Get Involved with EJCR

photo of ms zulene holding mic and protesters at EJ march

The Environmental Justice & Community Resilience (EJCR) Program is rooted in collaboration, mutual learning, and collective action. Whether you're a student, faculty member, or community ally, there are many ways to engage with our work. From local partnerships to student-led initiatives and interdisciplinary faculty research, EJCR fosters spaces for justice-centered environmental engagement on and off campus. Explore the sections below to learn how you can get involved. 

EJCR is proud to collaborate with a wide range of community-based organizations working at the frontlines of environmental and social justice. These partnerships are built on reciprocity, trust, and shared commitments to transformative change. We support and co-create projects that address issues such as food and housing insecurity, energy justice, land reclamation, climate resilience, and healing justice. Our partners include grassroots organizers, mutual aid networks, educators, and policy advocates—many of whom serve as guest speakers, co-educators, and collaborators on long-term initiatives. Engaging with community partners is central to EJCR’s vision of environmental justice that is place-based, relational, and action-oriented.

Community Partners

Logo with two hands and a plant and buildings

Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL)

CRCQL (pronounced “circle”) is a community-led nonprofit at the forefront of the environmental justice movement in Chester, PA, since 1992. Founded and led by longtime activist Zulene Mayfield, CRCQL has fought to expose and dismantle the environmental racism that has burdened Chester with one of the highest concentrations of toxic facilities in the nation—including the country’s largest trash incinerator, Reworld Delaware Valley. Under Ms. Zulene’s leadership, CRCQL organizes grassroots campaigns, legal advocacy, and public education efforts to demand clean air, healthy communities, and a livable future for Chester families. Ms. Zulene’s decades of activism—including her work featured in the 1996 documentary Laid to Waste—have earned her numerous awards, and she continues to be a guiding force in regional and national EJ conversations.

Contact: GetInvolved@ChesterPAEJ.org 

Instagram: @chester_ej 

Website
Photo of Alexa Ross next to Philly Thrive logo which has Philly thrive written in all caps and two orange flowers

Philly Thrive

Philly Thrive is a grassroots organization working at the intersection of environmental, racial, and economic justice in Philadelphia—the poorest large city in the U.S. Committed to healing the deep harms caused by the extractive economy, Philly Thrive organizes toward a regenerative future through direct action and robust community care. In 2020, the group achieved a historic victory with the permanent closure of the PES oil refinery, ending over 150 years of toxic pollution in South Philadelphia.

Today, Thrive continues to fight for justice in the redevelopment of the refinery site and for safe, affordable housing for all. Alongside its advocacy, Philly Thrive runs powerful community programs, including a youth summer camp, women’s and gun violence healing circles, and weekly food box deliveries.

Contact: communications@phillythrive.org 

Instagram: @phillythrive 

Website
Reentry Logo: Says Reentry Community Farm in caps and return to the land in a smaller circle on top right

Re-Entry Community Farm is a transformative urban agriculture initiative rooted in West Philadelphia's Cathedral Park neighborhood. The farm serves as a sanctuary and empowerment hub for formerly incarcerated individuals and at-risk youth, offering pathways to healing, community reintegration, and self-sufficiency through land stewardship. 

Beyond cultivating organic produce, Re-Entry Community Farm provides wellness programs, agricultural training, restorative justice practices, and support groups. These offerings address the intertwined challenges of food insecurity, systemic racism, and the impacts of mass incarceration. By fostering a sense of belonging and purpose, the farm cultivates resilience and community leadership. Stewarded by Stanley Morgan, tajah ebram, and a dedicated collective, the farm exemplifies the power of land-based community building as a restorative justice strategy. Their work not only transforms individual lives but also contributes to broader movements for environmental and social justice in Philadelphia.

Instagram: @reentrycommunityfarm 

Website
CEF and Chester Education Foundation written out in dark blue text on a white background, separated by a blue line

Chester Education Foundation

Founded in 1989, the Chester Education Foundation (CEF) is a cornerstone nonprofit dedicated to educational excellence and community revitalization within the Chester Upland School District. Through strategic partnerships with local institutions, businesses, and foundations, CEF secures over $1 million annually to support direct services and capacity-building initiatives that empower Chester's youth and families.​

CEF's flagship program, Blueprint for Success, offers out-of-school youth aged 18–24 a structured and supportive environment to pursue educational and career goals. By providing culturally relevant services and connecting participants with in-demand training opportunities, the program aims to significantly improve their socio-economic trajectories. Additionally, CEF facilitates the Delaware County Communities That Care (CTC) Network, a coalition of over 100 members recognized for implementing research-based prevention strategies and fostering community collaboration. Through these initiatives, CEF continues to be a transformative force in Chester, promoting educational equity and sustainable community development.

