2020 Legislative Session Review: Addressing Environmental Inequities
The recently concluded 2020 Washington Legislative Session resulted in some victories, some losses, but all around continued our progress in...
Posted 04/14/2020
SW WA exerts EJ organizing muscle
“Environmental Justice is recognizing and fighting against institutionalized systems of discrimination”. – Jorge Ceullar, Vancouver area...
Posted 02/21/2020
Yakima EJ Communities Rising
“We need a government that is truly of, by, and for the people. That means being represented by elected officials who share the experience and...
Posted 02/14/2020
What we’re fighting for in Olympia in 2020
In the 2019 Legislative Session, Front and Centered made many strides to advance equitable statewide climate policy thanks to the strength of our...
Posted 01/17/2020
Case Studies on Community of Color Based Organizations Pursuit of Solar Energy
Two case studies presented in this document examine the efforts undertaken by two member organizations of Front & Centered to plan for the...
Posted 12/19/2019
New Economy Washington: A Path Forward
We can and must work better together in support of a shared vision of an equitable and regenerative future that meets the needs of all communities...
Posted 11/06/2019
Ensuring equity in Washington’s 100% clean electricity law implementation
We have a chance now and in the coming months to shape the equity terms and objectives in how the law is administered, primarily in defining...
Posted 11/04/2019
The EJ Task Force’s First Step
The Environmental Justice Task Force is now in full force. On September 30th, the Environmental Justice Task Force met for the first time at...
Posted 10/18/2019
The Urgent Need to Diversify the Solar Workforce
Absent an effort to cultivate and hire a diverse workforce, communities of color and women will not be fairly represented in Washington’s growing...
Posted 08/19/2019
Analysis: How did the 2019 legislative session fare on climate justice?
Front and Centered envisions a more just future that is not only cleaner and safer, but where our communities and the earth are healed and...
Posted 05/17/2019
2019 Legislative Review: Wins and Steps towards Climate and Environmental Justice
Front and Centered believes in a future that is not just cleaner and safer for all, but where our communities and the earth are healed and...
Posted 05/15/2019
Earth Week: Climate Resilience in Seattle’s South End
As we honor Mother Earth this week, we should remember that the long fight and struggle for climate justice continues among neighbors in our own...
Posted 04/24/2019
Advancing climate justice in the House after ‘100 Percent’ Senate victory
Legislators in the House should protect the provisions of SB 5116 that advance climate justice — including the requirement that all electric...
Posted 03/07/2019
89 groups endorse the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act
Note from Front and Centered: This post will be continually updated with new endorsements. Eighty-nine groups in our state agree: lawmakers...
Posted 02/05/2019
225 leaders of color gather at Front and Centered’s Statewide Environmental Justice Summit
On Jan. 11 and Jan. 12, Front and Centered hosted our Statewide Environmental Justice Summit at University of Washington’s...
Posted 01/31/2019
Video testimony: 100 percent clean energy should keep the lights on
This week, Front and Centered testified in Olympia, adding amendments to the “100 percent clean” energy bills, Senate Bill (SB) 5116...
Posted 01/21/2019
Our legislative priorities: Healthy environments for all and clean energy justice in 2019
After a hard fight on Initiative 1631, hundreds of leaders gathered at Front and Centered’s Statewide Summit to recenter and...
Posted 01/10/2019
Policy Applications of the Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map
The Environmental Health Disparities Map enhances the ability of governmental agencies and policy makers to more systematically factor cumulative...
Posted 01/09/2019
New ‘Washington Environmental Health Disparities Map’ Elevates Frontline Community Priorities
For the first time, people in Washington state will be able to compare how their neighborhoods rank for environmental health risks with the help...
Posted 01/08/2019
Communities of color poised for the next chapter of climate action
As several equity-driven candidates of color were elected into office in the other Washington, Washington state had earlier and higher voter...
Posted 11/09/2018
Join Pastor Anderson – Vote YES on 1631!
