Genevieve LaMarr LeMee

Genevieve LaMarr LeMee (MS/MURP ’22)

By Lori Atherton | 
View Lori Ann Atherton's Profile

When Genevieve LaMarr LeMee (MS/MURP ’22) became the City of Philadelphia’s deputy director of environmental justice in the Office of Sustainability, it was the city’s first dedicated role for advancing EJ through education, policy and direct resources to marginalized communities. 

In the three years she’s been in the role, LaMarr LeMee and her team have focused on two key initiatives. One is overseeing the Community Resilience and Environmental Justice Fund, which awards grants to community organizations to support environmental justice initiatives, such as those focused on air quality or climate resilience. The other is developing an environmental justice mapping tool and resource hub that highlights the inequitable distribution of environmental benefits and harms, and the strategies and organizations addressing them. 

The work isn’t always easy, LaMarr LeMee admits, but the opportunity to be impactful is what keeps her going. “It can be very challenging to work in this field, but I think that’s why people stay in this field,” says LaMarr LeMee. “When you’re working in government, it touches everyone’s lives and there are big decisions being made. And the potential to inform big decisions and give residents a positive experience of government, always feels good when you’re doing community engagement. So that helps with continuing to do the work.”

LaMarr LeMee came to SEAS because of its strong environmental justice program. She also chose to pursue a dual degree in urban planning because she wanted to focus on urban environmental justice issues and knew that studying in a related field would provide her with a well-rounded education. 

U-M’s proximity to Detroit was helpful, she says, because it exposed her to issues within a big city. For this reason, she recommends that students explore volunteer opportunities outside of Ann Arbor, and gain professional experience before coming to SEAS.

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