Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month Event Identifies Challenges, Celebrates Leaders
Hartford, CT – Tuesday morning, 40 environmental justice advocates, community leaders, legislators, and supporters gathered at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford for a roundtable discussion in celebration of Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month, hosted by the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity, and Opportunity (CWCSEO) and Save the Sound. Conversation centered around the environmental challenges faced by Connecticut’s Latine communities, and the impactful work of Latine leaders advocating for environmental justice in the state.
Nellie Gorbea, President and CEO of Puerto Rico’s Green Energy Trust, provided the keynote address. “With $26 billion for greenhouse gas reduction having been appropriated and soon to be distributed by the EPA, it is critical that Latine perspectives help shape implementation of those dollars,” she said. “Today’s conversation helps Connecticut move forward in being a more inclusive and prosperous state by calling out for the involvement of Puerto Rican and other community voices to be heard as we address the environmental issues that disproportionately affect communities of color.”
Following the keynote address, CWCSEO Executive Director Melvette Hill moderated a discussion in response. ““Moderating today’s Latine & Puerto Rican Voices for Environmental Justice Roundtable was truly an honor considering the esteemed panels of community leaders, advocates and legislators. Our keynote speaker, Nellie Gorbea, set the tone with her powerful insights on the environmental inequities Latine communities continue to experience. The insights as well as data shared today by panelists reinforced how critical it is to ensure the voice of people with lived experience is included policymaking and the need for these conversations to continue. We are committed to elevating the challenges climate change has on all communities and addressing environmental justice as a nonpartisan issue. Environmental issues span across housing, transportation, employment and our food system. These issues affect basic human needs, and they affect all of us. To that end, it will take of all of us to do the work in creating the just and sustainable future our communities deserve.”
Here’s what the panelists had to say:
Commissioner Katie Dykes of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said, “DEEP has continued to innovate and expand its efforts to better connect with environmental justice communities in Connecticut, from our cities to our rural areas. We’re working to ensure that these communities have access to financial assistance for energy efficiency programs and equitable access to outdoor spaces in their towns and cities. We appreciate the guidance and leadership of Latine community members in Connecticut in the legislature, in business, and in the advocacy space, who continue to champion environmental justice and climate work across the state.”
“To truly tackle the socio-environmental issues faced by Latine communities, we need to empower environmental justice communities by making information and data accessible to everyone—from our elders to the youngest generation, said Ashley Benitez, GIS Coordinator at the Office of Policy and Management. “Empowerment goes beyond presenting our findings; it requires inclusive, participatory practices that engage communities rather than marginalize them. We need to invest more than just dollars; we need to invest our time and commitment. It’s in this way that I hope we can stop calling them ‘environmental justice communities’ and start calling them ‘socially, economically, and environmentally thriving communities,’ with greener spaces, cleaner air, and healthier lives for all.”
“As intersectional as our communities are, so are our environmental and energy justice challenges. At a time when Connecticut communities are experiencing some of the highest energy costs in the country, Black and Latine communities are disproportionately impacted,” said Jayson Velazquez, Climate and Energy Justice Policy Associate at the Acadia Center. “Energy burden, which is the percentage of income a household pays for energy, is extremely high in our communities. We must ensure our programs, such as the state’s energy efficiency programs, are deeply invested in to meet the needs of folks who could benefit the most as we continue our clean energy transition. We are missing the mark, and as leaders with access, proximity, and power in processes, we cannot leave each other behind.”
Jimena Beatriz Perez-Viscasillas, Outreach Coordinator for the Long Island Sound Study at New York Sea Grant, shared key insights on environmental needs and disparities impacting Latine communities, drawn from the recent found in the recently published Environmental Justice Needs Assessment of the Long Island Sound Watershed. She highlighted common challenges, including proximity to polluting facilities, barriers to waterfront access, and limited funding for sustainability projects. When asked about solutions, she emphasized the need for clean, affordable, and reliable transit, safe recreational spaces, and expanded youth programs—issues frequently raised by communities in the study. Perez-Viscasillas also called on attendees to provide comments on the LISS Draft Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan to help realize the vision of a restored and protected Sound region.
“Latine communities, particularly those disproportionately affected by environmental hazards, have been pivotal in the fight for cleaner air, water, and land,” said State Representative Joseph Gresko, House Co-Chair of the state legislature’s Environment Committee, of Stratford. “Championing groundbreaking environmental justice legislation demands accountability from polluting industries, fighting against environmental racism, and bringing reforms that benefit marginalized communities.”
“I will continue to be steadfast in crafting, writing, and advocating for reforms expanding the state’s existing environmental justice law,” said State Representative Geraldo Reyes, Jr. of Waterbury. “We must act immediately since many Latine communities, including Waterbury, are disproportionately affected by environmental burdens such as air and water pollution, hazardous waste facilities, and industrial sites. Strengthening environmental justice protections is not only a matter of equity but also a necessity to safeguard the health and well-being of residents who have been historically underserved.”
“I am thrilled to participate again this year with so many advocates raising awareness on how climate change impacts all of us, especially minority and marginalized communities,” said State Representative Hilda E. Santiago of Meriden. “Recent increasing natural disasters, including hurricanes, have shown how urgent the need is to take action on climate justice. Recognizing inequities and pushing for meaningful action through events like this helps us work together to build a future that is sustainable, equitable, and just for all.”
The legislative reflection panel was followed with closing reflections from panelists, including Save the Sound Environmental Justice Specialist Alex Rodriguez. “As we close out this Latine-focused environmental justice discussion, I want to uplift recommendations regarding best practices for engagement and advocacy that have been shared by my colleagues. We must meet communities where they are, incorporate underrepresented voices in environmental decision-making, embrace intersectionality, and demonstrate solidarity so that our work stays rooted in community,” he said.
Werner Oyanadel, Latino & Puerto Rican Policy Director at CWCSEO, commented that “today’s Latine & Puerto Rican Voices for Environmental Justice Roundtable was a powerful opportunity to address the environmental challenges that disproportionately affect our communities. As part of our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, this event reinforced the importance of engaging in these critical conversations—especially our youth, who are essential to leading the charge for a healthier, more just future. I am grateful to our partners—Save the Sound, Acadia Center, Connecticut Green Bank, and Restore America’s Estuaries—for their ongoing leadership and commitment to environmental justice. Together, we are building a stronger, more equitable future for all.”
Endorsing organizations for the event included Acadia Center, Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity, and Opportunity, Connecticut Green Bank, Criollisimo Restaurant, Restore America’s Estuaries, and Save the Sound.
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CT-N was present at the event, and a recording will be available on their website after the election.