“As Pastor of one of the major churches of African descent in Washington state, I support Initiative 1631. This initiative will create over 40,000...
Posted 10/25/2018
Join Paulina – Vote Yes on 1631!
“Children should be able to play in a safe environment and not have to worry about health conditions caused by our environment. I support I -1631...
Posted 10/25/2018
How much do climate-hurt communities benefit from I-1631?
Off the top of your head, do you know exactly what Initiative 1631’s (I-1631’s) carbon fee would fund? What’s the percentage breakdown? How much...
Posted 10/18/2018
Air quality relief as we push air quality protection into law
Enjoying the orange-and-red foliage of autumn? Just a couple of months ago, we were breathing in ash from the orange tinge of summer wildfires...
Posted 10/17/2018
Join Estela – Vote Yes on 1631!
“1631 is a model of hope. It was created through a collaborative process to ensure that communities on the frontline of climate impacts are at the...
Posted 10/03/2018
Join Diane – Vote Yes on 1631!
“I-1631 does more than simply reduce pollution. It works to correct these historic inequities by putting frontline communities’ front and center...
Posted 10/03/2018
Join Kurtis – Vote Yes on 1631!
“An extraordinarily broad and diverse coalition has come together to write and pass Initiative 1631. It reflects a sense of togetherness and...
Posted 10/03/2018
Join Leslie – Vote Yes on 1631!
“Climate change is hurting our loved ones, everywhere as rising seas and typhoons batter the Asian Pacific Coast and Islands. Here in...
Posted 10/03/2018
Join Yolanda – Vote Yes on 1631!
“1631 is an important step towards realizing equity. This establishes clean air and water as a baseline for everyone, regardless of race...
Posted 10/03/2018
Join James – Pledge to Vote Yes on 1631!
“Tragically, Georgetown and South Park residents have a life expectancy that is 7 years less than the average in all of King County because...
Posted 10/01/2018
Join Tony – Pledge to Vote Yes on 1631!
“As a lifelong advocate for social justice, I endorse I-1631. This initiative tackles climate change through the lens of communities bearing...
Posted 10/01/2018
Join Councilmember Méndez – Pledge to Vote Yes on 1631!
“My priorities for Yakima are to protect public safety, alleviate poverty, and support small businesses and jobs. 1631 achieves this by...
Posted 10/01/2018
Join Bereket – Pledge to Vote Yes on 1631!
“From drought gripping the Horn of Africa to more heat waves and lung choking air in the Pacific Northwest, our loved ones are suffering...
Posted 10/01/2018
Join Johnny – Pledge to Vote Yes on 1631!
“Our way of life is being destroyed by climate change impacts such as rising seas, shrinking salmon runs, and wildfires that have been...
Posted 10/01/2018
Assessing Equity in State Solar Strategies
The State lacks a space to design and report on the distributional effects of the clean energy transition, and specifically the state’s own...
Posted 09/25/2018
An Unfair Share: Climate Change Hits Some Harder Than Others
Everyone in Washington state will be affected by climate change. But one’s race, income, and language, influence how much risk Washington state...
Posted 08/16/2018
Mobilizing Highly Impacted Communities Near Toxic Sites
In late 2017 Front and Centered was awarded a Public Participation Grant (PPG) by the Washington State Department of Ecology for our Mapping to...
Posted 08/14/2018
What counts when we count carbon pollution? Lessons from Oregon
There are important lessons to be learned in the new report about who is contributing, how much, and where to target solutions.
Posted 07/24/2018
Tomorrow’s Leaders of Color Set their Sights on Environmental Justice
At Front and Centered, we’re proud to share what we know with this impressive cohort. In the short amount of time with the, we were...
Posted 06/27/2018
Statement from the Front and Centered Steering Committee on I-1631
We support I-1631 because it will make our state stronger and healthier by lifting up our communities. The initiative will protect the air we...
Posted 06/09/2018