Contact: cef@chestereducation.org  

Instagram: @chestereducationfoundation 

Website
Hunting Park Community Solar Initiative logo, a yellow and orange sun with a blue skyline and the name in all caps

Hunting Park Community Solar Initiative

The Hunting Park Community Solar Initiative (HPCSI) is a grassroots nonprofit based in North Philadelphia, dedicated to advancing environmental justice through community-led solar energy solutions. Established in 2020 by local leaders—including block captains, faith organizations, and nonprofits—HPCSI empowers residents by providing access to affordable solar energy, job training, and energy efficiency programs.

HPCSI's flagship program is a 10-week solar installation training course held at Vocatio Career Prep High School. Offered three times annually, including a bilingual Spanish-English session, the program equips participants with OSHA 10 certification and hands-on experience, preparing them for careers in the growing solar industry. Since its inception, the initiative has graduated multiple cohorts, contributing to local workforce development.

In partnership with solar companies like Solar States and Posigen, HPCSI facilitates both solar ownership and leasing options for residents. These collaborations not only reduce energy costs for homeowners but also generate revenue to support HPCSI's ongoing programs, including plans for a cool roof installation training initiative.​ Through its comprehensive approach—combining education, employment, and energy solutions—HPCSI exemplifies community-driven efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable development in underserved neighborhoods.

Contact: hpcsiphilly@gmail.com 

Website
YEAH in all caps in white letters, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR ADVANCEMENT HANGOUT below in all caps black on a white line. Black background overall

YEAH Philly

Founded in 2018 by Kendra Van de Water and James Aye, YEAH (Youth Empowerment For Advancement Hangout) Philly  is a Black-led nonprofit based in West Philadelphia that empowers teens and young adults impacted by violence. Born from direct conversations with over 300 local youth, YEAH Philly centers young people as leaders in addressing the root causes of community violence.​ YEAH Philly offers a range of culturally relevant programs, including peer-led mediation, conflict resolution workshops, legal advocacy, and paid job training. Their community hub provides essential services such as meals, showers, therapy, and tutoring. In 2023 alone, YEAH Philly attended over 1,000 court hearings, helping 87 youth avoid incarceration. Through initiatives like the annual "Healing in the Hood" basketball tournament and advocacy for juvenile justice reform, YEAH Philly fosters safe spaces and opportunities for youth to thrive. Their holistic approach addresses systemic issues, aiming to create a Philadelphia where young people are safe, empowered, and supported by their communities.

Contact: teens@yeahphilly.org   

Instagram: @yeahphilly  

Website

Environmental Justice Student Clubs:

Campus Coalition Concerning Chester (C4)

C4, also known as the Chester Road Collaborative, is a student-led club that supports Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL). C4 is focused on building cross-campus alliances to fight environmental racism in Chester, PA. Rooted in long-term partnership with CRCQL and advised by Professor Giovanna Di Chiro, C4 mobilizes Swarthmore students for community-based environmental justice work through protest support, canvassing, coalition-building, and educational events.

C4's activism confronts both local injustices—such as the pollution burden of the Covanta incinerator in Chester—and institutional complicity within college communities. The group’s programming includes direct action organizing, mutual aid tabling, and campus-wide EJ events like poster-making sessions, speaker panels, and sustainable merch collaborations. Their work also includes regional outreach: C4 has helped seed chapters across the Tri-Co and beyond, including Bryn Mawr, UPenn, and Villanova. 

In solidarity with Chester residents and local organizers, C4 envisions a Delaware County committed to zero waste, clean air, and equity—both on and off campus. By linking students to sustained community engagement, C4 exemplifies what accountable, youth-led environmental justice organizing can look like in higher education.

Instagram: @chester.c4 

Good Food Garden Club

The Good Food Garden Club is a student-led initiative dedicated to cultivating sustainable food practices, campus-grown produce, and community around environmental justice. Rooted in a small shared garden space below the Faulkner Tennis Courts, the club gathers 2–3 times a week to plant, water, weed, and harvest seasonal crops—while using the space to host cooking and foraging events like edible flower cookie baking and garden-inspired vegan dinners. 

The club operates in collaboration with the Food Systems Working Group (FSWG), a broader coalition of students, faculty, staff, and administrators working to transform Swarthmore’s food system. FSWG makes campus-wide recommendations related to sustainable sourcing, food justice, nutrition, and educational opportunities, and reports directly to the President’s Office and the Executive Committee. The garden space is supported by the Office of Sustainability, the Scott Arboretum, the Women’s Resource Center, and the Environmental Studies Program. Together, the Good Food Garden Club and FSWG represent a growing movement at Swarthmore to reimagine food not just as sustenance, but as a site of justice, learning, and community care. 

Instagram: @swat_good_food