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Join Live: Environmental Justice in Chicagoland

Journalist Jerome McDonnell and local Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Outreach Manager Gina Ramirez explore environmental justice issues in Chicago - historically, the current issues and impact, and what the possibilities are for the future. Learn more about how Gina and NRDC are helping to bring attention to the wafts of manganese dust that plague her family and neighbors on Chicago’s Southeast Side. 

As a Midwest outreach manager at NRDC, Gina Ramirez works to further sustainable land use and zoning rules that can provide crucial protections to areas of Chicago, like the Southeast Side, that are burdened with cumulative industrial pollution. She is an active member of the Coalition to Ban Petcoke and the Southeast Environmental Taskforce. She has a MA focused in sociology from Roosevelt University and BA in communications from DePaul University.

Jerome McDonnell hosted WBEZ's global affairs program Worldview from 1994 until October of 2019. He was WBEZ’s environment and climate reporter through 2020. Over the past twenty-five years, he has interviewed world leaders and influential people, including Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, Condoleezza Rice and the Dalai Lama. But Worldview’s strong sense of social justice means some of Jerome’s most interesting guests were peasant organizers, environmental activists and social entrepreneurs. Jerome believes broadcasting's highest calling is to bring people together to make a difference. Worldview’s long running Global Activism segment featured people who’ve started health care, education and community development organizations around the globe. The six “Global Activism Expos” WBEZ held gave thousands of people an opportunity to connect with these social entrepreneurs and make lasting impacts.

Organized with the support of the Schaumburg branch of the American Association of University of Women.

This program will take place online on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a link to the Zoom webinar at least one hour in advance of the program. If the event is full, or if you prefer, you can watch the event live streamed on SchaumburgLibrary.tv.

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