Mission
The Environmental Justice Committee works to advance, educate and participate with individuals and groups to improve the condition of the environment for all of the earth’s inhabitants through direct action, education and advocacy in harmony with the environment.
To improve the environmental footprint of our parish, it’s members, and the community.
To conduct direct action by implementing such programs as, composting, tree plantings and maintenance, stormwater reduction, neighborhood clean ups, energy reduction strategies, and other environmental efforts to improve our footprint through collaboration within the parish and with partners.
To educate each other through information sharing and with speakers to explore and expose the adverse effects humans have on the environment and its inhabitants and to propose solutions to improve these effects.
Top Priorities
- Educate about the scarcity of potable water and it’s disparate impact on people in the state, country and international
- Sponsor speakers to discuss the need and ways to conserve water
- Direct action by participating in stormwater management activities and legislative action regarding water-related issues
- Increase participation of parishioners and school children in the work of Environmental Justice
Current Projects
“The Letter” Movie Night
Middle Branch Park Cleanup Competition
Maryland Catholics for Our Common Home: Teach-in and Lobby Event
Media Watch
Take Action by March 22 to Prevent Cuts to Refugee Assistance
Congress faces a March 22nd deadline to pass critical funding bills to avert a government shutdown. These funding bills include lifesaving assistance to meet the humanitarian needs of those arriving at our borders and millions of displaced persons overseas. Due to continued inaction by Congress, many essential U.S. humanitarian programs—both foreign and domestic—remain in limbo.
3 Things to Watch as Baltimore Considers Affordable Housing Requirements
After months of delay, a pair of bills requiring—and incentivizing developers to build more affordable housing units will be presented before the full Baltimore City Council Tuesday, and could be called for a vote. The bills are part of a package of what’s known as inclusionary housing legislation because they
Advocates Eye Tool to Fight Blight
Baltimore coalition launches effort to campaign for land bank to acquire vacant properties By Giacomo Bologna Iya Kenya MahaliyaDara loves her Northwest Baltimore home, but she’s getting tired of her neighbors. For the past seven years the 48-year-old Baltimore native has lived in a Park Heights rowhome she inherited from
Advocacy
“The Letter” Movie Night
With its worldwide premiere on 4 October, 2022, The Letter continues to highlight the power of humanity united in action to stop the ecological crisis. This documentary movie, based on Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si, calls us to reflect on how we can act differently in the face of our ecological crisis. Our Environmental Justice Committee
Middle Branch Park Cleanup Competition
It’s a family friendly, earth friendly FUNdraiser that brings our community together to steward our public places — all for a great cause. In the joyful spirit of service and friendly competition, Neighborhood Design Center will host the “Trash Dash,” a team Cleanup Contest on April 1, 2023, where groups
Maryland Catholics for Our Common Home: Teach-in and Lobby Event
February 20113 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis (in the high school) We need people to register to attend, so we know which actual lobby appointments to arrange and to have the right amount of food for the light dinner being provided by ST. Mary’s. Here is the link to register
How’s the Water, Hon? Speaker Event
The Environmental Justice Committee invites you to a presentation to learn about the water that arrives at your house and leaves your house, and what you can do to mitigate contamination of our waterways and damage to our pipes”. John Marra, Ecoliteracy & Restoration Specialist from Blue Water Baltimore will
How Does One Person Make Any Difference?
A Conversation about the Importance of Reducing, Composting, and Recycling. by Valerie Doze Reduce, reuse, recycle. How many times have we heard these three seemingly simple words? How many times have we decided to throw everything in the trash, instead? Is it the confusion over which items can be composted
Virtual Prayer Service for St. Kateri Tekakwitha
The Antiracism Task Force and Environmental Justice Subcommittee invite you to a virtual prayer service for St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the patron saint of Native Americans and the Environment, on the 17th of July from 2:00-4:00PM (Zoom Access can be found below). In honor of St. Kateri, the event will focus
Environmental Partners
Meetings
2nd Thursday of the month at 6 PM
- Ignatian Hall