Our founding:

EJAM evolved from a 2003 Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) meeting focusing on health disparities in communities of color. This meeting served as the foundation for a coalition of community members and organizations coming together to focus on environmental justice and health disparities. Issues that came up at the meeting were coal plant pollution, need for neighborhood legal advocacy assistance, lead poisoning, and health disparities.

The MUL then hosted monthly EJAM meetings to define mission, goals, and scope of the newly formed coalition, which consists of: North Minneapolis community members, MUL, NAACP, Sierra Club North Star Chapter, Metropolitan Area African American Chamber of Commerce, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Women’s Cancer Resource Center, Council on Black Minnesotans, Indigenous Women’s Network, African American Tobacco Network, Synergy Publishing, Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, and members of area churches, public schools and the medical community. In Fall 2004 EJAM established its first 15-person Board of Directors.

Who we are:

EJAM believes that the ecological, social and economic crises we face present an unprecedented opportunity for healing and for creating a more equitable and life affirming future for all. A growing body of evidence points to modes of development that began dominating our world five centuries ago as the root cause of our global condition. Low income communities, communities of color, and Indigenous Peoples have suffered disproportionately from the harmful consequences of this development. These communities have experienced extreme health disparities, social and cultural disintegration, and diminishing access to natural and other resources needed to promote economic vitality and to improve the health and well-being. EJAM recognizes that working “shoulder-to-shoulder” with these communities it can play an integral role in challenging predominant development models and advancing alternative values, knowledge, and systems of living that can lead to better outcomes for our world.

This recognition is the main impetus for the shift in EJAM’s focus and direction of work. EJAM’s early work centered on advocating for changes in policy that improve environmental health in low income communities, communities of color, and Indigenous People. During its short existence, the organization has led or collaborated in several successful policy campaigns, resulting in a broadened community awareness of environmental health issues and state and federal legislation reducing exposure to toxins in our environment.

Despite EJAM’s successes, serious environmental health issues remain in these communities. Based on most indicators, there has also been a precipitous decline in the economies of these communities in recent years as well as a corresponding deterioration in health, overall quality of life, and sense of belonging. Additionally, EJAM’s advocacy has not been championed and carried forward by the communities that have benefitted from it. A dedicated board of directors, small staff, and cadre of EJAM friends have been largely responsible for the many successes of the organization to date.

In light of the global challenges we face and in order to have the greatest long-term, positive impact on our world, EJAM realizes that it must take a more holistic approach to its work -- integrating environmental health with efforts to promote economic vitality, equitable distribution of resources, and social cohesion, social justice and change. More importantly, this work must be driven by the needs and vision of communities so that it is able to sustain and advance in the long run.

To reflect this holistic approach, EJAM’s vision and mission have been expanded. Its new focus and direction of work emphasize building a base of community support that can not only drive an integrated and sustainable approach to economic growth, but promote organizational sustainability as well. More specifically, EJAM will work with the Northside Minneapolis community to create opportunities and access to resources that can lead to localized sustainable economic growth that is environmentally sound and safe.