Open Space News
Group urges a greener Newark, by Diego Cupolo, 06/20/08. Published by the The Star-Ledger.
Newark's Superfund sites, diesel emissions and dangerously high asthma rates were in the spotlight during Wednesday's city council meeting as a new group of community activists made its debut at City Hall.
The first graduating class of the Urban Environmental Institute, a leadership training program for environmental justice activists in Newark, offered its recommendations to council members for protecting citizens from local pollution and inadequate housing while supporting a "green jobs" agenda.
Kim Gaddy, a West Ward resident and mother of three asthmatic children, organized the UEI program using funds from the New Jersey Environmental Federation, Clean Water Fund and Quest Ink! Inc.
"After seeing some of the air quality studies that were coming out about the area, we just had to establish a leadership program to address these issues," Gaddy said. "It's just not right that our city is so polluted."
Gaddy, an experienced lobbyist for the New Jersey Environmental Federation, wants to create the next generation of grassroots activists through the institute. The first class consists of 12 diverse Newark residents from all five wards, ranging from 19 to 35 years old.
Conference targets obesity among minorities, By Maya Kremen, Herald News, 04/3/07
NEWARK -- Obesity and its side effects will continue killing minorities if immediate action is not taken to address it, officials and community leaders said Saturday at a conference held in New Jersey's state medical university.
Eating and exercise habits must change, especially among blacks, Hispanics and the poor, the highest risk groups for the disease, said panelists at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, which sponsored the conference along with the Congressional Black Caucus.
Obesity is now the overall second-leading cause of death nationwide after smoking. More than half of New Jersey adults are obese or overweight, and one in three African-American women is obese. Childhood obesity is also on the rise. New Jersey has the highest rate of obesity in 2- to 5-year-old children in the country.
The only restaurants in Louis Layton's neighborhood serve fast food, Chinese takeout and pizza, she said. Parents in some inner-city neighborhoods are afraid to send their children outside because of dangerous and polluted environments, said Kim Thompson-Gaddy, a coordinator with the New Jersey Environmental Federation.
"I could ride my bike around our neighborhood growing up," she said. "My 6- and 2-year-old can't do that. It is dangerous. The sidewalks are in disarray."
