative contribution to the field of Multicultural Environmental Education and Environmental Justice. He was also one of the 300 delegates to the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit in 1991, which launched the Environmental Justice movement onto the national stage. Professor Running-Grass worked for the EPA for 22 years, focusing on Environmental Justice issues, especially at the community level. He is currently appointed by Governor Inslee to the first Environmental Justice Council in Washington state, which is tasked to track the implementation of the State HEAL Act and the Climate Commitment Act. He is also a founding faculty member of the Urban Environmental Education MA Program at Antioch University.

To learn more about Professor Running-Grass and his work, please visit the website for the Three Circles Center.

Welcome to my podcast! In the following episodes, I'll speak with experts in the field of environmental justice striving for a fair and sustainable world. From the impacts of climate change on marginalized communities to innovative solutions and policy changes, this podcast sheds light on the struggles and triumphs in the quest for environmental justice. I hope you find these episodes informative and inspiring. 

In this episode, I speak with farmer and activist Karen Washington about the deep roots of food injustice and the power of communities to create change. Ms. Washington shares why she coined the term “food apartheid,” which captures the human realities of race, economics, and systemic inequity that “food desert” overlooks. 

Noting that hunger is manmade, Ms. Washington emphasizes that change happens by shifting power. She does not dwell on complaints and instead focuses on finding solutions. Ms. Washington (AKA "Mama K") urges young activists to speak up, especially in today’s political climate, and to work collectively because power comes from community.

For over four decades, Karen Washington has worked to create a more equitable food system, especially in urban communities. She co-founded Black Urban Growers and Rise & Root Farm, and she’s been a champion for community gardens, urban agriculture, and the fight against food apartheid. Ms. Washington has won a James Beard Foundation Humanitarian award, an Emerson Collective Fellowship recognition, and the Black Women Green Future award to name just a few. 

Learn more about Karen Washington here.

In this episode, I sit down with Professor Shalanda Baker, Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action at the University of Michigan, and one of the nation’s most influential voices in energy justice. Under the Biden-Harris administration, Professor Baker served as the Director of the Office of Energy Justice and Equity at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she where she architected groundbreaking federal efforts to embed justice and equity into national energy policy. 

Guided by heart, integrity, and experience, Professor Baker has spent her career ensuring that those most impacted by environmental harm are not just protected in the clean energy transition, but are active participants in shaping it.

We discuss the foundations of energy justice, how traditional energy systems create disproportionate burdens, and why community-led solutions are essential to a just and equitable clean energy transition.

Learn more about Professor Baker here.

In this episode, I speak with Christopher Chavez, Deputy Policy Director at the Coalition for Clean Air, about his journey from growing up in Long Beach to becoming a leading advocate for air justice in California. Drawing from personal experience in one of the state’s most polluted regions, Chavez shares what inspired him to enter public service and how his work today connects policy to the real-life impacts of air pollution.

We talk about why low-income communities and communities of color are hit hardest by air pollution, and the challenges of pushing clean air policies in the face of economic and political resistance. Chavez reminds us that economic growth and public health are not mutually exclusive and that meaningful change happens when communities speak up.

He also shares what the Coalition for Clean Air is currently working on and why the fight for clean air is far from over but full of possibility.

Learn more about Christopher Chavez here. 

In this episode, I'm joined by Chanell Fletcher, Deputy Executive Officer of Equity, Communities & Environmental Justice at the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Ms. Fletcher leads statewide efforts to ensure that all communities, especially those historically marginalized, have access to clean air and protection from climate harm.

We talk about how policies like redlining and zoning have created unequal air quality outcomes across California, and what it means to take an equity-first approach to environmental regulation. From AB 617 to community air monitoring programs, Ms. Fletcher breaks down how justice-driven policy can reshape our air, our neighborhoods, and our futures.

We also explore the role of community organizing and the importance of youth to lead the fight for environmental justice.

Learn more about Chanell Fletcher here.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Benjamin Pauli, Associate Professor at Kettering University and longtime environmental justice advocate, to unpack the Flint water crisis: what caused it, who was responsible, and how the people of Flint fought back. Dr. Pauli shares his insights as a researcher, activist, and Flint resident, tracing how unelected emergency managers made top-down decisions and how those decisions led to widespread water contamination and a breakdown in public trust. He also discusses the critical role grassroots activism and community organizing played in exposing the crisis. 

Dr. Pauli is the author of Flint Fights Back: Environmental Justice and Democracy in the Flint Water Crisis, president of the board of the Environmental Transformation Movement of Flint, and acting chair of the Flint Water System Advisory Council and vice-chair of the EPA’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council. 

Learn more about Dr. Pauli’s work here.

Check out his book, Flint Fights Back: Environmental Justice and Democracy in the Flint Water Crisis, here.

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Kimberly Jones about water justice in our communities. Dr. Jones dives deep into the pressing issue of water insecurity, exploring where our water comes from, who controls it, and the social, economic, and environmental factors that impact access to safe drinking water.  From the ongoing challenges of contamination and pollution to the effects of climate change on vulnerable communities, Dr. Jones provides a comprehensive look at the current state of water equity and how experts, lawmakers and communities can work together to solve this crisis. She also encourages young people to consider careers in the water sector, emphasizing the urgent need for fresh perspectives and new talent to address the critical challenges facing our water systems today.

Dr. Jones is the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Howard University. She is chair of the Chartered Science Advisory Board of the EPA and serves as a Presidential Appointee to the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Building Sciences. Dr. Jones has received numerous awards including (but not limited to) Researcher of the Year award from Howard University, a Top Women in Science Award from the National Technical Association, and the Top Women Achievers award from Essence Magazine. Learn more about Dr. Jones and her work here.