Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition

Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition (MEJC) is a statewide coalition working to achieve a clean, healthy and safe environment for Michigan residents most impacted by pollution and climate change. MEJC works to achieve this goal in alignment with the Jemez and EJ Principles through popular education, building people-centered policies, and organizing for systemic change. MEJC convened in 2011 to grow the Environmental Justice movement in Michigan. We have led campaigns in Energy Democracy and Cumulative Impacts as well engaging in federal, state, and local policy. MEJC hopes to define an ambitious climate justice agenda for Michigan that centers Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities and is free of fossil fuels and false solutions.

The Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition first convened in 2011 to attempt the implementation of the 2010 Environmental Justice Plan created by Gov. Granholm. Since that time a lot as happened: Detroit water shutoffs and bankruptcy, the Flint Water Crisis, fast tracking of air pollution and mining permits, fracking, new and aging pipelines, and more. In response, MEJC began growing its network and membership. Every two years MEJC hosts the Environmental Justice Summit, has three research projects with University of Michigan, does on the ground community education, and meets with federal, state and local governments to move the needle on EJ.

We take a multi-faceted approach to systems change by aligning on intersectional goals with statewide power-building organizations and small grassroots groups for policy change and disruption. Our organization operates within an understanding that the root causes of climate change are racism, capitalism, and the hetero-patriarchy with the impact of these oppressive systems falling on BIPOC and low-income communities.

​The Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition (MEJC) works to achieve a clean, healthy, and safe environment for Michigan residents most affected by inadequate policies. We work in alignment with the Principles of Environmental Justice, and cultivate relationships based on the Jemez Principles. We build power and unity within our community, so we all can thrive.