A week after the University of Michigan celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) honored his work at its own event—a panel discussion focused on keeping environmental justice at the forefront of sustainability work. 

The event, “Paving the Way: Taking Bold Action Toward Environmental Justice,” was held on January 27 and spotlighted bold leaders who are transforming the fields of environmental justice, energy and sustainability, including:

• Shalanda H. Baker, U-M's first vice provost for sustainability and climate action
• Tony G. Reames, SEAS associate professor, who served as deputy director for energy justice and principal deputy director for the Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy
• Carla Walker-Miller, CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services
• Jalonne White-Newsome, the first federal chief environmental officer at the White House Council on Environmental Quality
• Maddie Miller (moderator), SEAS PhD candidate and the founder and CEO of NexTiles, a Detroit-based textile recycling company that converts textile waste into building materials and other eco-friendly products

Panelists spoke about the current environmental justice moment we are in, what inspired them to become EJ champions, the clean energy transition, and their calls to action to advance environmental justice. 

“What is your role in keeping the spirit of equity and justice going?,” White-Newsome asked the audience, while Walker-Miller reminded attendees that “courage is a renewable resource. When you are in a room, when you can make a difference, be courageous.”

The event was co-sponsored by the U-M Ford School of Public Policy’s Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program.

See below for highlights from the event, as well as the full panel discussion.