By: Hon. Donna Bullock

PennFuture is honoring Bullock, PA House of Representatives, Philadelphia County, as the Woman of Environmental Justice for her work in representing and protecting citizens disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental impacts, and for her support of expanding green jobs. She will be given this award at the Fourth Annual Celebrating Women in Conservation Awards on April 19.

My name is State Representative Donna Bullock, and I represent the 195th Legislative District, which includes parts of North and West Philadelphia. I am honored to be included among the women being recognized as one of PennFuture’s 2018 Women in Conservation.

Prior to being an elected official, I had very little engagement in environmental issues. Like many parents, I wanted my children to live healthy lives, breathe fresh air, and drink clean water, but I didn’t know about the hidden toxins that were present in our homes, our relatives' homes, their schools and daycare centers, and even the local playgrounds.

Then, I read a report about lead poisoning in Philadelphia, and specifically about my neighborhood of Strawberry Mansion, where 21 percent of the children tested had lead poisoning. And I thought about my own son, who was previously tested to have lead in his blood. All at once, I was relieved and infuriated. Relieved to know that it wasn’t my fault that he was exposed to lead (lead is so ever-present in Philadelphia, that it’s almost impossible to escape it), but also angry to know that so many children in my neighborhood were impacted.

And then I thought about the rooms where environmental policy is being discussed and how much these rooms lacked diversity, how the voices of communities like Strawberry Mansion are not at the table. But let’s be clear, even if we aren’t always at the policy table, we care about the environment and how it impacts our public health, our access to affordable, renewable energy, our access to affordable, sustainable food, and our inclusion in the green economy.

When it comes to confronting the challenges of pollution and climate change, cities and communities of color are often on the front lines. In addition to high levels of lead poisoning, our children also have high rates of asthma. We often live near, and have been exposed to air and water pollution from power plants, factories, and incinerators.  Our communities are also less likely to recover from climate-caused disasters. Consider the disparity in our government’s response during the recovery efforts of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Maria.  

This is why communities of color overwhelmingly support measures to protect the environment. According to a poll conducted by the National Resources Defense Council, two-thirds of African-Americans viewed global warming as a serious problem, and 83 percent supported the Clean Power Plan’s proposed limits on carbon production from coal and gas fired power plants. The poll also found that most African-Americans think that the reduction of carbon pollution will create more and healthier jobs in renewable, wind and solar energy. According to a similar survey conducted by the Sierra Club and GreenLatinos, 89 percent of the Latinos surveyed reported that the environment and pollution impact their family’s quality of life, and 82 percent would prefer that the U.S. invest more in clean, renewable energy sources over fossil fuels.

As a legislator, I use my position to create spaces for communities that are disproportionately impacted by bad environment and energy decisions to have a voice, and to have a seat at the policy table. I have hosted community mixers and panel discussions with diverse stakeholders, and I hope to use the information sessions to inform and shape policy in Harrisburg - policy that would protect families like mine in Strawberry Mansion, and many others throughout the Commonwealth.

The 2018 Celebrating Women in Conservation Awards will be held Thursday, April 19 at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia. Click here to purchase tickets.