Louisiana Environmental Justice Program |
Regional Projects: Louisiana
Campaign Highlights The Sierra Club's EJ program in Louisiana began by focusing on empowering communities along the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to Venice that are affected by toxic chemicals. In recent years, Sierra Club organizer Darryl Malek-Wiley's main focus has been working with communities in the monumental undertaking of recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Darryl has spent considerable time working to solidify and expand the coalitions working on the equitable reconstruction of the New Orleans and Gulf region. Darryl's efforts are so closely tied to his community that it is hard to tell where the Sierra Club begins and ends with many aspects of work with the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association and the Mary Queen of Viet Nam Parish. Darryl works closely with the Make It Right Campaign, a program that is working with the community to build green, affordable housing on a large scale to Katrina victims. In addition, in March 2008 Darryl will help host the historic "Spring Greening", a two week event where hundreds of volunteers will help build the nation's first zero carbon community. To learn more, check out this flyer! Learn More
About the Organizer 
Darryl Malek-Wiley is a veteran of the environmental justice movement. He has worked for over 30 years with communities along the Mississippi River to fight toxic pollution and protect peoples' health. Malek-Wiley joined the Sierra Club Environmental Justice Program in June 2004 to support the efforts of Louisiana environmental justice groups on issues including toxics, pollution and environmental health. He has been dedicated to protecting Louisiana's environment and people throughout his career. He was a key organizer of the Great Toxics March from Baton Rouge to New Orleans in 1988. This march defined the problem of toxic emissions in the "cancer alley" and launched the campaign for improvement that continues today. Malek-Wiley has worked for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, Louisiana Environmental Action Network and the Gulf Coast Tenant Organization among others. He has served as the Chair of the New Orleans Group of the Sierra Club, President of the Mississippi River Basin Alliance, and a member of both the Sierra Club's Ethnic Diversity Task Force and Hazardous Material Committee. He has studied and educated people on toxics, air and water pollution, environmental health, and sociology at the local, state, regional, national and international level. Contact him at darryl.malek-wiley@sierraclub.org. Get Involved Join the Sierra Club for lunch! Every Wednesday, Louisiana Sierra Club invites all environmentally minded folks to join us for lunch at our Baton Rouge office, 4521 Jamestown Court, Suites 12-13, Baton Rouge, LA 70808. For more information, contact Darryl Malek-Wiley at darryl.malek-wiley@sierraclub.org or 225-925-8650. Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club |
