Welcome to Compassiviste Dialogues. I'm Ali, your host, and my mission with this podcast is to shed light on critical social and environmental issues worldwide, exploring avenues for positive change.

ABOUT GUEST:

Rebecca Bratspies is a professor at CUNY Law and the founding director of the Center for Urban Environmental Reform. A scholar in environmental justice and human rights, she has published extensively in academic journals and public forums.

Her award-winning book, Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York Place Names, received the NY Public Historians’ 2023 Excellence in Local History Award, the NYC Big Book Award for History, and the 2024 American Legacy Book Award for US History. Her co-authored textbook, Environmental Justice: Law, Policy, and Regulation, is used in classrooms nationwide.

Rebecca also co-created (with artist Charlie LaGreca-Velasco) the EPA-award-winning graphic novel series The Environmental Justice Chronicles, which engages young readers in civic education through storytelling and visual art.

KEY NOTES:

The Intersection of Creativity and Academia: How Rebecca Bridges Both Worlds

Understanding the Importance of Census Data in Shaping Policy

The Role of FOIA in Promoting Government Transparency

What Happens When Policy Fails the People?

Closing the Gap: Can Policy Truly Amplify Marginalized Voices?

Defining a Healthy Environment: What Does It Really Mean?

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Episode Trailer

01:30 – Intro

02:44 – What Sparked Rebecca’s Passion for Justice?

11:20 – Bridging Creativity and Academia

16:48 – What Is the Census and Why Does It Matter?

19:45 – Demystifying Census Data

22:38 – Can FOIA Ensure Government Transparency?

27:42 – What Can the Public Do When Policy Fails?

32:03 – Can Policy Truly Amplify Marginalized Voices?

36:53 – What Defines a Healthy Environment?

40:49 – Solving the Environmental Justice Placement Challenge

50:05 – From Privilege to Social Responsibility

58:17 – How Can We Spark Global Change?

01:02:59 – Why Do We Overconsume as a Society?

01:07:35 – Naming Gotham: The Stories Behind New York’s Neighborhoods

01:16:14 – Today’s Challenges in Justice and Environmental Law

01:19:51 – The Social and Environmental Crisis We Must Face

01:25:30 – Outro & Rebecca’s Book

THINGS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-bratspies-56b4078/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbratspies/

Website:  https://www.rebeccabratspies.com/environmental-justice-chronicles

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